Sunday Worship prayers - Lent 2C - Feb 24

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to worship

Youth:   O Lord, help us to focus our hearts and minds on worshipping You.

All:         We have come into Your Holy House to praise Your Everlasting Reality.

Youth:   Bless our prayers and songs, gifts and voices. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn   

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Everlasting God, we approach You with awe and reverence; we gather in humility and service. Your Hands have formed our universe; Your Will sustains our lives. What are we that You are mindful of us? Who are we to receive Your compassion and care?

People:                 Gracious Lord, nothing is hidden from Your gaze; no secrets can be kept from Your heart. We have shamefully sinned and selfishly centered our lives upon greed, pride, desire, and deceit. We have neglected our faith, spoken angry words; we have passed by people in need, and put You to the back of our minds. We are guilty of many sins, so we seek Your compassion and ask for mercy. Hear us now as we solemnly pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving Father, we are unworthy to receive grace and yet You have given us Your Son Jesus to die for our mistakes, to take the punishment due for our sins, and to sacrifice Himself for all the wrong things we have committed, as well as for all of the right things we have omitted. Without our Savior, we would remain unforgiven. Without Christ’s obedience, we would not be restored. Hear us now as we unite our hearts with His, by saying Christ’s own words, saying “Our Father...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                                  Christ knows all of our secrets and everything that goes on in our minds, hearts, and lives. Only He can fully offer us salvation. Only He can restore us to the One, True and Living God. When we honestly believe in Him and sincerely confess our sins, He will forgive us and bring us back to God. Let us rejoice and be glad for Jesus has pardoned our foolish ways and re-established our everlasting relationship with the LORD, 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

Anthem

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Almighty God, You have been our dwelling place and healing source throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or Time began, You existed.

People:                 O LORD, how long shall we suffer? Have compassion upon us and heal all of Your servants. Satisfy our prayers with Your unfailing love, so that we may praise and glorify You every day.

Pastor:                  Make us glad by restoring our health; bring peace, hope, and healing to all our loved ones.

May Your compassionate deeds be shown to us; may the splendor of Your strength be experienced by all for whom we now pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 May the favor of the LORD rest upon us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

                                (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 90)

Unison singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, open our hearts to Christ’s teaching, and enable us to spread His message amongst the people we know and love, through applying these sacred words in our everyday lives. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:    

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, through the things that we do, we witness to others about Your ministry. Today, we gather this offering as a true token of our faith and loving response to Your sacred words. Take these gifts and tithes and bless them for Your continuing work and ways amongst us. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen. 

Hymn                                   

Benediction (in unison):  May we be drawn closer to Christ and devoted to His ministry on Earth; may the Father continue to captivate our hearts and bless our lives; and may the Holy Spirit lead us onward to that glorious day when we shall worship the One, Triune and Living God forever . Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Lent 2 - March 4

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Let us come to the Lord and praise Him from our hearts.

People:           O Lord, today we ask You to be with us, for whenever You are here, we are renewed.

Pastor:             Jesus, Lord of Life, Healer of the world, come by here this day and bless us. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Almighty Father, who preserves our land, our planet, and our people, we gather together to worship You. We come before You as seekers of Your Truth and followers of Your Way. Lord of All Being, who sustains Time and shapes History, we humbly bow in Your presence and we dearly worship Your glorious Name.

People:           Gracious God, we confess to yielding to temptation and we acknowledge that our souls have been contaminated with pride and greed, as well lust and prejudice. We grieve all of our sins, for they have offended You. We regret the mistakes that we have made, the promises that we have broken, and the wounds that we have caused. Forgive our selfish and foolish ways. Hear us now as we silently ask for mercy.

- SILENCE -

Guide:              Sovereign Lord, forgive us for the acts of faithlessness that have wounded Your Son Jesus. Pardon us for the pain that our pride has caused Him, and for the scars that our sins have sustained upon Him. We know that without Jesus, we would have no everlasting joy; without His sacrifice, we would be punished forever. In His Name we confess our sins and through His words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father, Who art in heaven...” THE LORD'S PRAYER  (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:              Christ opens our hearts and minds to the severity of our sins. By giving His life for us, He shows us how seriously God deals with our selfish and deceitful mistakes. Jesus also opens the gates of eternal freedom to those who come to Him sincerely seeking forgiveness, peace, and love. By the power of His blood, we receive mercy and are restored to God’s favor. Therefore, in Christ’s Name, let us rejoice and pray. Amen.

Gloria Patri (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 God, do not reject our prayers or afflict us with pain. Make peace with us and restore us to Your love. Our lives have been disturbed with disease and impounded with illness. Heal our broken bodies and mend our crushed spirits.

People:           In times like these, we need Your blessing. Throughout our troubles, we need Your peace. In the midst of our fears, be our Protector. Help us and all our loved ones to recover strength, to regain our health, and to renew our hope.

Pastor:             Save us from sickness and help us with Your infinite power. Deliver us from distress and despair, through the blessing of Your healing love. Speak softly to our souls as we lift up our personal prayers for healing on behalf of ourselves and all our loved ones.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:             With God, we will regain our strength. He will vanquish our fears and uplift our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                       (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 60)

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close."

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, lift up our hearts and help us to see the real Jesus in the midst of these scriptures. Reveal to us His teaching for our lives, and help us to apply what we learn from Him today.  In Christ’s Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):  Lord Jesus, You take us from the dust of the Earth and make us into eternal beings of God’s grace. We can never repay our debt to You, but as a means of showing our gratitude, we bring before You our tithes and gifts. Take this offering and bless it for the holy work of the Gospel. In Your precious Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ’s glory challenge and change our ways; may the Father’s incomparable love inspire and encourage our choices; and may the Holy Spirit lead us each day to worship and glorify the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Sunday Worship prayers - Lent 2A - March 20

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering & Introit

First Hymn:

Guide: Loving Lord, whose mighty acts and wondrous deeds reveal to us Your power, creativity and sovereignty over the entire universe, we praise and adore You as our Creator and King.

People: Almighty Father, whose ways have been known to our people across the centuries and throughout all nations, we approach You with awe and reverence, dedication and devotion.

Guide:            Gracious God, every day of our lives, You seek to instruct us and guide us by Your holy counsel. Sometimes we rebelliously ignore Your advice and seek to do our own sinful and selfish things.

People: Eternal Lord, for give our foolish and faithless ways. Pardon us for making wrong choices and self-centered mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Merciful Father, You have given us Jesus, Your Holy Son, to reclaim our lives, to teach us Your ways, and to save our souls. His obedience and sacrifice has won our salvation.

People: We thank You for restoring us to Your everlasting love, and in the words of Christ, we continue praying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus is the Christ of our lives, the Anointed and Holy One of God. He alone has the authority to forgive our sins and by His grace, we are cleansed of our sinful past and returned to God's favor. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, now and forever. Amen. (John 7: 41)

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:            We call upon the Lord, in the midst of all our troubles, and He answers us.

People:            Save us, O Lord, from false ways and self-deception. Help us to cling to Your truth.

Pastor:            O Lord, You are the source of all our hope; You are the One who brings us healing

People:            Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we are frail and fearful. Grant us strength and renewal.

Pastor:            In Your Holy Presence, Lord, we live our lives. We need Your help and long for deliverance from sickness and suffering; pain and discomfort; anxiety and stress.

People:            We seek Your peace and pray that You will heal us, and each of our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor:            Loving Lord, speak Your peace to us this day and fill our hearts with hope. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 120)

Singing of 'Sanctuary.

Reader:          Holy Spirit, may Christ speak to our hearts and may God resurrect our hopes through these scriptures. May we receive and share the blessings of faith, strength and love that we encounter throughout these biblical texts.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, all that we are has been fulfilled and accomplished by Your grace. Take these tithes and gifts that we freely offer to You, and use them for the preaching of Your Word, the enhancement of Your Church, and the glorifying of Your Name Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ urge and inspire us to fulfill His ministry in our lives; may the Father's great and everlasting love be treasured in our hearts and explicit in our deeds; and may the Holy Spirit keep us loving and serving the One, Triune and Living God, both now and evermore.  Amen.

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

Second Sunday in Lent: Lent 2 worship prayers - 28 February

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty Lord of Power and peace, we approach You as servants and students, as devotees and disciples, as seekers and sinners looking for Your love. You have called us from the comfort of our homes to experience Your presence in this sanctuary. You have brought us to this peaceful place to touch our hearts, change our ways, and challenge our lives.

People:  Heavenly Father, we know that we are imperfect and unholy; we recognize that we have weaknesses and faults. Help us to seek Your mercy and grace. Teach us to rely upon Your favor and blessing. Hear us now as we silently confess our mistakes and wrongdoing. Forgive us for neglecting our faith, ignoring Your words, and for being selfish.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful God, without Christ’s passion, we could not approach You for grace. Without His brutal sacrifice, we could not stand in Your Holy Presence to ask for mercy. We dedicate our lives to Him and we unite our hearts with Christ’s through the saying of His own prayer, “Our Father…” THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Christ tells us that no one can come to Him unless God has enabled them. Today, God has brought us to this place to be received by Jesus, renewed in spirit, and restored to the Kingdom. When we confess our sins and dedicate our lives to Christ, we are completely forgiven and reunited to God’s love, both now and always. 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: Lord, we dwell in Your shelter and rest beneath Your comforting shadow. You are our refuge and strength, the God in whom we trust

People:                        We seek You to free us from our fears and protect us from all evil. O Lord, cover us with Your love; heal us from all that harms us in body, mind and soul. Your faithfulness grants us freedom; Your power brings us peace.

Pastor: O Lord, save us from anxiety and attack, depression and disease, illness and injury. We ask this for ourselves and all our loved ones, for whom we now silently pray

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord is with us in times of sickness and trouble. He will deliver us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 91)

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:             Holy Spirit, remind us that Christ’s ways are radical and that His words often challenge our ideals. Enable us to receive these holy verses into our hearts, so that we may apply this teaching throughout our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message (Part #2) & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You have once again given us a sacred opportunity to hear Your voice and follow Your ways. We bring these gifts and tithes as a witness to the effectiveness of Your power over our lives. Take these tokens and bless them for the advancement of Your Kingdom and Your Church. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen. 

Hymn:

Benediction(unison):  May Christ judge us to be good and worthwhile servants; may the Father enable us to master our weaknesses to overcome our sins; and may the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith, so that one glorious day, we can humbly stand in the presence of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers: Lent 2 - Feb 17, 2008

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude and Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty Lord, whose words have shaped our civilization and whose love sustains all our people, we humbly approach Your Holy presence. In these times which try our souls, we pray for protection, perseverance and peace. Merciful God, each day we are surrounded by sinful distractions, which plague our faithful ways. We are tempted to surrender to our selfish desires and keep justifying our misdeeds.
People: Gracious Father, enter our hearts and strengthen our Christian beliefs. Anoint our souls with Your Holy Spirit, so that we may overcome our reckless and foolish ways. Loving Lord, forgive us for being weak and sinful people. Pardon our neglect of good works, charitable deeds and selfless giving. Teach us Your ways and redirect our paths so that we may sincerely serve and honor You. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You.

- SILENCE -
Guide: Gracious Lord, You have returned to us our hope and thanksgiving. May we adore Jesus as our Savior, who gave His Life so that we may be cleansed of the past, strengthened in the present and restored to Your eternal Kingdom in the future. For we place our souls into Christ’s Hands and through His Own Words, we now pray, saying “Our Father, etc…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: In the midst of our troubles, Jesus is here beside us, ready to calm the rough times in our lives with His mercy, grace and everlasting love. Let us celebrate His wonderful deeds and glorious life, both now and forever. 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: We have heard what God has done in the past and experienced His unfailing love in our lives. By God’s guidance, we have overcome our troubles and through His mercy, we have flourished.
People: The Lord is our King and God forever. We look to Him for the health and healing. We pray that God will relieve us from our pain and sickness, our illness and disease, discomfort and despair.
Pastor: Almighty LORD, hear our prayers and answer our heartfelt pleas. Touch us with Your Holy Spirit and enter into the hearts, minds, bodies and spirits of all our loved ones, so they may healed of all that harms them. Restore them to health, happiness and wholeness. Hear us now as we silently bring our prayers and requests for healing to You alone.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

All: May the LORD rise up and help us, restoring us through His unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 44)

Anthem

Prayer for Illumination :

Reader : Holy Spirit, possess our minds with Christ’s goodness and fulfill our spiritual needs through the power of the sacred scriptures. Open our hearts to His godly ways and change our lives by challenging our ideas, opinions and beliefs. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings :

Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:



Dedication : Lord Jesus, sometimes we are distracted by worldly concerns, causing our giving to diminish through our insecurity. Today, You have granted us a new hope and restored us to Your Father’s Kingdom. In return, we cheerfully give these tokens to You, praying that You will bless them for the ministries and missions that You have called our church to establish and accomplish. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn :

Benediction (in unison): May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One God forevermore. 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!

Postlude