Click to download a PDF of "A Prayer Liturgy for Inauguration" Click to download a DOC of "A Prayer Liturgy for Inauguration"Full text below.  A Prayer for InaugurationJanuary 20, 2017 PSALM 2 — A LAMENTWhy do the nations rageAnd the people imagine vanityThe kings of the earth set themselvesThe rulers take counsel togetherAgainst the LordAgainst God’s anointedSayingLet us break their bondsAnd cast away their cords from usThe one who sits in the heavens will laughThe Lord will hold them in derisionThen God will speak to them in God’s wrathAnd terrify them in God’s furySayingI have set my king on ZionMy holy hillI will tell of the decreeThe Lord said to meYou are my sonToday I have begotten youAsk of meI will give you the nations for your inheritanceThe uttermost parts of the earth for your possessionYou will break them with a rod of ironYou will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vesselNow thereforeBe wise o kingsBe instructed you judges of the earthServe the lord with fearAnd rejoice with tremblingKiss the sonLest God become angryAnd you perish in the wayFor God’s wrath may soon be kindledBlessed are all who take refuge in God.† from John 16Jesus said:I have loved you as the Father has loved Me. Abide in My love. Follow My example in obeying the Father’s commandments and receiving His love. If you obey My commandments, you will stay in My love. My commandment to you is this: love others as I have loved you. There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends.Remind us:We are all made in your image.We are all prodigals wandering far from home.We are all hurtingAnd We all find mercy in your hands.Abba, our Father in heavenLet your name be hallowed.†Isaiah prophesied a day when God’s kingdom would be restored. He saw a day when the people walking in darkness would see a great light; when light would shine on those dwelling in a land of deep darkness:For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and of peacethere will be no end,on the throne of David and over his kingdom,to establish it and to uphold itwith justice and with righteousnessfrom this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.from Isaiah 9Abba, Our Father in heavenWe look to you for governing.We follow the way of your son, King Jesus,Who taught usTo Love GodTo Love our neighborTo Love our enemyTo Love the strangerThis is the greatest commandment.Make it realMove us beyond commentingMake us people of ACTIONPeople who LOVEPeople who practice the way of JesusTo see your kingdom come, To see your will be done;To see it be on earthAs it is in heaven.†Jesus said,“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.from Matthew 5Abba FatherIn our shared hunger,We see that we are the same.For ourselves, our friends and our enemies:Provide our needs,Give us today our daily bread,In the hatred and violence we hold in our own hearts,We see our shared need for your love to take hold,We can taste our need for forgiveness.Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.Bring healing.Abba FatherGive us today our daily breadForgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.Teach us justiceTeach us mercy†John testified:The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.from John 1Paul taught:Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.from Romans 12Joseph showed usThat God could use for good what people intend for evil.from Genesis 50Jesus said,In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.Then he prayed:Father, do not take them out of this world; protect them from the evil one.from John 16-17Abba FatherWe trust you, we follow you.Train us to be light in darkness,to overcome evil with good,to see with your eyeslead us not into temptation,Deliver us from evil.†And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,from Daniel 2Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, ccoming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”from Revelation 21Abba FatherYours is that kingdom, Yours is that powerYours is that gloryForever and ever amen.We sayAmen!Come, Lord Jesus.