Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Sunday prayers - Sep 30, 2007

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 9)
Pastor: We will praise You, O Lord, with all of our hearts.People: We will tell of Your wonders and rejoice in Your ways.
Pastor: We will be glad and sing praise to Your Name, O Lord Most High. Amen!First Hymn:
Prayers of Confession

Guide: Almighty God, throughout our lives we have heard of the great things that You have done. You have watched over our people for generations. You have delivered us from evil and blessed us with good.
People: Everlasting Majesty, as we gather in this sacred and special place, receive us as Your servants and children. Accept the praises we bring and allow us to acknowledge Your power, presence, and wisdom over our lives.

Guide: Gracious God, we understand our human frailties and limitations. We confess to being sinful and selfish, proud and impassive, stubborn and defensive.
People: Loving Lord, we have failed You many times and we regret our past failures. Hear us now as we silently bring to You our confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Christ’s grace and mercy. In Him, we are forgiven and restored. By Him, our lives are given meaning and purpose, strength and hope. We make these prayers in Christ’s Name and through His everlasting words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors) (Isaiah 33:13)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: God speaks to us through the life, words, and ministry of Jesus Christ. He allows us to be forgiven of all our mistakes when we sincerely seek His forgiveness and pardon. Let us rejoice in our King, for Jesus is our Savior and everlasting Lord. Amen. (John 9:28)

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)

Baptism of Ella Grace Levering

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: Let us declare our joy to God, who is our strength; let us proclaim His great and mighty works!
People: Gracious Lord, remove our burdens from us; release us from our deepest worries and concerns.
Pastor: In the midst of our sickness and illnesses, at the time when we are weak and helpless, we look to You, O Living God to answer our prayers.
People: Give us patience to wait for You; grant us mercy for all of our requests.
Pastor: Subdue our fears and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit.
People: Merciful Father, heal us and all our loved ones with Your healing Hands. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord will feed us with hope and strength; with His goodness and grace, we shall experience healing, hope and salvation. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 81)

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to receive these scriptures in ways that will challenge and change our lives. Let God’s words be acceptable to our hearts and minds, so that we may be transformed into becoming better servants for His Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:13)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication: Lord Jesus, in the giving pf these gifts, we open doors for effective ministries and missions to be accomplished by our church. Our tithes and offering reflect our devotion to You and the work of Your Gospel throughout the world. Accept our treasures and our lives; our time, as well as our talents. May they be used for the glory of God’s Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we freely give and faithfully pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 16:8)

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May the death of Christ make us realize how precious we are to Him; may the Father’s words and ways strongly influence our spirits and guide our lives; and may the Holy Spirit keep us faithful serving the One, triune and Living God, from this day forth and forevermore. Amen. (2 Corinthians 4:12)
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Sunday Prayers - 23 Sept, 2007

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 8)
Pastor: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
People: What are we that You are mindful of us; of what importance have we become, that You care for our lives?
Pastor: You have made us a little lower than the heavenly beings and yet You have crowned us with glory, therefore we will worship and honor You with our praises. Amen.First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession

Guide: Glorious Majesty, we come before You as servants and followers of Your Son. We offer our praises and thanksgiving to the glory and power of Your Sacred Name.
People: Eternal God, You are the Sustainer of all life and the Revealer of all that we know. Your ways are mysterious and awesome to us, yet Your works are full of compassion and blessing

Guide: Living Lord, we know that our lives are sometimes motivated by greed and desire, envy and jealousy. We allow pride to distort Your words and arrogance to diminish our faith.
People: Gracious Father, we are sorry for our sinful and selfish ways. We try to change our lives for the better, but we often fail to overcome temptations everyday. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Heavenly Lord, consume our sins, but not us sinners. Have mercy upon us and grant us forgiveness.
People: For we make these prayers in Christ’s Name and through His everlasting words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors) (Isaiah 33:12)

Promise of the Gospel


Guide: The world sometimes does not understand why we want to be disciples of Jesus. We know that we have sinned greatly, but we also have a Great Savior. Through Christ’s death, we are pardoned of our past mistakes and restored to God’s bountiful favor. Let us rejoice and be glad in His Name, forevermore. Amen. (John 9:28)

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)

Minute for Mission: Peace Making

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Hear us, O Living Lord as we call upon Your Name. Be our shepherd and guide us in the midst of our troubles.
People: Come amongst us, Gracious God, and touch us with Your Healing hands. Save us from our sickness and deliver us from despair.

Pastor: Restore us, O Lord, to health and strength. Look favorably upon us and grant us hope and peace.
People: Hear our prayers, LORD God, and give us patience to wait upon Your answer.

Pastor: Listen to the cries of our hearts and heal us, and those of all our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit.
People: In the midst of our discomfort and pain, grant us rest. At the time of our greatest anxieties and deepest concerns, be our strength and solid foundation. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: Restore us, O God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be healed. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 80)

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, astonish us with the scriptures, so that we may earnestly follow Christ as our Teacher and Lord. Open our hearts and minds to His lessons and grant us the courage to apply them in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:13)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication: Lord Jesus, keep us focused on serving You with our time, talents, and money. Give us cheerful hearts that glorify You with our tithes and gifts. Take this offering and bless it for the life, work, and ministry of Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we freely give and faithfully pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 16:8)

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May we be given over to Christ, so that we may glorify His power; may the Father take our lives and use them for His purposes; and may the Holy Spirit reveal to us the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen. (2 Corinthians 4:11)
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude

Monday, September 10, 2007

Sunday prayers - Sep 16, 2007

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 7)

Pastor: O Lord, our God, we take our refuge in You; save and deliver us from all our fears.
People: O Righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, receive our worship and praises today.
Pastor: let us give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; let us sing and give praise to His Name. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession

Guide: Everlasting Lord, whose infinite mind conceived the universe and whose powerful word brought it into existence, we applaud Your Holy power and we worship Your sacred Name.
People: Almighty Father, who allowed us the privilege of birth and who sustains us through mercy and grace, we proclaim Your sovereignty over our lives and seek to please You with our deeds.
Guide: Loving God, we know that we have failed You so many times. We confess to breaking our promises and not fulfilling our words. We admit to being foolish and we regret being selfish.
People: Merciful Majesty, in Your wrath You could consume and destroy us forever. Pardon our stupidity and cleanse us of our sinful ways. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Living Lord, we appeal to Your Son Jesus Christ for mercy. We look to Him alone for pardon and redemption. He has the power to forgive our sins and the right to restore us to Your favor.
People: In Christ alone, we place our lives and souls. Under His authority, we express our faith. In His sacred words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors) (Isaiah 33:11)


Promise of the Gospel

Guide: We want to be Christ’s disciples, so we need to listen to His words. Jesus has the power to make our lives new. When we come to Him seeking forgiveness, He is merciful. When we pray to Him, looking for pardon, He gives us grace. Amen. (John 9:27)

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: How long, O LORD, must we suffer and experience discomfort? How long will our ailments continue?
People: Do not leave us without hope. May Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are in desperate need.
Pastor: Help us, O God, our Savior, for the glory of Your Name; deliver us from harm and restore us to health.
People: Why should those around us mock our faith? Send forth Your Holy Spirit to touch us and all our loved ones with Your healing power, Your bountiful blessing, Your compassionate love.
Pastor: May the cries of our hearts and the prayers of all our loved ones come before You; may You strengthen and preserve them, delivering them from despair and healing them from all that harms them in body, mind , heart and soul.
People: May our faith in You be realized through the healing of our lives. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. We will praise You forever. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 79)

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, let the scriptures speak to our heart and minds, as if Christ was preaching to us at this time in our lives. Open our spirits to His sacred presence and grant us a new beginning today. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:12)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication: Lord Jesus, we have come into Your presence to be taught by Your word, and to be reconnected to God. With cheerful and thankful hearts, we bring before You our tithes and gifts. We pray that You will accept and bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 16:7)

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Jesus live within us and shape our daily lives; may the Father reveal His works to us each day; and may the Holy Spirit keep us worshipping the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen. (2 Corinthians 4:10)

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Sunday prayers - Sep 09, 2007

Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation
Pastor: Our souls long for Your salvation, O Lord, and we have placed our hopes in Your word.
People: All Your commands are trustworthy, O God; help us, in the midst of all our troubles.
Pastor: Preserve our lives according to Your love; and help us obey the statutes of Your mouth, by praising and glorifying Your Name forever.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession

Guide: Almighty Lord, whose holiness and perfection are beyond our comprehension; whose power and glory are infinitely above all that we can achieve; we humbly bow in Your Presence, seeking Your Salvation and the comfort of Your Grace.
People: All powerful God, we are ashamed of our arrogant behavior and sinful lives. Instead of following Your ways, we sometimes choose to be led by our greed and desires, our opinions and pride.

Guide: Gracious Father, speak to our hearts and change our foolish ways. In the midst of our problems and struggles with life, be our constant guide. When fear or anxiety threaten our faith, be our strength and shield. When we selfishly fall away from Your influence and care, grasp hold of our souls and return us to Your Love.
People: Merciful Lord, when our familiarity with You breeds contempt and when we take You for granted, doing our own things, living our own lives and cheapening Your Grace, forgive us and cleanse us, reclaim us and restore us through Your Son Jesus Christ, to whom we now individually and silently pray for pardon.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Heavenly Lord, we thank You the forgiveness of our past mistakes and personal sins. We praise for bringing Jesus into the world and into our lives, so that we may have the opportunity of being restored to Your Holy Kingdom.

People: In the Name of our Savior, we make these prayers and unite our hearts in His Spirit, saying, “Our Father, ...”


Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God, whose perfect obedience and holy life fulfilled God’s great plan of salvation. Through Jesus, we have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins, renewed in spirit and perfectly prepared for God’s Coming Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah reigns! Amen.

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: The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
People: For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Pastor: We have come into God’s Holy Presence, seeking His peace in this Holy place.
People: O Lord, cleanse our souls and grant healing for our hearts; lift up our spirits and lead us by Your Truth.
Pastor: May we receive these blessings from the LORD and may our loved ones be touched by our Savior’s healing power.
People: May we be united as a generation of those who seek Him, who seek God’s healing in all our lives. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord is strong and mighty. He is the King of Glory and the Healer of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader : Holy Spirit, make us glad in our hearts as we rejoice in Christ’s holy words. Enable us to live in hope through the power of the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication : Lord Jesus, we follow Your Loving example by sacrificing these gifts from our resources and humbly placing them before Your Holy Throne. Bless these tokens of gratitude for the work of Your church here on earth. Help us to use these gifts for the proclamation of Your Word, the enhancing of Your Kingdom and the glorifying of Your Name. Amen.


Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Jesus speak to our spirits and lead us everyday; may the Father fortify our faith and send us out into the world; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to minister to the people we encounter each and everyday. Glory to God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude