Pentecost 1

Lord and God,

We sing your praises today—for you are great and greatly to be praised, you who defeated kings, scattered armies, worked wonders, fed your people by miraculous mercy. Heaven and earth cannot contain you, yet you dwell in tents. You are not served by human hands; you rather serve us and bless us and promise us a home forever and ever.

Let us live secure within the walls of faith. By these let us withstand your coming wrath. We have a strong city, with walls and bulwarks. Your judgments are upon the world to teach its inhabitants righteousness, yet in the end the wicked will not learn; your hand is uplifted, and they do not see. Yet in your mercy, give a whispering prayer to those perishing—let weakness teach us meek faith. For when the earth discloses its dead, whose name will the blood not cry? There is but one; teach us to cry out for his blood.