Advent 4 worship prayers - Fourth Sunday in Advent - 19 December

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Family:            This is the Fourth Sunday in Advent and we seek the Lord’s blessing.

All:                  His Peace heals our pain and His Love liberates our souls.

(Lighting of Three Purple Advent Candles and Pink Joy candle)

Family:            Since we have been justified through our faith, we have everlasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide: Everlasting Lord, whose ways are beyond our imagining and whose will is beyond our control, we assemble in Your Holy Presence and gather to praise Your Sacred Name.

People: Almighty God, whose covenants have always been fulfilled, and whose compassion is unequalled, we gladly worship Your Power and glorify Your wonderful deeds.

Guide: Heavenly Father, when sin affects our souls and we willfully damage our spirits by yielding to temptation, enable us to humbly seek Your forgiveness, and grant us the favor of Your pardon. You alone have the authority to condemn us or forgive us, to judge us or justify us. Hear us now as we personally make our confessions to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Gracious God, You are our refuge and hiding place, our safe haven and sanctuary. Your Holy Son Jesus Christ has purchased our salvation with His own blood. We are grateful for the opportunity to be acquitted of our past mistakes and restored to Your love and blessing.  We humbly make these confessions in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Only Savior and precious Lord, in whose words we faithfully pray, saying,

"Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  God sent Jesus into the world to heal it of all its unholiness and to reclaim creation to God's Kingdom. We know Jesus as our Savior and Christ, our Peace Bringer and Soul Restorer. So let us gladly rejoice in His perfect obedience, complete forgiveness and everlasting reassurance. In His Name. Amen.

Gloria Patri: 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 of Life, in the midst of weakness or strength, we place our hope in Your sacred words. When we are fearful or anxious, O God, we look to You for comfort and compassion.

People:                        In times of distress or despair, we will not forget Your words of holiness and healing. When our patience is stretched and our peace is broken, reassure us with Your presence and strengthen us with Your love.

Pastor:             When we fall down, or when we feel feeble or frail, do not forsake or abandon us; do not forget our pleas or reject our prayers. Compassionate Father, we appeal to Your mercy and grace and we ask for healing. Restore all our loved ones, and us to health and wholeness. Protect us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor: Preserve us according to Your gracious words. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Healer of the World and Savior to the Nations. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Kaph)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:             Holy Spirit, release us from our fears and strengthen our faith in Jesus. Let God's word bring us closer to Him and equip us to go out into the world liberated by Your love and inspired by this message. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison)   Lord Jesus, You have taught us to cheerfully give of ourselves to You and God's Kingdom. You have sacrificed Your life for our salvation, so we gratefully bring to You these gifts and tithes, praying that You will accept them for the life, ministry and work of Your church here in this congregation, our community, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):

May Christ lead us each day to accomplish His purpose for our lives; may the Father's gracious love keep us always in obedience to Him; and may the Holy Spirit continually influence us so that we may glorify and praise the One, Triune and Living God, from this day forth and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology        Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

Advent 2 worship prayers: Second in Advent - December 05

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Advent 2 Call to Worship

Family:            This is the Second Sunday in Advent and we continue to look for our Savior.

All:                  We will prepare the Way of the Lord and await His Presence.

(Lighting of Two Purple Advent Candles)

Family:            We have been released from the law so that we serve God in the new way of Christ’s Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Amen.

Gathering & Prelude

Hymn:

Prayer of adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Eternal Majesty, whose riches and resources are unlimited; whose power is absolute and abounding with holiness; we gather before You in this place of praise, peace, and prayer. You have set apart this time in our lives to worship and adore You. We have responded to Your call and we continue to bless Your Holy Name.
People:            Precious Father, we confess our sins to You. We have stored up bitterness in our hearts. We have allowed pride to damage our souls. We have hurt other people with our words and disappointed You with our deceptions. We have fulfilled our own desires and cast aside Your commandments.
Guide:             Holy God, we have tampered with our faith by falling into temptation. We have neglected our devotion to Your Son by satisfying our dreams and needs. Forgive us, Gracious God, for we repent of our reckless ways and diminished faith. Hear us now as we personally seek Your pardon.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Compassionate Creator, who permits us to call upon Your Son for help, healing, and wholeness, we praise You for the promises of salvation through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. Without His obedience to You, without His sacrificial death on the Cross, we would remain totally unforgiven  and cast out from Your Holy Presence. In Christ’s own precious words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus is the King of Creation and the Lord of our lives. We did not give this honor to Him. Through His complete devotion and perfect obedience, God bestowed upon Jesus all authority on earth and in heaven to forgive our sins, to restore us to God’s favor, and to be welcomed into His Eternal Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our One, True and Only Savior, both now and always. 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.
Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor:             Your healing love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your strength is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.
People:            O LORD, we pray that you will preserve our lives and loved ones. How precious is your unfailing love and mercy to us! May our families and friends find refuge in Your presence and healing from all that harms them.
Pastor:            May we all regain our health and strength from the abundance of Your power; may You grant us our petitions and delight us with Your grace. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light; through Your peace, we are released from pain; by Your love we are set free from our fears. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others.

Pastor:             Living and Gracious Lord, continue Your love to those who need You, Your healing to the most cherished of our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 36)


Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, challenge and change us through the truths that these sacred scriptures reveal. Move our hearts and show us how to fulfill Christ’s message in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings :

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison):   Lord Jesus, You know us completely and perfectly understand everything about our lives. We often fail to fulfill our service and devotion to You, and yet You still allow us to receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. With humble and sincere thanks, we offer You our time, talents, and money. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for the continuing life, work, and ministry of Your Church in this community, across this nation, and throughout the world. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn :

Benediction:    May Christ protect us from our sinful nature and keep us on His Holy path; may the Father continually cultivate our faith through His Love and Grace; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to go out into the world to effectively witness to God’s kingdom, glory and power. Both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!

First Sunday in Advent Prayers - Advent 1 - November 28

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Family:            This is the First Sunday in Advent and the beginning of a new journey of faith.

All:                  Our hope is in the Lord and we await His Return.

(Lighting of the First Purple Advent Candle)

Family:            This hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Amen.

Gathering & Prelude

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                         Almighty Lord of Life and Creator of the Cosmos, You have called us by name and we have responded to Your voice. In this house of praise and prayer, we seek Your presence and yearn for Your favor.

People:            Faithful Father, whose words bless our lives and whose ways grant us hope, we turn to You as our Counselor and Comforter, our sacred source of goodness and holiness, of strength and love.  We are also weary of our sins and regret our past mistakes; we are sorry for our failings and apologize to You for our imperfections.

Guide:                         Merciful Majesty, when we choose to ignore Your voice and follow our own counsel, forgive us. When we rebel against Your word and neglect to do good, pardon us. When idolize ourselves and cast aside Your ways, have mercy upon us. Hear us now as we humbly pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Gracious Lord, Your love sustains us and Your grace restores us. Your Son Jesus bled for our sins and died for our selfish deeds. We will always be indebted to You for grace. We will always be thankful to You for saving us.  We place our lives into Your hands and give our hearts to Jesus. By His authority we are forgiven and in His words, we now thankfully pray, saying, "Our Father..." THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:             Christ taught us about God and showed us how to live our lives. He was sent to save humanity and restore the entire world to God's Kingdom. His truth endures and we are forgiven of our past mistakes. We are returned to God's love and favor. So let rejoice forever, for we are Christ's people and through Him, we are God's favored servants. 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O LORD, You are the most important part of our lives and we have promised to obey You. Today, we seek You with all of our hearts; be gracious to us and hear our prayers.

People:                        Help us to reconsider our ways and look to You for strength and salvation. Enable us to adhere to Your sacred will and accept Your holy words.

Pastor:             Though fear and frustration, pain and perplexity may disturb our souls, we will not forget Your mercy. We give You thanks for the possibilities of prayer; we humbly ask that You heal us, our families and friends, of all that is harmful to our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves.

Pastor:             The Earth is filled with Your love, O Lord; teach us Your gracious ways. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Heth)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close.'

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:             Holy Spirit, we have gathered from different places, both near and far, to be with our families at worship. Strengthen us by Christ's mighty words, and inspire us to receive, follow, and apply His ways. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, when we ask You to guide and help us, You always answer our needs and prayers. In response to these blessings, we bring to You our tithes and offerings, as symbols of our thankfulness and tokens of our faith. Receive this offering and bless it for the continuing life, work, and mission of Your church in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):              May Christ boldly challenge our lives and change our ways; may the Father constantly remind us of His love and mercy; and may the Holy Spirit keep granting us grace, so that we may encourage other people every day to glorify the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology        Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

2010 Advent Themes and Call to Worship

2010 Advent Calls to Worship

Family:            This is the First Sunday in Advent and the beginning of a new journey of faith.

All:                  Our hope is in the Lord and we await His Return.

(Lighting of the First Purple Advent Candle)

Family:            This hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. Amen.

Family:            This is the Second Sunday in Advent and we continue to look for our Savior.

All:                  We will prepare the Way of the Lord and await His Presence.

(Lighting of Two Purple Advent Candles)

Family:            We have been released from the law so that we serve God in the new way of Christ’s Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Amen.

Family:            This is the Third Sunday in Advent and we draw nearer to the Birth of our Lord.

All:                  We will rejoice in His Kingdom and glorify His Name forever.

(Lighting of the Pink Joy Candle and Two Purple Advent Candles)

Family:            Let us become imitators of the Lord and welcome His message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

Family:            This is the Fourth Sunday in Advent and we seek the Lord’s blessing.

All:                  His Peace heals our pain and His Love liberates our souls.

(Lighting of Three Purple Advent Candles and Pink Joy candle)

Family:            Since we have been justified through our faith, we have everlasting peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.