The verses of the entrance psalm for Sunday are from Psalm 74.  The psalm calls on God to defend his people against a world hostile to God and his congregation.  The psalm verses are sung or spoken immediately following our confession of sin and the words of God’s forgiveness.  In the psalm we remind God to act on behalf of his congregated people.

With the words of the psalm on our lips and in God’s ear we enter into his worship to wrestle with him like Jacob of old and to persist in our prayers like the widow in the Gospel lesson.

Psalm 74 selected verses

Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!

Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs and a foolish people revile your name.

Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild bests; do not forget the life of your poor forever.

Let not the down trodden turn back in shame; let the poor and the needy praise your name.

Have regard for the covenant; arise, O God, defend your cause.

Having called upon God to remember us, we break forth in song.  “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy,” and then continuing with a hymn of praise glorifying God in the highest.

Next, n the Prayer of the Day we ask God’s Holy Spirit to direct and govern our hearts that like Jacob and the widow we do not give up when facing an adverse world but continue “with steadfast faith.”

Prayer of the Day:  O Lord, almighty and everlasting God, You have commanded us to pray and have promised to hear us.  Mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may direct and govern our hearts in all things and that we may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Now having asked God to remember his congregation, we remember to listen to his word in the lessons and the sermon.

May the Lord bless our worship as we congregate this Sunday.