Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 2B - January 18

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Herald:                 We believe in One God, the Father Almighty.

People:                 He is the Maker of Heaven and Earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

Herald:                 Let us worship and glorify God together. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  God of God and Light of Light, before all the worlds began, You existed. Before Time came into being, You endured. Your wonders of creation astound us. Your ways throughout the cosmos amaze us. We are pleased to come into Your presence. We are glad that You have called us to be here.

People:                 Lord of Life, by whom all things were made, and whose only Son came down from heaven for our salvation, we praise and adore You above all else in our lives. We praise You for our Lord Jesus, who came into our world by the incarnate power of the Holy Spirit and the humble assent of the Virgin Mary. We also confess to You that we are human and sinful, weak and faithless, as well as proud and selfish.

Guide:                  Christ of our hearts, our sins led to Your suffering, and our constant mistakes caused You to be crucified under Pontius Pilate. You died the death that we deserve. We condemned and buried You with our unfaithful ways and careless misdeeds. Hear us now as we solemnly confess our faults and ask forgiveness from You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Almighty Father, we praise You for Jesus, for His obedience, sacrifice, and resurrection. On the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, then He ascended into heaven and now sits by Your right hand. We await His glorious return and thank You for His love and grace. We conclude our confessions and prayers in the words of the One who will judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end, saying,  “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus was sent into the world for our salvation. He brought the good news of the gospel to us and sealed its truth with His blood. We are blessed by His wounds and restored to God’s favor through His unique power and divine authority. In Christ’s Name, we pray. 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:                 We believe in You, O Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life. You proceed from the Father and the Son, therefore we will worship and glorify You forever.

People:                 Long ago, You spoke by the prophets; today, we pray, You will speak to our hearts. Heal us and all our loved ones of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit.

Leader:                 Your compassion is universal; Your power is conveyed through the prayers of the Church. Hear us, O Lord, and grant us Your favor as we silently make known our petitions to You.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 We acknowledge the One, Triune, and Living God and are grateful for the blessings of His Son, Jesus Christ, in our lives. Amen.

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’                

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, as part of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, we are inspired by the sacred scriptures and seek to apply them every day. Open our hearts and minds to the message, meaning, and teaching of today’s scriptural passages, so that we may enhance our faith and strengthen our confidence in the Lord. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and Apostle’s Creed.

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, our souls are saved by Your sacrifice and our sins are forgiven through Your grace. You have blessed us with Your love and restored us by Your mercy. In return, we offer You these gifts, asking that You will enable us to use them wisely for the life, work and ministry of our church and all its people.  In Your Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May we turn to Christ, our Risen Lord, for faith, hope, and love; may we honor the Father who grants us resurrection from the dead; and may we rejoice with the Holy Spirit in the life of the world to come, one God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude