Our merciful Father,

Your Church is now drawing near to you with much confidence as we walk the path the Christ has opened for us by His sacrifice of blood and resurrection, passing through the curtain by which we had been excluded from your presence, but has now been opened to us through the opening of Christ’s own flesh.  We enter in with full assurance of faith, having been washed clean by his blood and the baptism of the Spirit.

We enter in clinging to Christ and the confession of our hope that as we come through him we will not die, because you are faithful to your promise that all who trust in him will not be put to shame.

As we enter your presence together today, teach us to consider how we might encourage our brothers to love and good works.  We seek your face as we meet together, not merely by our physical presence in this building, but that we might be truly meeting together with love and concern for one another, seeking to encourage one another as we look for your Son’s return, Lord, come quickly!

It is in the name above all names, the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray,

Amen.