Monday, April 16, 2012

Sunday worship prayers - Easter 3 - Third Sunday in Easter - April 22

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and announcements
Gathering

Call to Worship
Youth:             Lord, revive us again, so that we may rejoice in You.
People:           Show us Your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation.
Youth:             May we listen to what the LORD has to say, because He promises us His peace. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Lord God and Almighty Father, whose dynamic wonders surround us and whose glorious works inspire our souls, we gather before You, to praise and honor Your majestic ways. Your peace calms our restless spirits and Your blessings strengthen our faithful hearts; we worship and adore Your Holy Name.
People:           Gracious Father, we mourn the past mistakes that we have made, and lament the sinful ways we have lived. We seek forgiveness for all of our faults and mercy for our entire misdeeds. We confess our complacency and admit to our errors. Pardon our prejudices and pride. Absolve us of our ungrateful, unfaithful, and unloving ways. Hear us now as we silently pray to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Sovereign Lord, accept our confessions and receive our penitent prayers. Wash our souls in Christ's blood and cleanse our spirits from all our sins, for He alone can save and restore us. In Jesus' Name, we make our petitions and continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…” THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)


Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Christ's ministry and message were unique. His words inspired people to return to God; His ways expressed His everlasting love. Today, we receive His blessings of mercy and grace, pardon and forgiveness. Let us rejoice and exalt in the Name of Jesus, both now and forevermore.  Amen.

Gloria Patri sung in unison): 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 trust in the Lord, whose love and strength endures forever. May God surround and embrace us in the midst of our worries and cares.
People:           May He free us from our fears and keep us from all harm. May the Lord's goodness touch our lives and all whom we love.
Pastor:             May our heartfelt prayers and innermost pleas be compassionately answered. O Lord, heal our broken lives and mend our wounded souls. Strengthen our loved ones and all for whom we now pray.

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

Pastor:             As we turn to the Lord for help and healing, may He banish all our fears and grant us His peace. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 125)

Singing of 'Sanctuary.’

Prayer for illumination
Reader:           Holy Spirit, help us to consider Christ words and actions carefully. Enable us to recognize, from the message and wisdom of these scriptures, what challenges and changes need to be applied in our daily lives. In His Holy Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings
The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we bring before You our tithes and gifts, asking that You will bless them, so that Your church, in this community and throughout the world, may excel in expressing the Gospel and the building up of God's Kingdom here on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ receive us as His disciples each day; may the Father make us worthy of being His people; and may the Holy Spirit help us to faithfully serve and love the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

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

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