Sunday prayers - Ordinary 16B - July 19

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                 God is our refuge and our strength.

People:                 In the midst of all our troubles, the Lord is constantly helping us.

Pastor:                 We will not be afraid, for God is with us. Let us worship His Holy Name. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Everlasting Lord, Ever-present and all-powerful Creator, we come here to worship You and praise Your Holy Name. Your ways are often mysterious to us, and yet Your deeds declare Your Sovereignty over this world. Hear our prayers as we respectfully approach Your Holy Throne.

People:                 Gracious Father, we fall short of Your standards and keep making the same mistakes. We allow pride to strike our hearts and greed to wound our spirits. Sometimes we have no peace in our souls because of our guilt and sorrow, as well as our envy and resentment. We push against our faith and deprive ourselves of Your Counsel by yielding to temptation and falling into sin. Hear us now as we personally and silently confess our faults to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful God, Your Son Jesus was rejected and despised by people just like us. However, He died for them and sacrificed Himself for us. Without His death, our lives would be meaningless. Without His grace, our existence would be hopeless. We thank You for the power of salvation and the completeness of Christ's mission. In His Name and through His precious words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER.” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  All that Jesus has promised will be fulfilled. When we receive Him in our hearts and confess our faults sincerely, He can and will forgive us instantly. He alone has the authority to cancel out the debt that we owe to God for our sinful past. So let us rejoice and give thanks, for Christ's mercy and grace remains with His people, 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.

Anthem

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

Praise Song

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. The LORD redeems us from our troubles and will rescue us from our fears.

People:                 When we worry and wander away from God, He is constantly watching over us. When we are weak and our faith is diminished, He is our strength and the source of our comfort.

Pastor:                 May God deliver us and  all of our loved ones from illness and injury, sickness and sadness, discomfort and distress. Hear us now, O Heavenly Father, as we bring to You our healing requests.

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

Pastor:                 May we give thanks to the Lord and experience His unfailing love. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 107)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, may Christ offer us His grace through these words of scripture. May our lives be filled with hope, encouragement, and strength by all that Jesus taught and said. In His Holy Name, we pray. Amen.   

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You have spoken to our spirits in this sacred place and called each of us by name. We present to You our tithes and offerings to honor Your life, ministry, and mission. May our church flourish by the preaching of Your Word and the praising of God's Name. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison):  May Christ continue to feed our souls with the word of God; may the Father cleanse our hearts with His grace and love; and may the Holy Spirit keep us attentive to our faith and free from stumbling into sin. To the Glory of the One, Triune, and Living God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Ordinary Time 10 - June 7th

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us approach the Lord and await His holy presence.

People:                 We praise God for His mercy, peace, and love.

Pastor:                  Let us worship our King and glorify His Everlasting Name! Amen.

Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                 Almighty God, in whose presence we live and by whose will we are sustained, we humbly seek to worship You with our words of prayer and songs of salvation. You are the Father of all the Earth and Lord of all living beings, therefore we give glory to You alone.

People:                 Gracious Lord, sometimes our mistakes have disappointed You and our sinful ways have affected our faith. We are far from perfect and often allow our selfish motives to influence our choices and lives. Please forgive our wrongdoing and pardon our misdeeds. Hear us now as we silently make our personal confessions to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, we place our lives into Your hands by giving our hearts to Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. His death has bought us our salvation. His sacrifice has allowed us to be restored to Your favor and grace. We make these prayers in Jesus’ Name, and unite our souls with Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus, through the love of His Father, gives us access to Heaven. By Christ’s wounded body, our broken ways are healed; by His perfect obedience, we are reclaimed by God. Therefore, let us cheerfully rejoice, for our sins are completely forgiven, both now and forever. 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)

Praise Song

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Deliver us from what we fear, O God, and protect us from our troubles. We are both human and frail, O Lord, vulnerable to attacks on our bodies, in our minds, and within our hearts. Arise and help us; look upon us with mercy.

People:                 O LORD, You are the God of our people; please guard us from any illness or disease; deliver us from sickness and pain. Loving Lord, become our Strength, as we seek Your favor and blessing. May we experience Your healing and praise You for Your love, especially in times of uncertainty or trouble. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 O God, You are our constant help and strength. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.             

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 59)

Anthem

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, may we embrace the words of Christ and be encouraged by His words and deeds. May our hearts embrace Him, and may our minds be filled with His Holy Peace. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your work that is being undertaken, supported, and accomplished in this church. We have heard Your challenges to us through the preaching of the Gospel. Take these simple gifts, the tokens of our gratitude, and bless them for the purposes of Your Kingdom in ministry, mission, service and stewardship to glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to actively unite as one body of faithful believers in this holy place; may the Father give strength to our entire congregation and nurture our church; and may the Holy Spirit help us to see that we all belong to God, so that we may support one another in the service of His Everlasting Kingdom. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Ordinary 29c prayers - Sunday October 20

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to worship

Liturgist:               O Lord, may You always watch over us with love; teach us this day Your holy promises.

People:                 We are Your servants; open our hearts and minds so that we may understand Your sacred ways.

Liturgist:               Come among us, O God, and bless us as we praise and worship Your powerful Name. Amen.

Hymn:

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, You are the Lord of Life and Bringer of blessings, therefore we adore and applaud Your mighty works of Creation, which remind us of Your majestic Power and inspire us to faithfully place our lives into Your hands. We have set aside this sacred time to reflect upon Your ways, to rejoice in Your deeds, and to regenerate our faith by Your Holy Word. You are the One, True, and Living God; we are privileged to be Your humble servants.

People:                 Merciful Lord, despite our enthusiasm for Your ways, we admit to being partial to our own understanding and are more apt to follow our own desires. Instead of constantly seeking Your guidance, we cherish our own opinions and ideas. Instead of accepting Your wisdom and counsel, we pursue our own paths, which sometimes lead us into temptation and cause our faith to be challenged. Forgive us for those foolish times when we offend You with our sinful acts and selfish deeds. Pardon our mistaken choices which taint our souls with greed, pride, envy, hatred, anger, and indifference. Hear us now as we individually confess our sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious God, our hope is in the Lord and our salvation is in Christ’s hands. By His blood, we are cleansed. By His sacrifice, we are saved. He alone can forgive our past mistakes and restore us to Your Favor.

We make these prayers in Christ’s Name and unite our hearts to Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                  Jesus calls us to be His disciples and we are meant to witness for Him. Through faith, we testify to Christ’s power of forgiveness and His sovereignty over lives. Let us rejoice in Him and express our thanks to Him, by sharing His promises and gospel with all whom we love, and with all whom we also need to forgive. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Gloria Patri

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  We call upon You, O Lord, as the Rock of our salvation. Hear our prayers and grant us peace. Acknowledge our cries for mercy as we call to You for help; listen to our personal pleas in this holy place of prayer.

People:                 We lift up our hearts to You, O Living God, and humbly ask for healing, for You are our strength and shield; our hearts trust in You and we are encouraged by Your love.

Pastor:                  Lord God, be gracious to us and all whom we love. Bless us all with healing and strength, wholeness and peace, as well as renewal and hope. You alone have the strength and power to overcome illness, anxiety, injuries, and insecurities.  Hear us now as we silently pray for ourselves and all those who are precious to our hearts.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  Heal us as Your people, Lord, and bless us one by one; be our Shepherd of goodness and carry us forevermore. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.  (Healing Prayer based on words and phrases from Psalm 28)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, grant our spirits confidence and deepen our faith through these sacred scriptures. Open our hearts to Christ’s amazing love and enhance our minds with His precious teaching. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message

The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor)                   Lord Jesus, our hearts are exposed to You at all times, therefore You know completely what we offer and how we give. We pray that these tithes and tokens may be given to You honorably, cheerfully, and faithfully. Grant us the wisdom to use them for the advancement of Your Kingdom through the preaching of the Gospel, the serving of the Church, and the praising of God’s Name, both now and always. Amen.

Hymn                   

Benediction (unison):    May we grow in Christ’s grace each and every day; may we be spiritually fruitful to the glory of our Father in Heaven; and may the Holy Spirit strengthen the foundations of our faith, so that we may continually share the good news of Jesus with the world, to the everlasting glory of the One, Triune, and Holy God, both now and always. Amen. 

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 30 - 23 October

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:            The LORD has saved us according to His love, therefore we will rejoice and praise Him.

People:            We will greatly extol the LORD; in this sacred place, we will happily glorify Him.

Pastor:            The LORD stands with us, in the midst of our troubles and needs. Let us honor and worship Him.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Lord God Almighty and Strong Deliverer of Your people, we approach Your throne of grace with thanksgiving and love, loyalty and devotion. You are the Holy One who creates our lives, who builds up the nations, and who sustains the universe, therefore we gather to worship and adore You.

People:           Gracious God, You offer us Your guidance and grant us Your perfect counsel, but we, as persistent sinners, continue to act without consulting You, and make choices that disappoint You. Instead of seeking Your strength, we rely upon our own. Instead of looking to You for help, we constantly follow our own understanding. We repeatedly set You aside, instead of centering You in our lives. Forgive us, Loving Father, and hear us as we confess our sins.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Everlasting God, You sent Your Son Jesus to save us from our sinful ways. His blood has atoned for all of our guilt. His death has completely purchased our salvation. We make these confessions and present these petitions in Christ's Name and, with His own words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Jesus was constantly challenged to relinquish His claims and to conform to the world. Instead, He chose to follow God's bidding and completely obey His will. He earned the right to become the Savior of the world and in Him alone rests the universal authority to forgive sins and redeem sinners. Let us rejoice and be thankful for His great sacrifice and perfect obedience, which has delivered us from God's wrath and returned us to His everlasting love.  In Jesus' Name, we pray. 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.

Minute for Stewardship

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

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:            We have gathered in God's House; we have assembled to praise and pray to the Lord. We will rejoice in our Maker; we will have confidence in the compassion of our King.

People:           We honor His Name by invoking His Spirit; we appeal to the Most High for healing. The Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns us with love and salvation.

Pastor:             O Merciful God, as we seek to praise You with our hearts, listen to our pleas. We pray that You will heal us and our loved ones, that You will calm our spirits, bring peace to our minds, settle our souls, and strengthen our bodies. Hear us now as we inwardly pray.

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

Pastor:             May the praise of God be on our lips as He answers our prayers in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 149)

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, reveal to us the Gospel truth through these sacred words of hope and love. Teach us Christ's ways and empower us to live our lives according to His message. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we speak to You with our prayers and praises; we show our love through our service and gifts. We bring before You our tithes and offerings, and ask Your blessing upon them. Receive these tokens of our gratitude and use them for the ministry of Your word and the mission of God's Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.   

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                        May Christ reveal His unique purpose for each of our lives; may the Father make known to us all that He commands; and may the Holy Spirit build up our faith, so that we may continue to believe and obey the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 25 - Sept 18

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             O Lord, our God, You are almighty and everlasting, all-powerful and majestic.

People:           We will sing to the Lord all of our lives; we will praise His Name forever.

Pastor:             May our meditations be pleasing to Him, as we rejoice in the Lord.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Gracious and Merciful God, who judges the Earth and all of its inhabitants, we come before You, seeking Your peace and in need of Your strength. Your power sustains our lives; Your ways are holy and perfect; we look to You for mercy and we pray to be forgiven.

People:           Heavenly Father, we have been ensnared by sin and trapped by temptation. We have arrogantly allowed ourselves to be distracted and deceived by our pride, greed, and self-centered choices. Forgive our faithless and fallen ways. Pardon our constant mistakes and destructive sins. Hear us now as we confess our faults to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Immortal God, whose wisdom has granted us a Savior and whose mercy has given us salvation, we praise You for sending Jesus into our world and for His supreme sacrifice, which has paid for all our sins. To Christ, we offer our gratitude and thanksgiving. In His holy words, we now pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER"

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:              Christ asks us to change our lives and follow His ways.  He does not come to condemn, but instead He seeks to save us from perdition and restore us to God's Kingdom. Let us rejoice and praise Him forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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:             Praise be to the LORD our Rock, who prepares us to face our fears and overcome our anxieties. He is our loving God and fortress, our stronghold and deliver, in whom we take refuge.

People:           O Lord, what are we that You should care so much for us? Why are You so constantly involved in our lives? We know that we are weak and frail; that our time is precious and our lives are limited.

Pastor:             Yet You still come down among us, Lord. You still listen to our cries and prayers. We ask that You send forth Your Holy Spirit to heal our lives. Bless our loved ones with recovery and strength, peace and wholeness. Hear us now as we inwardly pray.

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

Pastor:             O Lord, reach down Your hand from on high, and deliver us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 144)

           

Singing of 'Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, keep us from taking God's Word for granted or from misusing it to justify our selfish choices and sinful ways. Keep us focused on what Christ has to say to our spirits, so that we may honor Him with our lives. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):              Lord Jesus, You have revealed Your purpose for our church through Your holy scriptures and sacred presence. In Your Name, we gather our tithes and offerings. We ask that You will accept these tokens of our gratitude and help us to apply them to the life, work, and ministry of Your Church in the world. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                        May Christ empower us to work for His glory; may the Father greet us each day with love; and may the Holy Spirit reshape our lives so that we may honor, serve, and glorify the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

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

Sunday Worship prayers - Ordinary 24 - Sept 11

Approaching God

 Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

 Gathering

 Call to Worship

Pastor:             Surely God is our help; the Lord is the One who sustains us.

People:           We will praise Your Name, O Lord, for it is good and holy.
Pastor:             The Lord delivers us from all our troubles; let us worship and glorify our God!

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Eternal Creator and Immortal God, the entire Universe displays Your almighty power and the beings on this planet we call Earth praise Your Holy Name each day. We come before You as seekers and servants, disciples and worshippers to magnify and glorify Your wonderful deeds. We call upon You to fill our lives with Your blessings, bounty, and beauty. Your words sustain and direct us; Your mercies sanctify and correct us; Your love welcomes and accepts us.

People:           Sovereign God and Glorious Savior, forgive us for allowing our faith to weaken and our pride to proliferate; pardon our foolish ways and sinful choices. When we neglect to help others or discard opportunities to meet their needs, have mercy upon us and change our lives. When we forget to be Christians with our families and friends; when we set aside our beliefs in order to be popular, or when we reject the responsibilities of our faith because they are inconvenient, pardon us and challenge our ways. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Gracious God, only Jesus can restore us to Your joy and make our lives complete. When we are laid low and beset by sin, He raises us up and returns us to Your blessing and favor. We praise You for the renewing of our hopes and the redeeming of our lives. Our confessions are given in Christ's Name and we further pray in His everlasting words saying, Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:              Christ's teaching came directly from God and the words of forgiveness that He spoke from the Cross apply to all who seek His mercy and believe in His Name. Therefore, we are glad and will rejoice, for Jesus is the Restorer of our souls and the Savior of our lives, both now and forevermore. 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:             The Lord remembers who we are and will bless us, for God blesses all who revere and glorify His Holy Name.

People:           May the LORD increase our strength and that of all our loved ones. May we each experience the blessings of encouragement and healing from the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

Pastor:            Everything belongs to the LORD; our lives, our loved ones, and our souls are in His hands. Almighty LORD, heal us and all our loved ones from everything that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

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

Pastor:             We will praise and bless the One, True and Living God, whose compassion conquers our fears and whose faithfulness cares for our concerns. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 115)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:             Holy Spirit, help us to hear what Christ is saying to each one of us through these sacred words. Challenge our opinions and ideas; change our wayward lives and selfish ways. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.            

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You have come among us, knowing the secrets of our hearts and bringing peace to our minds. We place these offerings and tithes before You, as symbols of our service and tokens of the truth that You proclaim. Take our lives and sanctify them to serve, honor, and worship You each and every day. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray.  Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):  May Christ grant us faithful endurance in all that we face this week; may the Father bless us with encouragement as we seek to fulfill His purposes; and may the Holy Spirit bestow unity, harmony and peace upon us as we worship, witness, and work to the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always.  Amen.

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

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 23A - 04 September

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             We will praise the Lord with all our hearts and souls; let us lift up and magnify His Holy name.

People:           We will remember His glorious deeds; we will recount His wonderful blessings.

Leader:            We will glorify the Lord who crowns us with love and compassion; we will worship Him forever.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Almighty and Everlasting God, to whom our hearts belong and through whom our lives are given meaning, we approach Your holy throne and seek to please You with our praise. Holy Lord, whose compassion embraces us and whose strength empowers us, we offer ourselves as servants to Your Kingdom, and as disciples of Your Son.

People:            Merciful Father, You know us perfectly and are completely aware of our mistakes and misdeeds, as well as our shameful secrets and selfish sins. Forgive our foolish and fallen ways. Pardon our self-importance, insensitivity and intolerance. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Compassionate Lord, absolve us of our sinful past and cleanse us of our faithless ways. Forgive us through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for His sacrificial death has purchased our salvation. Change our lives through Christ's teaching and challenge us today by His message. In His holy words, we make our confessions and continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Christ confronts our life style choices and seeks to change us with the gospel. He has the power to forgive our past mistakes and restore us to God's everlasting favor. So let us thank Him for giving His life and taking our punishment. He is our immortal Savior and eternal Lord. 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)

Children leave after sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O LORD, hear our prayers and listen to us as we cry for mercy. In Your faithfulness and righteousness, come to our relief.

People:           Answer us, O Lord, especially when our spirits fail or we become fearful. Do not hold back Your healing from us; do not leave us in despair.

Pastor: Bring to us Your unfailing love, O God, for we have placed our trust in You. Show us what to do, O Lord, on behalf of our loved ones who are ill and in need of comfort. Heal us and them 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:             The Lord, in His unfailing love, can preserve our lives and bring us out of trouble. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 143)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, grant us wisdom and understanding of these sacred scriptures. Speak to our hearts and fill us with Christ's love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):    Lord Jesus, You have spoken to our hearts through Your word and message. Help us to weigh carefully all that You have given to us here. In loving response, we gather before You our tithes and gifts. We pray that You will receive and bless them for the ministries and missions You would have our church fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ's grace be with us each day; may the Father's peace empower our faith; and may the Holy Spirit keep us devoted to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

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