The Gathered Church

From the Lutheran Book of Prayer

Remember, O Lord, our congregation, Your people, who are nothing without you, who need the Word of Your forgiveness, who need comfort and solace, who need healing and help, who need courage and strength, who need counsel and guidance, who need food and shelter, who need correction and admonition, who need acceptance and assurance, who need zeal and a willing mind, who need example and direction, who need charity and goodness, who need humitlity and honesty, who need liberty and peace, who need wisdom and insight, who need faith and hope, who need love and joy, for we are Your people gathered by Your Spirit around Word and sacrements, that we may be scattered to share Your love through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

"[13] Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. [15] But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; [16] for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. [17] If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. [18] For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. [20] He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. [21] Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. [22] Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, [23] because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. [24] For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, [25] but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you."