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Special Prayer

One day, may our hearts be open to the suffering of others.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
One day, may our nations strive for unity, not division.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
One day, may truth triumph over lies.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
One day, may we celebrate our common humanity, made in the image of God.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
One day, may there be joyful celebration of our differences.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
One day may our shared stories, of suffering and pain, of light and life;
be held together with the threads of our neighbours,
our neighbours who are not like us,
but who bring difference and challenge to us.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
One day, may I see the needs of others and put them before my own.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
One day, may our darkest moments be swaddled by your light.
May your Kingdom come, O Lord.
Help us to live, this day, in the light and truth of Your love,
bringing your Kingdom to earth.
Amen.

New Testament Reading - The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

¹⁴Then Jesus returned to Galilee, full of the Holy Spirit’s power. Soon he became well known throughout all that region ¹⁵for his sermons in the synagogues; everyone praised him.

¹⁶When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on Saturday, and stood up to read the Scriptures. ¹⁷The book of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him, and he opened it to the place where it says:

^18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted and to announce that captives shall be released and the blind shall see, that the downtrodden shall be freed from their oppressors, and that God is ready to give blessings to all who come to him.”^a

²⁰ He closed the book and handed it back to the attendant and sat down, while everyone in the synagogue gazed at him intently. ²¹Then he added, “These Scriptures came true today!”

. . . . . Luke 4:14-21

1. Literally, “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
     hallowed be your name,
     your kingdom come,
     your will be done,
          on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
     as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
     and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
     now and for ever.
Amen.