Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Sunday prayers 16th In Ordinary Time 20 July

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty and Everlasting Lord, Ever-present and All-powerful Creator, we humbly worship You and revere Your Holy Name. Your ways are mysterious and Your deeds declare Your Sovereignty over this world, so we respectfully approach Your Holy Throne.

People: Gracious Father, we fall short of Your standards and keep making mistakes. We allow pride to strike our hearts and greed to wound our spirits. We have no peace in our souls because of guilt and sorrow, envy and resentment. We fight against our faith and question Your Counsel, by yielding to temptation and falling into sin. Hear us now as we personally and silently confess our faults to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful God, Your Son Jesus was killed by people just like us. He died for them and sacrificed Himself for us. Without His death, we have no eternal life. Without His grace, we have no everlasting hope.

People: Loving Lord, we thank You for the power of salvation and the completeness of Christ's pardon. In His Name and through His precious words, we now pray, saying “Our Father...” THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: All that Jesus says will be fulfilled. When we receive Him in our hearts and confess our faults sincerely, He can and will forgive us. He alone has the authority to cancel out the debt that we owe to God for our sinful past. So let us rejoice and give thanks to God, for Christ's mercy and grace remains with His people, both now and always. 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever. The LORD redeems us from our troubles and will rescue us from our fears.

People: When we worry and wander away from God, He is constantly watching us. When we are weak and our faith is diminished, He is our strength and source of comfort.

Pastor: In the midst of all our anxieties, let us cry to God for help and the healing of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. May He deliver all our loved ones from illness and injury, sickness and sadness, discomfort and distress. Hear us now, Heavenly Father as we bring to You our healing prayers.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.

Pastor: May we give thanks to the Lord and His unfailing love. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 107)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, may Christ meet all our needs through these words of scripture. May our lives be filled with hope, encouragement and strength by all that Jesus does and says. In Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: Lord Jesus, You have spoken to our spirits in this church and called each of us by name. We present to You our tithes and offerings to honor Your life, ministry and mission. May our church flourish by the preaching of Your Word and the praising of God's Name. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ continue to feed our souls with the word of God; may the Father cleanse our hearts with His grace and love; and may the Holy Spirit keep us attentive to our faith and free from stumbling. To the Glory of the One, Triune and Living God. For ever and ever. Amen.

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

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