We hear God’s CALL TO WORSHIP in James 4:8
Draw nigh to God,
and he will draw nigh to you.
We listen in silence for God’s still small voice, CENTERING ourselves, becoming aware of God’s presence within us and around us
We respond with CONFESSION using the words of Ambrose of Milan
O Lord, you have mercy upon all — take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you, for Christ’s sake. Amen.
We PRAISE God in the EVENING PSALMPsalm 141:1–3 · Domine, clamavi
1Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me, *
and consider my voice when I cry to you.
2Let my prayer be set forth in your sight as the incense; *
and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.
3Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, *
and keep the door of my lips.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
We PRAISE God in THE PSALM OF THE DAYPsalm 51:4–13 · Miserere mei, Deus
4Against you only have I sinned *
and done what is evil in your sight.
5And so you are justified when you speak *
and upright in your judgment.
6Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
a sinner from my mother’s womb.
7For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
8Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
9Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
that the body you have broken may rejoice.
10Hide your face from my sins *
and blot out all my iniquities.
11Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
12Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
We hear God speaking to us in THE READING for the dayEzekiel 36:24–28
Friday, 31 July 2026 · Ordinary Time
24“ ‘ “For I will take you from amongst the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. 27I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them. 28You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
World English Bible. Or read it at Bible Gateway in the NRSV: Ezekiel 36:24–28 · the full passage, Ezekiel 36:24–28.
We REFLECT in silence
We sing to God in THE CANTATE DOMINOPsalm 98 · Cantate Domino
1O sing to the Lord a new song, *
for he has done marvelous things.
2With his own right hand and with his holy arm *
he has won himself the victory.
3The Lord declared his salvation; *
his righteousness he has openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4He has remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel, *
and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.
5Show yourselves joyful to the Lord, all you lands; *
sing, rejoice, and give thanks.
6Praise the Lord upon the harp; *
sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.
7With trumpets also and the sound of the horn, *
O show yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.
8Let the sea make a noise, and all that is in it, *
the round world, and those who dwell therein.
9Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, *
for he has come to judge the earth.
10With righteousness shall he judge the world, *
and the peoples with equity.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
We pray the LORD’S PRAYER as Jesus taught his disciples, in those words which are most meaningful to us
Our [ Father / Mother / Creator ] in heaven,
Hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our [ trespasses / sins ]
as we forgive those who [ trespass / sin ] against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
We pray a PRAYER OF INTERCESSION in the words of Richard Baxter
As a reconciled Father, take me to be your child; and give me your renewing Spirit, to be in me a principle of holy life, and light, and love, and your seal and witness that I am yours. Let him quicken my dead and hardened heart. Let him enlighten my dark unbelieving mind, by clearer knowledge and firm belief. Let him turn my will to the ready obedience of your holy will. Let him reveal to my soul the wonders of your love in Christ, and fill it with love to you and my Redeemer, and to all your holy Word and works. Amen.
We silently pray PERSONAL PRAYER
Followed by
Amen.
We pray a PRAYER OF GENERAL THANKSGIVING
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A concluding BENEDICTION or blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.