Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Sunday prayers for September 7 - Ordinary 23A, Proper 18A, Pentecost 13

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude
Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Let us give thanks to God for His goodness and righteousness.
People:                 We will worship and glorify the Lord Most High.
Liturgist:               Let us come into His presence with rejoicing and thanksgiving. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, whose mercy and grace blesses our lives, we praise You for the promises of hope that You have made, in order to sustain humankind. You have gathered us to worship You in this holy sanctuary. We delight in Your sacred ways and wholeheartedly accept Your authority over our lives.
People:                 Gracious Father, we have faltered in our faith by allowing our pride, selfishness, and sinful choices to stain our souls. We have been deceived by our desires and distracted by our wants. Forgive us for surrendering to temptation by ignoring Your Holy commands. Hear us now, as we seek Your pardon with our silent prayers.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Precious Lord, only Your Son Jesus Christ can save us from our sins. Only He can rescue us from the eternal consequences of our mistakes and choices. He is the Savior of our souls and the Restorer of our salvation. He alone is worthy of our worship, and the deserving of our praise. We make these confessions in Christ's Name and continue to pray in His everlasting words saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus was sent by God to teach us new ways to worship and serve God. He glorified His Heavenly Father by fulfilling the tasks He set out to accomplish. Christ's sacrifice saved our souls. Christ's teaching restored us to God’s Kingdom. Christ's obedience reclaimed us as the sons and daughters of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung - 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

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 We have come from our homes, O God, to Your house of holiness and healing. In this sacred sanctuary, we willingly place our lives under Your dominion and power. When we are overwhelmed with fear or anxiety, we need Your peaceful presence, O Lord. When our hearts are filled with hope and we seek to celebrate, we seek Your love around us, O Lord.
People:                When our bodies experience pain and our loved ones are distressed, we need Your healing power, O Lord. Help us and heal us, as well as our loved ones and all for whom we pray. Hear us now.

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

Pastor: May the Lord answer our prayers by changing our lives, refreshing our spirits, and healing our bodies. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.    (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 114)

Unison Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, touch our hearts with today’s scriptures and transform our thinking. Keep us focused on our faith, and grant us many opportunities to apply this lesson in our daily lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.                                  

Scripture Readings
The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You have granted us a sacred understanding of Your ways and given us guidance for our lives. We thank You for these blessings and show our gratitude by offering our gifts and tithes to You. Take them and bless them for the work of Your church, which continues to glorify God and His Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray.  Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn

Benediction: (unison)    May Christ enable us to endure faithfully and witness effectively each day; may the Father continue to encourage us with His everlasting love; and may the Holy Spirit enhance our hope, so that we may joyfully worship and glorify the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always.  Amen.


Doxology & Postlude

No comments: