Almighty and everlasting God,
Who numbers the stars in order and turns darkness into light,
you have set eternity within the heart of man.
We think about eternity and trust you.
Your promises are written in our hearts . . . we believe them.
What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
And what has not entered into the heart of man . . .
You have prepared for those who love you.
The credo of others may be,
Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!
But for us of the transformed heart,
We seek a city whose builder and maker is God.

Thanks be to God . . .
You are light to the wanderer,
joy of the pilgrim,
refuge of the brokenhearted,
deliverer of the oppressed,
strength of the perishing,
hope of the dying,
Savior of sinners.
We long to hear that voice from heaven saying,
"The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever."
Praise be unto God.

Father God, the world presses in upon us every waking hour.
We are squeezed and pulled and rudely affected by a system contrary to the way of the Cross.
Consequently, we are shocked to realize how subtly the world's approval,
language,
conduct,
attitude
seeps into our life.
Help us remember that Vanity Fair is not our home; we are just passing through.
We are soujourners. . . just a breath away from our eternal home.

Keep us unencumbered lest our goods become our gods, and our cares, cankers.

And now, Father God, give ear to each penitential prayer as we ask for forgiveness and grace.

Thank you for clean hearts and revived spirits.