God of power, who spoke and this world was, who breathed and this world lived. God of majesty, yet who knows us to the number of hairs upon our head, we call on you. You see our thoughts and read our hearts yet love us beyond measure, sending your one and only Son into the world, not to condemn it, but that the world might be saved through Him. We turn to you in thanks and praise for sustaining us, never forsaking us, and drawing us together in unity with You and with each other.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Open our hearts and turn us to love the least among us, the “different”, the stranger, the outcast, the poor and the poor in spirit, those wounded by sin and wounded by the world who need the healing of your wounds just as we do.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. When we are beset by anger or resentment, have us recall that Christ, who indeed had reason to avenge himself, instead intercedes with tears and cries of mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace.
Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Cause us to love, not in selective mercy, but with the fullness of Christ’s compassionate heart. For you show your love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Give us the heart and spirit of Christ, that we might be His image, His hands, and His mouthpiece of the Good News of His present and eternal Kingdom.
AMEN.