OPENING LITURGY A daily opening of our time

OPENING LITURGY A daily opening of our time together

Opening The Lord be with you. And also with you! In fellowship with the communion of saints, we are the church, the body of Christ. Let us pray: (from St. Thomas Aquinas) Grant us, we beseech thee, O merciful God, prudently to study, rightly to understand, and perfectly to fulfill that which is pleasing to thee, to the glory of thy name. Amen. [Silence … concluding in unison: ] In the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Shema (Deut. 6: 4 -9) Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. [Silence…]

Our father, who is in the heavens, 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. Forgive us our failures, as we forgive the failure of others. Lead us beyond temptation, and snatch us away from all evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. AMEN.

A Reading from Our World Belong to God [Silence … concluding in unison: ] In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Lectio Divina From the songs of ascents (Psalms 120 -134) [Silence … concluding in unison: ] In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Closing Prayer God of mercy, thank you for this community of learning. Bless the work we have already begun in this class, make good its defects, and let us finish it in a way that pleases you. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.