Gathering
And when your people meet,
I will praise you, LORD. ~ Psalm 26:12 (CEV)
My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That’s how it should be when someone sings or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:26 (CEV)
SUMMARY SENTENCE
When we meet the focus is on others and God.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for calling your people together. We confess that we're a little frustrated because we haven't been able to meet in the ways that we're used to. This pandemic has been rough. Show us how we can praise you and keep the needs of others first and foremost in mind as we gather in a more cautious manner. We know that nothing can stop your praise. We will continue to bless you no matter what. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
