On on this beautiful day that You have created, we join with all creatures on the earth in praise to you, our Lord Most High. You are awesome, a great King over all the earth. We claim the promise that you will subdue evil in this world and will continue to bless us as we inherit the gift of Abundant Life you have for us. Amid shouts of joy, sounding of trumpets, and clapping of hands, we sing praise and give glory to you. You reign over this world. You reign over the hearts, minds, and spirits of your people. You reign over the forces of darkness – fear, anger, hopelessness, division, destruction, corruption, abuse, addiction – trying to overwhelm this earth and your people. You reign over the past, present, and future. You are seated on your holy throne and are greatly exalted. We praise you for what you are doing in the lives of your people, pray for you to renew and revive your Church, and pray that your great Light would be poured into places of deep evil and darkness. You are the Light of the World, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let your Spirit be poured out in a fresh way that men and women, old and young, may dream your dreams and see your visions, and know that YOU ALONE are God over this world and over our lives. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen and amen.
Psalm 47
1
Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
2
For the Lord Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth.
3
He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4
He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
5
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
8
God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9
The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.