Holy Week worship ideas

My new devotional e-book for Holy Week called 'Eight Sacred Days, has been published on Amazon.com. It contains artwork, morning devotions, mid-day prayers, and evening poems of reflection for each day of Holy Week.

I wrote the book for the many Christians that I know whose lives are very busy. because they are under a lot of pressure, they might forget about the purpose of Holy Week and miss out on the spiritual strength that it brings.

The e-book is not just available for Kindle users, but for everyone who has downloaded the Kindle app (free) for their Macs, PCs, phones, and any other mobile devices. At 99c for the book, this is a great investment in a relatively easy yet still meaningful daily journey of faith.

Check out the details of the book at the following link:

Easter Sunday Worship Prayers - March 31

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Christ is Risen!

People:                 He is Risen indeed!

Youth:                   Let us praise and glorify Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior forevermore. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord of all the Earth and King of every nation, we applaud Your wonderful deeds and exalt Your Name above all others. Your power has been experienced and praised by every generation. You have enhanced this planet with hope and faith through the glorious resurrection of Your Holy Son.

People:                 Great and Everlasting God of the Universe, we seek to serve You in this sacred sanctuary; we look to praise and honor You with our hearts and lives. On this Easter Day, we come to You rejoicing in the Good News, but also seeking forgiveness for our sinful ways. We look for mercy of all our foolish decisions and we plead for pardon of our past mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious Lord, Your Sovereignty extends over all our lives. You are above and beyond all that we can ever experience or know. Without Your grace, our lives are meaningless. Without Your Son, we have no salvation.

We make our confessions in the Name of Jesus, the Holy One, whose sacrifice takes away our sins. In His own words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father …THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                                  We can only go to Jesus for forgiveness, for He alone has the authority to restore us to God. Above all others, He has the words of eternal life. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and Lord forever. 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:                 O LORD, You ask us to be faithful in times of trouble. Hear us now as we pray for help and grant us relief from sickness and suffering. Enable us to hold on to hope and take courage in Your promises. In the face of fear, never forsake us. In times of isolation, be our Comforter. Help us and heal us, O Lord. Strengthen and support us, console our spirits and lighten our burdens.

People:                 Loving Lord, when we are overcome with worry or weariness, grant us peace of mind and rest for our souls. When we are anxious about our families and friends, bestow upon them wholeness and healing that will generate joy and faith in their lives. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The LORD is our fortress of faith and the Rock of our redemption, in whom we take refuge. We pray in the power of Jesus’ Name. Amen.   (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 94)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, may we continue to praise God for all that happens in these scriptures. May these resurrection stories and events draw us closer to His ways and enable us to share our faith with other people, to the glory of Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You have clearly called us to be here today. We have learned of Your wonderful victory over death and studied God's Everlasting Word. Bless these offerings and tithes, as we dedicate them to Your continuing work in this world. May our gifts enhance Your mission to spread the Gospel throughout our community, and all over the Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction:  (in unison)              May Christ enable us to live each day for Him alone; may the Father free us from fear and keep us in His constant care; and may the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith, so that we may continually worship the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Good Friday Worship Service - Friday March 29,2013

Good Friday Service – March 29^th, 2013

Prelude

First reading:                      Mark 15:1-15 – Jesus Before Pilate

Hymn:                                   84           In the Cross of Christ I Glory

Second reading:                               Mark 15:16-20 – The Soldiers Mock Jesus

Prayer of Confession

Pastor:                  Almighty God, we come before You quietly and reverently, seeking the presence of Your Holy Spirit in our sanctuary and the grace of Your sacred son in our hearts.

People:                 We know that we are sinful and confess to being unchristian at times. We frequently let You down by disappointing others, discarding Your words, and diminishing Your influence over our lives.

Pastor:                  On this solemn night, when we acknowledge the terrible sacrifice of Your Only Son, we also recognize that our sins nailed Him to the Cross, and our selfish ways caused Him to die.

People:                 Forgive us, Lord God, and cleanse us through the power of Christ’s blood. Restore us to Your sacred Kingdom and allow us the promises of everlasting life. For we ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior, and King forever. Amen.

Third reading:                    Mark 15:21-32 – The Crucifixion

Hymn:                                   100         When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Fourth reading:                 Mark 15:33-41 – The Death of Jesus

Choir anthem?

Homily

Silence

Communion by intinction

Hymn:                                   92           Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Fifth reading:                     Mark 15:42-47 – The Burial of Jesus

Exit silently

Sunday Worship prayers - Palm Sunday - March 24

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Hosanna to the Lord in the highest Heaven!

All:                          Blessed are those who welcome Him into their hearts.

Youth:                   May the Lord come among us and bless us forever. Amen!

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Everlasting God, we gather together as Your Holy people, called and chosen to be in this sacred place of praise and prayer, of joy and jubilation. We welcome Your Son Jesus Christ into our hearts and seek to please You by worshipping Him.

People:                 Gracious Lord, we know that we have been foolish, selfish, and sinful at times. We recognize that we have made mistakes, as well as bad choices and faithless decisions. We are sorry for those moments when temptation has caused us to get angry, be bitter, remain proud, and be insensitive to those around us. Hear us now as we confess our faults and silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Eternal Lord, on this special day which starts this Holy Week, we look forward to the victory of Christ over sin and death. His sacrifice has cleared our mistakes. His grace can renew and bring rebirth to our lives. We make our petitions in the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                                  Christ chooses us to become His disciples, yet He has to deal with our sinful nature and human failings. He has overcome both death and sin, so that our souls can be resurrected to a new beginning. Let us rejoice and give thanks, for Christ has blessed us with an everlasting hope and He has saved our lives forever.  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 praise the LORD with new hearts; let us rejoice with all the earth and glorify His Name. Each day, we will proclaim the Lord's salvation; each week, we will come to Him with our praises. The Lord has done marvelous deeds among His people, therefore let us ask Him to heal our lives.

People:                 O LORD, You made the heavens and sustain the nations; be merciful to us and grant us healing from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Gracious God, there is power and strength in this sanctuary; listen to our prayers and attend to the needs of our loved ones who are ill, distressed, worried, or depressed.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 We will worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness. We will give thanks throughout this day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 96)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, release us from our fears and restore us to God's heart. Open our minds to this glorious message of hope, so that we may gladly receive Christ as our King and report His words to all our people. In Jesus' Name, we ask. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, through the act of cheerful and thankful giving, we offer You these tokens. Bless them for Your wonderful ways that have changed the world forever. Enable us to rededicate our lives this day, in the holy service of Your Kingdom, both now and forevermore. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction: ( in unison)              May Christ resurrect our faith by becoming Lord of our lives; may we know the Father's compassion and grace throughout our days; and may the Holy Spirit keep us glorifying and worshipping the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship prayers - Lent 5C - March 17

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   O Lord of Life, whose presence is all around in the beauty of Creation, we come to worship You alone.

People:                 Open our hearts to Your loving ways and fill our souls with Your sacred power.

Youth:                   Bless us this day, Lord God, and make us one in faith, hope, and love forever. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord of all Creation, we proclaim You as our One, True, and Holy God. We seek to serve You as Your people and hope to please You with our praises. We thank You for bringing us to this special place of peace and prayer.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we want to honor You with our lives and completely follow Your ways.

Sometimes we fall into temptation and separate ourselves from Your Love, as well as closing our spirits to Your commands. Forgive us for rejecting Your words and damaging our faith by our unloving, unholy, and un-Christian actions. Hear us now as we humbly confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, You could condemn us for being sinful, but instead You graciously give us Your Son Jesus to die for our failures, faults, and fallen ways. By His wounds, we are healed. By His sacrifice, we are forgiven and restored to You forever. We bring these prayers in Christ’s Name and through His own words, we unite our hearts with Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                                  Jesus saves us from being eternally separated from God. He wants us to choose life over death, faith over fear, and obedience over defiance. When we sincerely come to Him for forgiveness, He grants us mercy and grace. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus our Savior rescues us forever. 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:                  The LORD reigns, He is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. God establishes our world and sustains our lives. We are finite and frail, in need of help, healing and wholeness. We lift up our voices of prayer to God, from our anxious hearts and troubled minds.

People:                 Mighty Redeemer, have mercy upon us and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. We also bring to You our families and friends,our  colleagues and neighbors who need Your Loving touch and holy healing. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The LORD is merciful and holy; just and faithful. He hears our prayers in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

                                (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 93)

Unison Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, help us to see what Christ is doing amongst us. Enable us to hear His words from these holy passages. Teach us His ways so that we may tell others of His ministry, mission, and kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison, led by Pastor):    Lord Jesus, we have worshipped You in song and praised You with our music. We have gathered our tithes and offerings and placed them before Your throne. Take these tokens and bless them, so that we may bring life to Your words by ministering to our congregation, our community, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May the God of everlasting hope fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him this day, so that we may joyfully witness to the continuing mission of His Son Jesus Christ, and remain faithful to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude