Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 21B - August 26

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:             As we take refuge in You, O Lord, let us be glad; let us ever sing for joy.
People:            May You love and embrace us, O Lord, as we rejoice in Your Name.
Youth:             O Lord, bless us and surround us with Your favor throughout this sacred time. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Life Giver and Law Maker of the Universe, we come to You with our praises and prayers. We bless You with our worship; we exalt You above all else. You alone are Sovereign of all creation; You are the King of all that lives.

People:                        Gracious God, You grieve our sinful ways and are displeased with our selfish deeds. You mourn our wasted moments and dislike our shameful sins.  We are guilty of being proud and vain, foolish and faithless. We silently come to You with our personal confessions and humbly ask for grace.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                         Loving Lord, our faith diminishes when we are weak and deceitful. However, our hearts and souls can be restored to You through the mercy and grace of Jesus, our Lord. Through Christ alone, we have forgiveness; with Him, we are saved from sin.  In His holy words, we continue to pray, saying

“Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Christ makes us see the error of our ways and reveals to us God’s mercy and grace. He alone has the power to cleanse our tarnished souls, and He sanctifies us as God’s children. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our King and everlasting Savior, forever and ever. 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 cry out to God for help; we call upon Him to hear us and help us. In the midst of our distress, we seek the Lord; when we experience anxiety and discomfort, we look for the Lord to heal us.

People:            O God, we remember You and recall Your great works. When we are weak and faint, be our strength and salvation. When we are too troubled to speak, let us hear Your peaceful voice; when we are tired and exhausted, bring rest to our bodies and comfort for our souls.

Pastor:             Almighty Father, fill us with Your love and heal us by Your grace. Rescue and restore our loved ones from all that harms them in body, mind, heart and spirit. May Your healing mercy and loving compassion touch all those in need of freedom from pain and recovery from illness. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:             Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples. In Jesus’ Name, we make these prayers. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 77)

Singing of “Sanctuary”

Moment for Stewardship

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, enable us to follow Christ through these scriptures. Reveal to us the lessons of faith that we must learn, and the sacred things that we can apply in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering and offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):  Lord Jesus, we go through our lives with Your presence among us each day. In times of trial and trouble, You carry us. In moments of joy and celebration, You bless us. We gladly gather our tithes and gifts before You. Take and bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church, as well as for the tasks that You have called us to accept and accomplish. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully give and faithfully pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Jesus be our Strength when we are weak; may the Father shield us from sin and protect us from despair; and may the Holy Spirit be our Guide and Comforter throughout our days, leading us to that moment in everlasting glory when we will truly worship the One, Triune, and Living God,  both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship prayers - Ordinary 21A - August 21

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Let us sing of God's love and justice; let us sing our praises to Him.

People:           We will devote our lives to God; we await His coming among us.

Pastor:             Let us worship the Lord in His holy house; let us glorify the Living God!

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide: Amazing and Almighty Lord, we come before You as Your people. We gather together to bless Your Wonderful Name. We open our hearts and minds to Your presence and power. We seek to delight in Your words and want to please You with our praises.

People:           Eternal Father, sometimes we close our spirits to Your guidance and sever our hearts from Your love. We permit pride to direct our paths and allow sin to determine our choices. We create gloom and darkness in our lives through ungodly and deceitful ways. Forgive us for being foolish and mistaken, selfish and sinful. Hear us now as we confess our faults to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Gracious God, through Jesus Christ, we are absolved of the past and forgiven of our mistakes. We are embraced by His love and restored through His sacrifice. Therefore, inChrist's Name, we sincerely pray and with His words we continue by saying, “Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER”

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Jesus answers all of our prayers through His holy words. He frees us from our sinful past and allows us to regain the hope of eternal life with God. He is the Savior of our souls and the healer of our broken ways. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our Redeemer and Everlasting King. 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

Offering and Offertory Anthem

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You personally speak to our hearts and call us individually by name.  We are privileged to be Your servants, so we gather our tithes and gifts before Your throne. Take them and bless them for the ministries and missions that You would have us support, enable, accomplish and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Children leave for Planet Worship

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O LORD, come to us quickly when we call to You; hear the cries from our hearts. May our prayers be set before You, as we lift up our requests for healing to You.

People:           Keep us focused on these prayers; help us to value our requests and petitions. Enable our hearts to be drawn to Your compassion and love. Let our minds be strengthened with Your peace and grace.

Pastor:             May Your kindness uplift our spirits; may Your care cause us to endure. As we pray, Almighty Lord, may we, and all our loved ones, be healed of 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:             May the furrows of our faith bring forth a harvest of healing and wholeness. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 141)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, overcome our opposition to Christ's teaching and holy words. Help us to retain His message in our hearts and permit us opportunities to practice and share His commands in our daily lives. In Christ's Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Closing Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May we serve Christ faithfully and effectively each day; may the Father speak to our hearts and direct our paths; and may the Holy Spirit keep us determined to worship the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

            

Sunday prayers: 21st Sunday in ordinary Time - Aug 23

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty Lord, whose holiness and perfection are beyond our comprehension; whose power and glory are infinitely above all that we can achieve; we humbly bow in Your Presence, seeking Your Salvation and the comfort of Your Grace.

People: Gracious Father, speak to our hearts and change our foolish ways. In the midst of our problems and struggles with life, be our constant guide. When fear or anxiety threaten our faith, be our strength and shield. When we selfishly fall away from Your influence and care, grasp hold of our souls and return us to Your Love.

Guide: Merciful Lord, when we take You for granted, doing our own things, living our own lives, and cheapening Your Grace, forgive us and cleanse us, reclaim us and restore us through Your Son Jesus Christ, to whom we now individually and silently pray for pardon.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Heavenly Lord, we thank You the forgiveness of our past mistakes and personal sins. We praise You for bringing Jesus into the world and into our lives, so that we may have the opportunity of being restored to Your Holy Kingdom. In the Name of our Savior, we make these prayers and unite our hearts in His Spirit, saying, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Jesus is the Sacrificial Lamb of God, whose perfect obedience and holy life fulfilled God’s great plan of salvation. Through Jesus, we have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins, renewed in spirit, and perfectly prepared for God’s Coming Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah reigns! Amen.

Gloria Patri

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; For He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

People: We have come into God’s Holy Presence, seeking His peace in this Holy place. O Lord, cleanse our souls and grant healing for our hearts; lift up our spirits and lead us by Your Truth.

Pastor: May we receive these blessings from the LORD and may our loved ones be touched by our Savior’s healing power. May we be united as a generation of those who seek Him, who seek God’s healing in all our lives. Hear us now, Lord, as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord is strong and mighty. He is the King of Glory and the Healer of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 24)

Anthem

Minute for Mission:

The Message: Part #1

Prayer of Illumination : Jesus, Draw Me Close.

Reader : Holy Spirit, make us glad in our hearts as we rejoice in Christ’s holy words. Enable us to live in hope through the power of the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings:

The Message Part #2 & Apostles Creed.

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication : Lord Jesus, we follow Your Loving example by sacrificing these gifts from our resources and humbly placing them before Your Holy Throne. Bless these tokens of gratitude for the work of Your church here on earth. Help us to use these gifts for the proclamation of Your Word, the enhancing of Your Kingdom and the glorifying of Your Name. Amen.

Hymn :

Benediction: May Jesus speak to our spirits and lead us everyday; may the Father fortify our faith and send us out into the world; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to minister to the people we encounter each and everyday. Glory to God forevermore. Amen.

Sunday Prayers: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - 24 Aug

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty God, whose kingdom never ends and whose sovereignty is limitless, we praise Your wonderful works and glorify Your godly ways. When our spirits are downcast and we are weary, You refresh our souls and grant us strength. When our hopes diminish and our beliefs falter, restore us to Your love and favor.
People: Gracious Father, sometimes we lack understanding of our faith and the responsibilities You expect us to fulfill. Sometimes we focus too much on ourselves and forget the needs of other people. We are sorry for those moments and seek Your mercy. Enable us now to turn to You, to silently confess our sins and wait upon Your grace.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Everlasting God, without Jesus, we are nothing. Without His Death, we have no life. Without His forgiveness, we have no future. In Him, we are shielded from Your wrath and through Him, we are restored to Your blessed love.
People: Our confessions are made in the precious and Holy Name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, in whose words we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus comes amongst us to teach us His truth, to win us with His words, and to liberate us through His glorious life. We have sincerely confessed our mistakes to Him, so we are now wonderfully and completely forgiven. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our King and Everlasting Savior. 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

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Let us revere the LORD and delight in His healing power. God is mighty throughout the earth and we are blessed by His compassion.
People: The LORD enriches our lives with His resources; His righteousness endures forever. In the midst of our troubles, God is gracious and supportive. In our time of fear, He is faithful.
Pastor: May the goodness of the Lord come to us; may He free us from all that harms our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. May God strengthen our loved ones and heal them. May the Holy Spirit bring them peace of mind, renew their hopes and restore their health.

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

Pastor: May our hearts be steadfast, as we trust in the Lord and make our prayers in Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 112)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, You enrich our lives so that we may share our faith with other people. Bless us with these sacred words and enable us to apply them in a practical, effective and positive way. In the glorious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, by Your words, we are shown how to live our lives. Through our deeds, we express to the world how much we believe in You. You call upon us to give of our time, talents and treasures to the ministries and missions that our church is expected to fulfill. Bless our tithes and offerings, which are symbols of our dedication and devotion to You. Enable us to be faithful servants and Christian witnesses in our congregation and community. In Your Holy name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ enable us to please our neighbors with faith and love; may the Father continually call us to be kind and good to the people we encounter each day; and may the Holy Spirit grant us the resources and strength to enhance and build up the faith in all whom we love and all whom we know. To the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude