Monday, March 28, 2016

Sunday prayers - Easter 2 - April 03

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                 The Lord embraces the weak and needy; He watches over those who are poor and oppressed.
People:                 God presides over all the Earth; He judges the nations justly and fairly.
Pastor:                 Let us humbly enter the presence of the One, Triune, and Living God, to give Him our praises. Amen.

First Hymn

Guide:                  Lord of hope and blessing, God of peace and joy, we gather in Your sacred house to offer You our worship and adoration, as well as our prayers and petitions, knowing that You gladly hear and receive them. In the midst of anxious and troubled times, You embrace and care for us in many mysterious and personal ways.
People:                Gracious God, we often struggle to overcome temptation and there are moments when we fail to respect or honor You with our thoughts, words, and deeds. Forgive us when we forget to heed Your guiding Spirit, or when we neglect to follow Your commands. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, we begin each day with the best of intentions, but always seem to fall short of Your expectations. Today, we ask forgiveness from Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son, whose sacrifice purchased our salvation, and whose blood cleansed our guilty past. In His Sacred Name, we make these prayers and continue with His words, saying, "Our Father …THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).


Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus often confronted the people of His time with God’s Truth, which they did not always want to embrace or understand. Today, we are given His same message, which seeks to challenge and change our ways. Christ forgives us of all our sins, but He also expects us forgive one another. Let us rejoice in His grace and praise His Holy Name. 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.

Anthem
Minute for Mission?

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us rejoice in God's sacred house; let us receive His strength and blessing. This is where we come, as people of God, to praise His name and glorify His greatness. We pray for His peace to come into our lives; we await His holy presence.
People:                 O Lord, we seek Your mercy and grace; hear us as we pray. We need Your compassion and care. Heal us, and all for whom we pray, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.

Pastor:                  May there be peace and hope, strength and recovery for each of our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.                  (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 122)

Singing of 'Sanctuary’.

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, You bless us with guidance and encouragement, as well as comfort and counsel. Open our hearts and minds to the message of these scriptures and enable us to apply their lessons in our daily lives.  In Jesus' Name, we ask.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You have risen from the dead to show us the way to eternal life. You have given us absolutely everything from God; we know that we can never repay our debt to You. With grateful spirits and cheerful hearts, we bring before You our treasures, talents, and time. Take these gifts for the work of Your ministry, the spreading of the Gospel, and the glorifying of God’s Name.  Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn

Benediction:      May Christ come into our hearts to challenge our ways and change our lives; may the Father bless us with joy and love; and may the Holy Spirit continue to refresh our souls and renew our commitment to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore.  Amen.

Doxology & Postlude