Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 20B - August 16

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  The Lord has brought us to His Holy House to worship and glorify His Name.

People:                 We are the servants of God, seeking His Love and looking for His favor.

Pastor:                  May our songs of praise and heartfelt prayers be acceptable to You, O Lord our God. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal Lord of Heaven and Earth, whose power strengthens our spirits and whose love sustains our lives; we come before You as humble servants and devoted disciples. Your sacred promises have always been fulfilled. You have allowed us to abide in Your Presence, so we now seek refuge in Your sacred sanctuary.

People:                 Merciful God, we have often taken You for granted. We have out our own wants and desires above Your will and direction. We have selfishly made foolish choices, which often oppose Your perfect counsel. Pardon us for being uncaring, unfaithful, and unholy. Hear us now as we silently seek Your forgiveness for all our sins and fallen ways.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Gracious Father, we seek salvation from Your Holy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. By His supreme sacrifice, our mistakes are pardoned and our sins are absolved. Through His Grace, we are restored to Your favor and set free from our past sins. In His holy words, we gratefully pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  We are called to worship Jesus and broadcast His Name to the world, for He alone has the power on Earth to grant us God’s everlasting peace. He is the High Priest of our hearts and the sacred Savior of our souls. So let us rejoice and express our faith in the praising and glorifying of His Name 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.

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 exalt the Lord in this place of holiness and healing. Great are the works of God, therefore we will recall His words and delight in them. His deeds are glorious and majestic; His righteousness endures forever. We remember God’s wonderful ways, for the LORD is both gracious and compassionate.

People:                May God provide strength and sustenance for those who need Him. May He hear the prayers of our people for health, hope, and healing. May the Lord display the power of His works to us and our loved ones. May He set us free from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Hear us now, Gracious God, as we silently pray.

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

Pastor: The works of God’s hands are faithful and just; we will trust all of His merciful ways. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.  (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 111)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, You know each of us by name and You call us into Christ’s service. Let His words and teaching challenge our lives, so that we may honor and glorify His Sacred Name. Amen.                                 

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You speak to us each day of our lives and grant us many blessings. From the fruits of our labors and the bounty of our resources, we place our tithes and offerings before You. Take these gifts and consecrate them for the ministries that You want to accomplish through our church, in this community, and across the world. In Your Holy Name, we give our lives and seek Your blessing. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction(unison):  May Christ be all the strength that we need each day; may the Father support us in times of weakness and failure; and may the Holy Spirit teach us to delight in the Lord by pleasing the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 12B - 21 June

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us give thanks to the LORD for He is good!

People:                We will praise God for rescuing and redeeming our souls.

Pastor:                  As we gather together, may we cheerfully worship and glorify our King. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, You have called us from our homes to worship You. You have led us to this holy place to adore Your ways and hear Your word. We abide in Your sacred presence, seeking both Your favor and love. We are sustained by Your grace and blessed by Your compassion.

People:                 Everlasting God, we know that our lives are often imperfect. We have followed paths, which have led us astray. We have made choices that have blemished our faith. Have mercy upon us and free us from hopelessness, fear, or despair. Restore us to Your salvation by accepting our humble confessions. Hear us now as we silently and sincerely pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious Father, You have given us the sacred opportunity of being forgiven for all of our past foolishness, faithlessness, and sinfulness. We are only saved through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ, and all of our mistakes are pardoned through His sacrifice at Calvary. We are unworthy to receive such wonderful blessings, but we are totally grateful to be reclaimed as Your people in Christ. Hear us now as we pray in our Savior’s own words, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus will forgive us every time we sincerely ask Him for pardon. Our souls are fortified by His words and our spirits are enhanced by His love. Let us rejoice and be glad, for our salvation is assured, through Jesus Christ our Lord, both now and 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.

Anthem

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

Praise Song

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Hear our cries, O God, and listen to our heartfelt prayers. From the depths of our souls, we call to You. When we are weak and our hearts are troubled, become for us the rock of our salvation.You are our refuge and our strength against all things which harm us in body, mind, heart and soul. We desire to dwell in Your healing presence. We look to You to keep us safe from illness and injury, disease and despair, as well as pain and suffering.

People:                 We call upon You, Loving Father, on behalf of ourselves, our loved ones, and those whom we know that need Your help. May Your love and faithfulness protect all of us and may we experience Your peace and blessing, as well as a renewed hope and healing. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: May we sing praise to our Heavenly Father, whose compassionate healing is graciously given and fulfilled in each of our lives this day. In Jesus’ Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.    

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 61)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, may we glorify Christ by opening our minds and hearts to His words. May we understand His actions and applaud His continuing ministry, as we read and receive His sacred words. In His Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You have granted us faith through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. You have allowed us to be healed of the past and strengthened us for what lies ahead. In return, we bring before You these tithes and gifts, knowing that we cannot never repay You for all that You have ever done for us. Receive this money and these checks; bless them for the continuing work of Your ministry here on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to serve Him each and every day; may the Father continually teach us from His Holy Word; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to witness effectively and faithfully to the One, Triune, and Living God, from this day forth and forevermore.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers for Easter 3 - April 19th

Approaching God

Gathering Time

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us come before our righteous God and bring to Him our praise and prayers.

People:                 We come to glorify God by setting apart this sacred time in our lives.

Pastor:                  May the light of God shine upon us; may we be ever blessed by His amazing love. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, who brought Life into being and whose will sustains the entire universe, we approach You as the children of Your Grace and as servants of Your Kingdom. Your ways are mostly mysterious to us and yet Your love is known by all. Today we glorify Your greatness and meet to magnify Your Holy Name.

People:                 Gracious Father, You know that we struggle with temptation and wrestle with sin each day. You know all of our weaknesses and can list every mistake that we have ever made. In Your patience and benevolence, have mercy upon us. Forgive our sinful and self-centered ways. Hear us now as we silently confess to You.

- SILENCE – Time of Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, we know that cannot earn salvation for ourselves. We depend upon Jesus to grant us complete and everlasting forgiveness. Only He can save us from our sins. Only He can restore us to Your eternal love and favor. Hear us now as we unite our hearts with His, through the saying of Christ's own words: “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ forgives us, even when we betray and deny Him. He has the power to cleanse us of the past and can restore us to the riches of God's grace. May we be thankful and rejoice in the Lord, for He has saved our souls and returned us to the eternal love of God.  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

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 The LORD reigns, let us all be glad; let those both near and far rejoice. Our petitions are made directly to Him, for righteousness and justice are the foundations of His love. Let us place our prayers before God, knowing that He receives all of them from our hearts.

People:                 O Lord, light up our lives with Your favor and blessings; let us experience Your strength and know that You care. We acknowledge Your righteousness and ask for Your compassionate healing in the lives of our loved ones who are suffering from sickness and injury, unease and fear, worry and discomfort.  Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The light of the Lord's love is shed upon us; His joy is showered upon our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.       (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 97)

Choir Anthem

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, may the words of our Sovereign Lord, who made the heavens and the Earth, penetrate our minds and enter our hearts. May we gladly receive the blessings of Christ as He teaches us through His life and ministry, both now and always. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we have experienced Your teaching through the preaching of Your word. In return, we gather before You our lives and offerings. We do this to please You, asking that You bless all of these resources for the building up of Your church, the proclaiming of the Gospel, and the praising of God's Name.  Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ keep us from judging other people's mistakes by helping us to remember that He has forgiven our own; may the Father bless us with tolerance and compassion for one another; and may the Holy Spirit bring us to God's judgment seat as faithful and dutiful servants, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers for Easter 2 - April 12th

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us come into the presence of the Lord and call upon His glorious Name.

People:                 We will lift up our hearts and voices to praise our God.

Pastor:                  Let us truly worship cheerfully glorify the Lord, our God, forevermore. Amen.

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Everlasting King, we gather in this place of peace and praise, as one family of faith, seeking to honor and bless Your Holy Son. We continue celebrate the victory of our Savior Jesus Christ. We proclaim His power over all of our lives, as well as His authority to forgive our mistakes, and His ability to change our lives.

People:                 Gracious Lord, we know that we have been foolish, selfish, and sinful at times. We recognize that we have made mistakes, bad choices, and even faithless decisions. We are sorry for those moments when temptation has caused us to get angry, be bitter, remain proud, and become insensitive to those around us. Hear us now as we confess our sinful faults and silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Eternal Lord, we claim the victory of Christ over sin and death. His sacrifice has eradicated the eternal consequences of our mistakes. His grace both can renew and bring rebirth to our lives. We make these confessional prayers in the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ has called us to be His disciples, yet He still has to deal with our sinful nature and human failings. Thankfully, Jesus has overcome both death and sin, so our lives and souls can be resurrected into a new beginning. Let us rejoice and give thanks, for Christ has blessed us with an everlasting hope and He has saved us 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)

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us praise the LORD with new hearts; let us rejoice with all the Earth and glorify His Name. Each day, we will proclaim the Lord's salvation. Each week, we will come to Him with our praises. The Lord has done marvelous deeds among His people, therefore let us boldly ask Him to heal our lives.

People:                 O LORD, You are great and most worthy of our worship; You are above and beyond all that we know. You made the heavens and sustain the nations; be merciful to us and grant us healing from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. Listen to our prayers and attend to the needs of our loved ones who are ill, distressed, worried, or depressed.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 We will continue to worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness. We will give thanks throughout this day for answered prayer. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.    (Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 96)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, release us from our fears and restore us to God's loving heart. Open our minds to this glorious message of hope, so that we may gladly receive Christ as our King and share His beautiful words with all of our people. 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, through the act of cheerful and thankful giving, we offer You our precious gifts. Bless them for service to Your wonderful ways that continue to change the world. Enable us to rededicate our lives this day, in the holy service of Your Kingdom. Both now and forever. Amen. 

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ inspire our faith as the Lord of our lives; may we know the Father's compassion and grace throughout our days on Earth; and may the Holy Spirit keep us glorifying and worshipping the One, Triune God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Lent 2 - March 01

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Herald:                 Let us sing to our God and praise His holy Name.

People:                 Our hearts adore the LORD, therefore we will glorify and serve Him forever.

Herald:                 Let us give thanks to the LORD and worship our God! Amen.

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Lord of power and peace, we approach You as servants and disciples, seeking Your favor and 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 cherish our hearts, challenge our lives, and change our ways.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we know that we are imperfect and unholy; we recognize that we have weaknesses and faults. We seek Your pardon and grace; we confess our mistakes and wrongdoing. Forgive us for neglecting our faith, ignoring Your commands, and permitting our sins to separate ourselves from You. Hear us now as we personally confess and pray.

- SILENCE -

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

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ tells us that no one can come to God unless it is through Him. God has brought us to this place to be received by Jesus, to be renewed in spirit, and restored to the Heavenly Kingdom. As we confess our sins and give our lives to Jesus, we understand that we are completely forgiven and reunited to God’s love, 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.

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 our strength, the God in whom we trust

People:                 We seek You, Lord, to free us from our fears and protect us from all evil. Cover us with Your love; heal us from all that harms us in body, mind and soul.

Pastor:                  The faithfulness of God grants us freedom; the passion of the Lord brings us peace. May He save us from anxiety or fear, depression or disease, and also illness or injury. We ask this for ourselves and all our loved ones, in our silent prayers.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The Lord is with us in times of sickness and trouble. He has promised to deliver us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.                  (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 91)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

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

Scripture Readings

The Message & Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You have once again given us a sacred opportunity to hear Your voice and to follow Your ways. We bring these gifts and tithes as a witness to the effectiveness of Your power over our lives. Please take these gifts and bless them for the advancement of Your Kingdom and the enhancement of Your Church on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

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

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 6B - Feb 15

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Herald:                 We have come into God’s Holy House to worship and adore Him.

People:                 We cheerfully lift up our hearts and voices to the Lord our God.

Herald:                 Let us praise His sacred Name and give thanks for His eternal blessings. Amen. 

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, we respectfully come to You, seeking comfort and hope, as well as encouragement and renewal. We learn the ways of righteousness from You alone. Through Your sacred words and almighty works, we acknowledge and cherish Your divine authority over our lives.

People:                 Gracious Father, we confess that we have been sinful again this week. We personally know that we have allowed desire and deceit, as well as pride and prejudice, to tarnish our faith and damage our relationship with You. Forgive our foolish and selfish ways, as well as our failures and grave mistakes. Pardon our vanity and redeem us from our faithless ways and churlish words. Hear us now as we silently admit our sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, please restore us to Your Kingdom through the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant us Your favor and mercy through His obedience and sacrifice. For we make these confessional prayers in Christ’s Name, and through His own words, we cling to You saying  “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ grants us forgiveness through the giving of His own life. Christ claims mercy for us by making Himself our worthy and perfect sacrifice. He speaks to our spirits and we are promised eternal life. Let us praise and adore Him, for Christ is our Loving Lord and our Almighty 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.

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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us meditate upon the LORD’s perfect and everlasting love. Let us prayerfully proclaim His faithfulness to every generation by declaring that His Word endures forever and that we will keep faith in all He accomplishes.

People:                 The LORD has made a covenant with us, promising to help us in times of trouble and distress. When we are weak, He will become our strength. When we have doubts, He will become our assurance. May He heal us and all our loved ones with His mighty power.  In all of creation, there is no other source of sustenance, health, holiness or salvation. May the Lord hear us now as we inwardly pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The LORD is awesome and mighty, above and beyond all that we can ever know. We are all safe in His hands and embraced in His arms. In Jesus’ Name, we faithfully pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 89)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, show us how to increase our faith through the events described in these sacred words. Enable us to apply Christ’s teaching from these passages in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, take these tithes and gifts, and bless them for Your holy work. May they be used to strengthen the weak, encourage the fearful, and comfort the lost. May we simultaneously dedicate our lives to the service of Your Kingdom in this world and the next. By the power of Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):  May Christ nourish our souls with His love and grace; may the Father strengthen and protect us each day; and may the Holy Spirit enhance our faith so that we may truly serve the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers: Baptism of Christ - Year B - January 11

Approaching God

Welcome & Church Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Herald:                 Show us Your ways, O LORD, and teach us Your paths.

People:                 Guide us by Your truth and lead us, for You are our God and Savior.

Herald:                 Our hope is in You all day long, therefore we will worship and glorify You forever. Amen.

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Creator and Perfect God, we gather in Your House of peace to praise Your Greatness and honor Your Holiness. Your works and mighty acts have blessed our people for generations. Your ways and special words have inspired our spirits across the centuries.

People:                 Gracious Father, we are unworthy of Your blessings. You are righteous and we are sinful. You are upright and truthful; we are weak and deceitful. Our lives are imperfect because we allow pride, greed, and anger to tarnish our souls and influence our choices. Forgive us for being shallow and selfish, faithless and false, as well as hurtful and unholy. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving Lord, we thank You for Jesus, Your Holy Son and our Eternal Savior, in whose Name we make our confessions and continue praying in His words, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  The Christian life is never easy because we are expected to have higher and holier standards than the rest of the world. When we fail to live up to Christ’s teaching, we absolutely need to seek His forgiveness. When we confess our faults and sincerely ask for pardon, Jesus immediately forgives us. So let us rejoice and be glad for we have been shown great mercy and are restored to God’s favor and love. In Christ’s Name. 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:                 Hear, O LORD, our personal prayers and answer us, for we are poor in spirit and need Your care.

People:                 Guard our lives and protect us from illness or injury, for we are dependent upon Your grace.

Pastor:                  Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we implore You this day to sustain our health and healing. Hear our prayers, O LORD; listen to our cries for help. Heal us and each of our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 In the day of our trouble we will call to You, O Living God, for we know that You will answer us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                    (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 86)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, encourage us through the living message of these sacred scriptures and open our hearts to receive God’s word. Astonish us with this teaching and enable us to take note of all that God fulfills in the life of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, we read and pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You have freely given us faith, hope, and love, while knowing that we can never repay You for the sacred debts we owe. Through faith, we gather our offerings and tithes. With hope, we ask for Your blessing on these tokens. In love, we seek Your favor and pray for guidance to use these gifts for the preaching of the gospel, the sharing of the scriptures, and the praising of our God. In Your Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn:

Benediction (unison):  May Christ help us to live faithful lives which are worthy of His Name; may the Father keep us free from selfish and sinful ways; and may the Holy Spirit grant us love and joy, both now and evermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers 22 September - Ordinary 25c

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to worship

Liturgist:               Our souls look for Your favor, O Lord, and we have placed our hopes in Your words.

People:                 All Your promises are trustworthy, O God; help us, in the midst of all that concerns us.

Liturgist:               Fill our lives with an abundance of Your love. May we obey Your will, by praising and glorifying Your Name forever. Amen.

Hymn:

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Lord, whose holiness and perfection are beyond our comprehension; whose power and glory are infinitely above all that we can ever 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. Hear us now as we make our confessions in Christ’s Name.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Lord, we thank You the forgiveness of our past mistakes and of our personal sins. We praise You for bringing Jesus into the world and our lives, so that we may have the opportunity of being restored to Your Holy Kingdom. Therefore, 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 (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

Encountering God

Anthem

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 sacred place.

May the Lord cleanse our souls and grant healing for our hearts; may He lift up our spirits and lead us by His 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 of our lives. Let us come to the Lord with our personal prayers.

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)

Singing of Sanctuary

Prayer of Illumination

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 and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Prayer of Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):              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 (in unison):                               May Jesus speak to our spirits and lead us throughout our lives; may the Father fortify our faith and send us out into the world to do His work; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to minister to the people we encounter each and every day. Glory to God forevermore. Amen. 

Sunday Prayers 15th September - Ordinary 24c

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Your hands made us and formed us, O Lord; give us understanding to learn Your commands.

People:                 May Your unfailing love be our comfort, according to Your promises to us, Your servants.

Liturgist:               Let Your compassion come to us that we may be blessed; for Your law, O God, is our delight. Let us worship and praise the Lord!

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, Your power brought this universe into being, and Your presence sustains life on this planet. We come before You as Your servants and children, seeking to please You with our praise and serve You with our lives. Throughout the years You have led our people and delivered us from our enemies. You have globally grown Christ’s Church through the seeds of faith which Your Son Jesus has sown in billions of hearts and minds.

People:                 Gracious Lord, the harvest of holiness which You desire from us is not always fulfilled or abundantly clear in our lives. We allow ourselves to weaken our faith by falling prey to temptation, or by making selfish choices and doing sinful acts. Be patient with us and have mercy on our souls. Forgive our faults and pardon our foolish ways. Challenge our choices and change our lives. Hear us now as we come to You individually with our prayers of confession.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Father, without Your compassion, we would not have any everlasting hope. Without Your redeeming love, we would have no opportunity to escape eternal punishment. You have given us Jesus, Your Only Son and He has laid down His life for us. We know that we are unworthy to receive such a wonderful and amazing blessing, so we are truly grateful for all that we have been given.

In Jesus’ Name, we praise You forever and through His words of prayer, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus has come into our world and dwells with us. He seeks to influence our spirits with God’s everlasting love. We are blessed through Him because He sacrificed His life for us. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah and Redeemer, reigns 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:                  The LORD is our shepherd, He knows all of our needs. He makes us rest in His presence, He gives us peace in the midst of our troubles.

People:                 He heals our wounded souls and guides us through our fears. Throughout all that deeply troubles us and in the face of all that harms us, we will not be afraid, for the LORD is with us; His strength and power will restore us to health.

Pastor:                  Lord, spread out the bounty of Your Love before us and anoint us with healing. May your goodness and love be granted to our families and friends. May Your peace be restored to their lives and may You heal them of all that harms them. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May we dwell in the Holy Presence of God from this time forth and forevermore. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                (Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 23)

Unison singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, may the words of our Lord Jesus Christ always be with us and be foremost in our minds. May His teaching become our strength and may His gospel enable us to overcome our troubles and fears. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, by bringing this offering before You, we hope to please You with our gifts. We do this to glorify Your Holy Name and to bring faith, hope, and love into the lives of other people through Your message, ministry, and mission, from this church to the community at large. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (in unison):               May Jesus keep us focused on His work throughout the world; may the Father bless us with mercy and compassion; and may the Holy Spirit enrich our lives with faith to overcome fear, hope to bring us health, and love to defeat loneliness, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude