Monday, November 24, 2014

Christmas 1 Sunday prayers - Dec 28

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude
Gathering Song

Call to Worship
Herald:                 The LORD is our shepherd, we shall not be in want.
People:                 He guides us to this place of peace; He leads us into His sacred presence.
Herald:                 The Lord restores our souls and guides us every day. Let us worship and glorify God! Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Father, in whose Name we gather and to whom we dedicate our lives, accept the praises of our lips and the prayers of hearts. Your power is beyond our imagining and Your ways are often mysterious; today we seek Your blessing and long to experience Your Holy Presence.
People:                 Gracious Lord, at times we fail to accomplish Your bidding. There are moments each day when we fall foul to temptation, pride, anger, and greed. We concentrate on fulfilling the grand dreams for our lives, yet fail to complete little acts of kindness and compassion on a daily basis.  Forgive our sins of indifference, intolerance, and ignorance. Cleanse us of our careless ways and heal us of our heedless paths. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You.
- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, we realize that without Jesus, we would have to pay the eternal consequences of all our mistakes. We thank You for sending Him into our world and we praise You for His Sacrifice which grants us forgiveness, hope, and peace forevermore. We make these prayers in Jesus’’ Name, and through His Words, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ came down from heaven to feed us with faith, heal us through hope, and liberate us with love. we are made precious in God’s sight through Christ’s obedience, sacrifice, and grace. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and we are restored to God’s love, 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

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 O LORD Almighty, we gather in this dwelling place to experience peace and healing. We yearn for Your grace and love; we cry out and pray for Your mercy and favor.
People:                 In this holy house, we humbly ask that You bless us with strength and compassion. In Your sacred sight, renew our hearts and restore our souls to Your peace.
Pastor:                 Turn our tears into smiles; change our sorrow into gladness; replace our fears with faith and let our loved ones experience release from suffering, freedom from distress, and recovery from any illness, injury, or instability.
Hear us now as we silently bring to You our personal prayers for healing.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The LORD God is our sun and shield. He alone honors our prayers and favors our requests. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                 (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 84)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination
Reader:                 Holy Spirit, encourage us to embrace Christ’s words and receive His teaching. Help us to be drawn to Him through the power of these sacred scriptures. Allow us to build our lives upon His truth, life, and way. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings
The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we are the children of God’s grace and the heirs of His Kingdom. We humbly bring before You our offerings and ask that You will continue to bless them for Your work in this church and throughout this community. We pledge our hearts to You and dedicate our lives to the One, Triune, and Living God. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enhance our understanding of His plans for today’s world; may the Father awaken our spirits to His works of compassion and care; and may the Holy Spirit lead us each day to witness to the glories of salvation and the grace of the One, Triune, and Holy God, both now and evermore. Amen.


Doxology & Postlude

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