Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Sunday Prayers: Ordinary 22 Aug 31

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Eternal Lord, whose power is limitless and whose works are glorified throughout Creation; we come before You, seeking to please Your Spirit, and faithfully blessing Your Holy Name. Your ways still astound us and Your love strengthens our hearts, therefore we turn to You for hope and renewal, comfort and peace.

People: Loving God, You know us completely and comprehend all of our ways. You see the mistakes that we make and observe all of our foolish and selfish choices. You bring us here to confess our sins and silently admit our guilt. You lead us to this sacred moment when we ask for pardon and seek Your grace. Hear us now as we privately pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Immortal Father, we are gathered in Christ' Name. Only He can cleanse us of the past and restore us to Your Kingdom. His sacrifice is our salvation; His obedience is our offering. His perfection is our prayer. His cross is our confession.

People: We make these prayers in the Holy Name of Jesus and through His everlasting words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus amazed His own people with His knowledge and preaching of the Gospel. Those things still amaze us today, but we are also astonished by His bravery and courage, which led Him to the Cross - to suffer and die for our sins. Only He can restore us to God. Only He can take us into the glorious, eternal Kingdom. So let us rejoice and give thanks for Christ our Savior is supreme and His grace is more than sufficient for all our needs. 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

Minute for Mission

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Throughout the day, from beginning to end, we will praise the Name of the Lord. He is exalted over all the nations; His glory extends from heaven to earth.

People: Our God is sovereign of all that we know; His power is displayed among His people. The Lord looks down upon the earth and sees all of our problems and troubles.

Pastor: He raises us from the pits of despair; in the midst of our pain, He fulfills our needs. May the Lord hear our prayers for all our loved ones and ourselves. May He bring healing to our hearts, peace to our minds, strength to our bodies and comfort for our souls.

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

Pastor: May the Lord restore our hopes and accept our prayers. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 113)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with Christ's teaching and love. Enable us to understand and retain today's message, so that we may apply these lessons each day of our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, You have enabled our church to come together to sing praises to God, to pray for one another, and to receive the blessings of Your words. We now bring to You our thankful response. Take these gifts and tithes for Your continuous ministry amongst us and Your mission throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ continue to direct our lives each day; may the Father encourage us to devote more of our time to His Kingdom; and may the Holy Spirit inspire us to go out into the world expressing our faith, with joy, hope and love. To the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and evermore. Amen.

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

Friday, August 22, 2008

Sunday Prayers: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - 24 Aug

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty God, whose kingdom never ends and whose sovereignty is limitless, we praise Your wonderful works and glorify Your godly ways. When our spirits are downcast and we are weary, You refresh our souls and grant us strength. When our hopes diminish and our beliefs falter, restore us to Your love and favor.
People: Gracious Father, sometimes we lack understanding of our faith and the responsibilities You expect us to fulfill. Sometimes we focus too much on ourselves and forget the needs of other people. We are sorry for those moments and seek Your mercy. Enable us now to turn to You, to silently confess our sins and wait upon Your grace.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Everlasting God, without Jesus, we are nothing. Without His Death, we have no life. Without His forgiveness, we have no future. In Him, we are shielded from Your wrath and through Him, we are restored to Your blessed love.
People: Our confessions are made in the precious and Holy Name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, in whose words we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus comes amongst us to teach us His truth, to win us with His words, and to liberate us through His glorious life. We have sincerely confessed our mistakes to Him, so we are now wonderfully and completely forgiven. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our King and Everlasting Savior. 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: Let us revere the LORD and delight in His healing power. God is mighty throughout the earth and we are blessed by His compassion.
People: The LORD enriches our lives with His resources; His righteousness endures forever. In the midst of our troubles, God is gracious and supportive. In our time of fear, He is faithful.
Pastor: May the goodness of the Lord come to us; may He free us from all that harms our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. May God strengthen our loved ones and heal them. May the Holy Spirit bring them peace of mind, renew their hopes and restore their health.

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

Pastor: May our hearts be steadfast, as we trust in the Lord and make our prayers in Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 112)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, You enrich our lives so that we may share our faith with other people. Bless us with these sacred words and enable us to apply them in a practical, effective and positive way. In the glorious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, by Your words, we are shown how to live our lives. Through our deeds, we express to the world how much we believe in You. You call upon us to give of our time, talents and treasures to the ministries and missions that our church is expected to fulfill. Bless our tithes and offerings, which are symbols of our dedication and devotion to You. Enable us to be faithful servants and Christian witnesses in our congregation and community. In Your Holy name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ enable us to please our neighbors with faith and love; may the Father continually call us to be kind and good to the people we encounter each day; and may the Holy Spirit grant us the resources and strength to enhance and build up the faith in all whom we love and all whom we know. To the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Sunday prayers - 20th in ordinary Time - 17 Aug 2008

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Eternal Lord of Heaven and Earth, whose power fortifies our spirits and whose love sustains our lives; we come before You as chosen children and elected worshippers, as humble servants and blessed heirs. You have never abandoned Your faithful people nor forsaken Your sacred promises. You have allowed us to abide in Your Presence and to seek refuge in Your sanctuary.
People: Merciful God, we have sinfully taken You for granted. We have placed our own wants above Your will. We have selfishly made our own foolish choices, opposing Your perfect counsel. Have mercy upon us and forgive our reckless acts of disobedience, disinterest and disdain. Pardon us for being uncaring, unfaithful and unholy. Hear us now as we silently seek Your forgiveness for all our faults and fallen ways.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Gracious Father, we seek salvation from Your Holy Jesus Christ, our Lord. By His supreme sacrifice, our mistakes are pardoned and our sins are absolved. Through His Grace, we are restored to Your Favor and set free from the past.
People: We make these confessions in Christ’s Name and place our lives into His Hands. In His holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: We are not afraid to worship Jesus and broadcast His Name in the world, for He alone has the power on earth to grant us God’s everlasting peace He is the High Priest of our hearts and the sacred Savior of our souls. So let us rejoice and express our faith in the praising and glorifying of His Name forever. 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: Let us extol the Lord with all our hearts in this place of holiness and healing. Great are the works of the LORD; we will recall His words and delight in them.
People: Glorious and majestic are the deeds of God; His righteousness endures forever. We remember His wonderful ways, for the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
Pastor: May He provide strength and sustenance for those who need Him; may He remember the prayers of our people for health, hope and healing. May the Lord show us the power of His works to us and our loved ones; may he set us free from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Hear us now, Gracious God, as we silently pray.

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

Pastor: The works of God’s hands are faithful and just; we will trust all of His merciful ways. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 111)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, You know us by name and call us into Christ’s service. Let His words and teaching challenge our lives, so that we may better honor and glorify His sacred Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings, Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: (unison)

Lord Jesus, You speak to us everyday in our lives and grant us many blessings. From the fruits of our work and the plenty of our resources, we place our tithes and offerings before You. Take these gifts and consecrate them for the ministries You want to accomplish by our church, in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give our lives and seek Your blessing. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: (unison) May Christ be all the strength that we need each day; may the Father support us in times of weakness and failure; and may the Holy Spirit teach us to delight in the Lord by pleasing the One, triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Sunday prayers 19th in Ordinary Time 08-10-08

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty Creator and Immortal Lord, whose holiness purifies the universe, and whose sacred words sustain all life; we humbly gather before You as servants seeking to honor You and as sinners needing salvation. Your ways are beyond our imagining and Your noble works have been glorified for centuries. We reverently approach Your Throne of grace, looking for mercy, favor and love.

People: Heavenly Father, we have built barriers of pride and prejudice, insolence and ignorance, faithlessness and fear around our souls. We have damaged our spirits by our greedy ways; we have diminished our faith by our selfish sins. Remove the sinful fruits of our fallen lives. Pardon our guilt and forgive our foolish choices. Enable us to seek Your Son Jesus Christ to crush the rocks of rebellion in our hearts and restore the foundations of His peace in our minds. Hear us now as we confess and pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Loving Father, Your forgiveness restores us to Your divine favor and godly grace. The blood of Jesus Christ our Lord has atoned for our guilt. Without His sacrifice, we would have no salvation. Without His perfect obedience, we would have no everlasting hope.

People: Our prayers are given in the Name of Jesus Christ and through His words, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…” THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus lived among us to show us God's love. His goodness and grace established in the hearts and minds of many people a new faith, a new understanding, and a new hope. We have received His blessings and are called to be His disciples. He forgives all our faults and releases us from the wrath of God. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our Savior and we are restored to God's everlasting favor. 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 Glenfinnan

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: O Lord, come amongst us and let Your Spirit abide in our presence. Loving Father, extend Your power and favor upon us as we pray.
People: In the midst of all that troubles us, be our strength. Throughout our times of worry and fear, be our shield. You are our constant hope and the solid foundation of our faith, so we present our prayers for healing to You alone.
Pastor: Gracious Lord, hold us in Your precious hand. Heal us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. Let Your sovereign and sacred power touch all our loved ones in the midst of their pain, sickness and distress. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor: Lord, refresh our spirits with Your love that heals. Lift up our hearts, so that we may praise You alone. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 110)

Singing of ‘Jesus Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, sow seeds of salvation within our hearts and minds. Let the scriptures enrich our lives so that we may serve Christ all of our days. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication:
Lord Jesus, across the centuries You have spoken to our people in the language of hope, faith and love. Today, we willingly give of ourselves and our resources to continue Your sacred work on earth. Bless our tithes and offerings. May they be used for the praising of God and the glorifying of His kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ diminish our doubts by enhancing our faith each day; may the Father sustain us by supplying our daily needs; and may the Holy Spirit keep us from sin with good guidance and constant counsel; to the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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