Sunday Prayers - May 13

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 144)
Pastor: Praise be to the Lord, our Rock, who teaches us His holy ways and leads us out into the world.
People: The Lord is our loving God and living strength. He is our shield and deliverer.
Pastor: Let us worship God, in whom we take refuge. Let us serve Him together as one people before His throne. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession

Guide: Everlasting Father, in whose presence we live and die, we come before You looking for peace and love, wholeness and strength.
People: Living Lord, we seek security in this sanctuary and acceptance in Your arms. We aim to please You with our praises and charm You with our songs.

Guide: Almighty Lord, You fully know our hearts and completely understand our minds. You have seen the secrets that make us sick and the sins that cause us shame.
People: Merciful Father, when we have gone astray or deliberately disturbed Your purpose for us, please forgive us. When we have rebelled against Your words and selfishly chosen to do bad deeds, please pardon us. Hear us now, as we inwardly confess our grievous faults and sinful choices to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Benevolent Sovereign, we know that we can only find rest and redemption, forgiveness and assurance in Christ Jesus our Lord. Without His mercy, we are lost. Without His grace, we are cast away forever.
People: Grant His peace to our hearts and minds, as we unite our spirits with Him, through the praying of His precious words: Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors)
(Isaiah 32:18)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ works with us to show us God’s ways in the world. By forgiving us of sin, He grants us a new opportunity to begin our lives and to faithfully serve His kingdom. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and we are completely assured of salvation, both now and always. Amen. (John 9:15)

Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Let us approach the Lord with our prayers and petitions; let us look to Him to fulfill His promises.
People: We will bring to the Lord our worries and burdens. He will listen to our cries and pleas for help.
Pastor: As we come before God with our requests, let us remember His glorious deeds and powerful ways.
People: The Lord hears the prayers of our hearts. He knows and understands all our anxieties, and all of our cares.
Pastor: O Lord, we cherish You and ask for Your mercy. Heal us and all our loved ones. Grant strength and recovery, rest and renewal to those who are weary, ill, and troubled.
People: Listen to our prayers, O Lord. Hear the deep and personal petitions from our hearts and souls. To You alone, we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: Praise be to God, who has not rejected our prayers or withheld His love from us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 66)
Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, do not hold our sins against us, but rather open our hearts and minds to Christ’s message that will change us today. Make us ready to accept and apply His words throughout our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 7:60)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: Lord Jesus, we live in a material world that is obsessed with possessions. Each week, You give us an opportunity to cast off the chains of greed and avarice, insecurity and selfishness by contributing tithes, gifts, and alms to this congregation. Allow us to be open handed and generous, so that Your work in this church will be supported, augmented, and fulfilled. In Your Holy Name, we joyfully give and cheerfully pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 15:53)

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ reveal to us His work every day of our lives; may the Father help us to recognize where we need to be in His Kingdom; and may the Holy Spirit remove all barriers from our hearts, so that we may fully serve the One Triune and Living God in this world, and the next. From this time forth and forevermore. Amen. (2 Corinthians 3:15)
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude