Sunday Worship Prayers for July 28 - Ordinary 17C

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               May we come here today to listen to the Lord, who promises peace and faithfulness for our lives.
People:                 We will gladly return to our God, for His salvation is near and we are blessed to be His people.
Liturgist:               May the Lord’s glory be shared among us; may we express our love and praise to Him alone. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Holy and Almighty God, whose will sustains all of life and whose Kingdom never ends, we humbly bring our prayers of joy and concern to You alone. We are grateful for Your daily blessings and we are mindful of Your mighty works. You are the One, True, and Living God, whom we worship and adore forevermore.

People:                 Gracious Lord, we ask for Your mercy and grace, for we are often foolish and faithless. We succumb to temptation and surrender our souls to sinful ways. We forget to be persistent Christians and lack respect for Your ways. Forgive our selfish deeds and unholy words. Hear us now as we personally approach You with our confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, we are mindful of Your favor and acknowledge our dependence upon Your grace. Look down from Heaven and spare us from Your wrath. Unite our hearts and spirits with Your Loving Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, in whose words we conclude our prayers, saying, “Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  When we sincerely and humbly ask for forgiveness, it is granted to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. His sacrifice has given us a sacred opportunity to successfully search for God’s favor and grace. He has opened the gates of Heaven, so that God hears and listens to our confessions. Let us praise and glorify the Name of Jesus Christ 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, when we are at a loss or fearful of the future, grant us Your goodness and strength. When we are beset with worry and overwhelmed by stress, grant us Your peace and favor.

People:                 You are always with us, O Lord, and we are strengthened by Your glory; come near to us now and embrace our weary spirits. Lead us and counsel us, O God; comfort and heal us in the days ahead.

Pastor:                 In You alone, we place our faith, for You are able to give what is good, and to heal all that is harmful.

Restore us and all our loved ones from all that damages us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 May the Lord prepare ways of healing, health, and wholeness to us, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.      

Singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, we ask that You open our hearts and minds to this sacred teaching today. As we seek to learn more about Christ, may our faith in Him be strengthened. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):  Lord Jesus, we have been received into Your presence and restored to God’s favor. We bring before You our grateful gifts and thankful tithes. Bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church and Your mission throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Christ give us His blessing each day; may the Father find us serving Him throughout this week; and may the Holy Spirit open up opportunities for us to witness to others about our faith in the One, Triune, and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Sunday Prayers - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Ordinary 17 - July 25

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude and Gathering

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Exalted and Almighty God, we have come into Your house to acknowledge Your authority over our lives and to proclaim You as the Ruler of the Universe. You fill our hearts with strength and love; You sustain our lives with mercy and grace.

People:            Heavenly Father, we know that we are imperfect and our souls are tarnished because of spiteful sins, selfish deeds, and mistaken choices. We have followed our own ways and disregarded Your commands. We are guilty of being ineffective servants for Your Kingdom and inconsistent followers of Christ. To You alone, we bring our silent confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide:              Righteous Lord, Your justice is merciful and Your judgments are compassionate. You have given us Your Son to be our Savior. You have promised us forgiveness through His sacrifice at Calvary. Through Christ alone we are redeemed; by His authority, we are restored to God. In His words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: We have no need to be afraid of God’s eternal wrath because Jesus redeems us with His life and restores us through His grace. When we truly acknowledge Christ as our Savior and King, our souls are cleansed and reconnected to God, 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, when our hearts are full of grief and fear, bring to us Your goodness and faith. When we are beset with worry and overcome with chaos, grant us peace and restoration.
People:            You are always with us, Lord; come near to us now and embrace our spirits. Guide us and counsel us, O God; comfort and strengthen us in the days ahead.

Pastor: In You alone, we place our faith. To You alone, we bring our prayers. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that causes our flesh to fail and our hearts to fear. Hear us now we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord is our Sovereign and our refuge. It is good to be near Him. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 73)

Singing of “Jesus, Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, help us to pay close attention to these scriptures today. May God’s message penetrate our hearts and minds, so that we may receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (unison):   Lord Jesus, we are privileged to be Your people and honored to do Your work. We have gathered our tithes and gifts before You. We ask that You will receive and bless them, so that Your appointed ministries and missions may be accomplished by our congregation in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                         May Christ open our eyes to His work in today’s world; may the Father brighten our spirits with the hope of the Gospel; and may the Holy Spirit keep us for the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude