Gracious Father,
may all who come within the walls of your house of worship today
experience a fresh encounter with You, the living God,
so that deep gladness and profound joy overtake them
and sorrow and sighing flee away.
May all who come dwell in your presence beholding your beauty.
For Your presence ultimately transforms adversity into prosperity,
affliction into delight, and death into life.
One day of intimate friendship with You
is a thousand times better than anything else.
Make this longing the desire  of our hearts
for Jesus’ sake and for our good. AMEN.