Sisters and brothers,
and all who are made One through Christ:
as Ezra proclaimed the Word of the Lord
and the people bowed their heads in worship,
let us too proclaim and bow.

Lord, You made today.
That makes it Yours,
and it makes it holy.
Make today a day of joy,
whether it feels like it or not.
Fill our mouths with glad tidings
and set our hearts to
meditate on Your goodness.
Revive our souls
with Your effervescent life.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

As we are gathered here,
the infinite parts of
the One Body in Christ
We remember those who are also gathered
both publicly and in secret.
Bring unity to this Sanctuary body,
to the Church in Tulsa,
to the Church in America,
and to the Church in the world.
Keep always before us
the mission to which You have called us.

We remember also those members of our body
who are being persecuted in China, Nigeria, India,
and other parts of the world.
And those among us who have died.
Welcome them to their eternal rest.

Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

The heavens declare Your glory,
and under that glory we are united.
Christ with us, Christ before us, Christ behind us,
Christ in us, Christ beneath us, Christ above us,
Christ on our right and left.
When we lie down: Christ.
When we sit: Christ as well.

We also pray this aspirationally:
That You would emanate from us,
present in our hearts,
edifying in our mouths,
visible in our eyes,
audible in our ears.
So that when the world looks at us,
they see You:
One Body,
infinite parts.

All this we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.