DEVOTION THEME OF THE WEEK : 
HE IS RISEN TO CARRY THE PRAYERS OF BELIEVERS TO GOD
As the Easter Season draws to a close,
we continue to ponder the reality of the resurrection:
Jesus is risen from the dead!
A Man has destroyed the chief power of the Devil.
A Man has conquered death.
A Man has put away our sins.
A Man has ascended into Heaven and sits on the throne of God.
A Man carries our prayers to God.
A Man teaches us what it means to be truly human – no longer human in the image of a fallen man –
but human in the image of a risen Man – human in the image of God.
He became as we are, that we might become as He is.
Let us rejoice in Christ and live as Christians.

​
​​​BLESS YOURSELF WITH THE HOLY CROSS AND SAY : 
In the name of the Father
and of the Son
​and of the Holy Spirit.

​
SAY THE APOSTLES’ CREED :
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God,
the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.


PRAY THE LORD’S PRAYER : 
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power and the glory
forever and ever.
Amen.


PRAY THE MORNING OR EVENING PRAYER :​
Morning :
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger;
and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You.
For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.
Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.
Amen.
Evening :
​I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day;
and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night.
For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.
Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me.
Amen. 


PRAY THE PSALM OF THE WEEK :
ISAIAH 40 : 20 , PSALM 66 : 1 , 17 , 19 - 20 
With a voice of singing, declare, proclaim this, utter it to the end of the
earth. Alle- | luia.*                                                                            
The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob! Alle- | luia.                             
Make a joyful shout to God, | all the earth!*                              
Sing out the honor | of His name.                                                                   
I cried to Him | with my mouth,*                                                  
and He was extolled | with my tongue.                                                        
Certainly God has | heard me;*                                                    
He has attended to the voice | of my prayer.                                              
Blessed be God, who has not turned a- | way my prayer,*     
nor His mer- | cy from me!                                                                              
                               
                                                             
SAY TOGETHER THE VERSE OF THE WEEK :
ROMANS 8 : 29
“Those He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son
… those whom He predestined He called, those whom He called He justified,
and those whom He justified He glorified.”


SCRIPTURE: THE HIGHWAYS TO ZION
MONDAY MAY 23, 2022
PSALM 84
“Blessed are those whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.”
The word and sacraments are outside of us (extra nos) but they have their affect inside of us (intra nos).
The interior life cannot be neglected for it is the very means by which we perceive all things, likewise it is created by God for God.
Blessed are those in whose heart is a highway to Zion, to the Temple, to our God.
He is at once the Lord of Hosts (Armies) and the One at whose altars baby birds find rest.
The highway to Him is in your heart.
The highway is Jesus.
The courts of the Lord, His dwelling place and home, are within you (Jn. 14:23).
O Lord, I am unworthy of such honor, yet You come and make Your home within me.
Amen.

​
PRAY THE PRAYER OF THE WEEK :
O heavenly Father, as You gladden our hearts again to celebrate the birth of Your only-begotten Son,
Jesus Christ, mercifully bestow on us the joy to receive Him as our Redeemer
and so welcome Him when He comes again to be our judge;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.


PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS

​
SING OR SAY THE HYMN OF THE WEEK :
OUR FATHER, THOU IN HEAVEN ABOVE