Sunday Worship Prayers - Easter 4C - April 21

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Almighty God, we come into Your Holy House to praise and glorify Your Everlasting Name.

People:                 We have been called to be here today, to sing our songs of praise and make our loving prayers.

Youth:                   May we please You with our praises and be blessed with Your Sacred Presence. Amen.

Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Immortal 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 mysterious to us, and yet Your love is known by all. Today we glorify Your greatness and magnify Your Holy Name.

People:  Merciful Father, You know that we struggle with temptation and wrestle with sin. 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 foolish and selfish ways. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Everlasting God, we cannot earn salvation for ourselves. We depend upon Jesus to grant us complete 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

Choir Anthem

 Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 The LORD reigns, let us all be glad; let those both near and far rejoice. Our prayers and petitions are made to Him, for righteousness and justice are the foundations of His love.

People:                 Let us place our prayers before God, knowing that He receives them from all of our hearts. O Lord, light up our lives with Your favors and blessings; let us see Your compassion and know that You care.

Pastor:                  Our fears melt our courage and our worries meddle with our faith, yet we will continue to ask the Lord for the healing of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Heavenly Father, we proclaim Your righteousness and ask to see Your glory 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, Amen.

                                (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 97)

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 and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we have grasped the meaning of Your giving through the preaching of Your word. In return, we gather before You our tithes 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 and Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Easter 2C - April 7

Approaching God

 

Welcome & announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

 

Call to Worship

Youth:             Let us come to the Lord with our praises and prayers.

All:                  We will honor God from our hearts and in our worship.

Youth:             May God be glorified by what we give and bring to Him. Amen.

 

First Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         LORD God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, and Sustainer of our lives, we come to You with our prayers and petitions, our cares and concerns. You have called us by name to come into Your House. You have welcomed us to this sanctuary of praise and peace, holiness and healing.

People:            Loving God, in the midst of our troubles, we call upon Your Name. We look for Your help and inspiration, Your patience and forgiveness, as well as Your mercy and grace. We have sinned against You and have allowed ourselves to be overcome by temptation. We have neglected our faith and cast aside Your words. Forgive our foolish and arrogant ways; pardon our selfish and faithless choices. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful Father, You could discipline and punish us, or even reject and ignore us. Instead, You lovingly allow us to approach Your Holy Son Jesus to seek forgiveness, absolution, and acquittal for our sins. We praise You for sending Him to us and for His perfect and passionate sacrifice, which wipes clean our sinful past. May we unite ourselves with Jesus, in whose words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father, …THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:             We believe and know that Christ is the Holy One of God. His Passion and obedience, His Crucifixion and sacrifice, have given us the glorious opportunity of remitting our sins, renewing our lives, and restoring us to God's favor and blessing.  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:                         Come, let us pray for healing from the LORD; let us voice our concerns to the Rock of our salvation. We come before God with our personal pleas; we pray to Him sincerely and faithfully.

People:                        The LORD is the great God, the mighty King above all. He will hear our prayers and answer our needs. From His hands comes the power of healing. Have mercy upon us O Lord, for we belong to You.

Pastor:                         We are His, for He made us; He shapes our lives and has the power to save our souls. Almighty God, we bow down before You; heal us and all our loved ones from sickness and despair; pain and anxiety; suffering and depression. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:             The LORD is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 95)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:             Holy Spirit, let the words and ways of Jesus touch our hearts today. May His miracles and messages challenge our lives so that we may change our church, community, and country. To the glory of God forever. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we express our faith and thanksgiving through these tithes and offerings. Bless them for the life, work, and ministry of Your church and the preaching, teaching, and proclaiming of Your Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Communion

Hymn

Benediction:( in unison)        May Christ be the Lord of our lives throughout our days on Earth; may the Father enhance our faith and life through His loving ways; and may the Holy Spirit keep us serving the One, Triune, and Living God, in this world and the next. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship prayers - Epiphany 2C - Jan 20

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Let us joyfully come and freely worship the Lord our God.

People:                We praise His loving ways and glorify His wonderful deeds.

Youth:                   Let us honor God from our hearts and praise Him from our lips. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Eternal God, in whose holy presence we live, and for whose predestined purposes we are sustained, accept the prayers and praises that we express from our lips and hearts. To You alone, we dedicate this time of worship and exaltation. In You alone, we place all our faith, hope, and love.

People:                 Gracious Lord, we confess that there are times when we make bad choices, which separate us from You. There are moments in our lives when we are stubborn and disobedient, proud and resentful, as well as prejudiced and bitter. Forgive our self-centered and faithless ways. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions.

SILENCE –

Guide: Loving Father, You have given Jesus to us as the Way to forgiveness, the Truth of salvation, and the Life which leads us to restoration. In Him, through Him, and by Him, we are saved and renewed, pardoned and reunited to You forever. In Christ’s words, we lift up our prayers, saying: “Our Father…” (The Lord’s Prayer – debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                                  Christ obeyed God completely throughout His life. As God’s Perfect and Holy Son, He made the supreme and sacred sacrifice that paid for all of our sins. In Jesus, we have the One, True, and Living Savior, who sets us free from our past mistakes and restores us to God 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 afraid or if our faith is weak, help us to look to Your promises. You are our refuge and our shield; we place our confidence in Your Word alone.

People:                 Cast out our doubts and fears. Help us to remain focused on Your power. Sustain us with Your almighty strength; do not let our hopes be dashed.

Pastor:                  Keep our thoughts from being distracted by our fears. Help us to follow You in faith. Heal us, and all our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we quietly and sincerely pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Lord, we abide in Your loving presence. We remain in awe of Your amazing love and healing power. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.    (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Samekh)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, enable us to receive the message and purpose of these scriptures. Keep us from trivializing the truth. Open our hearts and minds to all that Christ gives us through His actions and words. In His 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 power of the Gospel, we are brought closer to You. By the gracious presence of the Holy Spirit, we are given the priceless gift of salvation. Gladly and cheerfully, we bring to You our tithes and gifts as a thanksgiving offering. Take and receive them for Your continuing work in this church and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn:

Benediction (in unison):  May the Father’s amazing love fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him; may the Son open up opportunities of service and devotion to Him each day;  and may we  overflow with hope by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Baptism of Jesus - 13 Jan

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Sacred God, whose power formed the universe and whose creativity made our world, we gather in this place of peace and praise to honor and glorify Your wonderful Name. For generations our people have been blessed by Your loving deeds and mighty acts. Your words and works continue to amaze and inspire us throughout the ages and across the nations.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we are humbled by Your blessings, for we know that we are unworthy of Your grace. You are righteous and we are sinful. You are mighty and truthful; we are weak and deceitful. Forgive us, Lord, for allowing pride, greed, and anger to blemish our hearts and souls. We are often shallow and selfish, faithless and false, hurtful and unholy. Hear us now as we personally ask forgiveness of You.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving Lord, we thank You for Jesus who cleanses our past mistakes and restores us to Your favor. By His mercy our sins are forgiven and He restores us to become trusted servants of Your Kingdom. We are eternally indebted to Christ, so we unite our spirits with Him through the saying of His words:

Our Father, who art in heaven…(The Lord’s Prayer – debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Jesus never said that believing in Him would be easy. He asks us to follow His ways and apply His words to our daily lives. When we fail to live up to His teaching, He is willing to forgive us if we choose to sincerely confess our faults to Him. So let us rejoice and be thankful that Christ is Our Savior, Lord, and God, both now and evermore. 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, and graciously answer us, for we are poor in spirit and in need of Your care. Guard our lives and protect us from illness, for we are devoted to You and Your ways.

People:                 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we call upon You this day for health and healing. Bring comfort to us, for to You alone we lift up our prayers and make our healing petitions.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 In the day of our trouble we will call to You, O Lord, for 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 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, we can never repay You for the eternal blessings of salvation. We gather before You our gifts and tithes as a thanksgiving offering for the faith we share.  Bless these tokens and give us guidance to use these gifts for the preaching of the gospel, the sharing of Your love, and the praising of our God. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (in unison):  May the God of hope fill us with His joy and grant us peace as we trust in Jesus Christ His Son; may we overflow with hope by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers Easter 7 - May 20

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:              Our souls long for Your salvation, O Lord, and we have put our hope in Your word.

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

Youth:              Preserve our lives according to Your love; we will obey the statutes of Your mouth, by praising and glorifying Your Name forever.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Almighty God, Sovereign of the Universe, and King of all Creation, we humbly approach Your sacred presence and respectfully seek to please You with our praise. We gather in Your holy house to greet You with gladness and to worship You with our hearts and voices.

People:           Gracious Father, we confess to failing our faith and casually serving You. We admit to countering Your commands and waiving aside Your words. We fear  Your wrath and are shamed by Your rebuke; forgive us for being proud and foolish, as well as bitter and neglectful. Hear us now as we confess our faults to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Father God, only Jesus can save us from ourselves. Only He can restore us to Your favor and love. In Him, we place our lives and through Him, we seek Your peace. Christ shields us from Your consuming wrath and returns us to Your Kingdom. In His holy words, we continue to pray, saying:  "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD'S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:              Christ reveals to us both the glory and the grace of God. He brings us into the presence of God and reclaims our spirits as His forevermore. Let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus Christ is our Everlasting Savior and Almighty King. 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:             Heal us, O LORD, and enable us to lead faithful lives; help us to trust in You without wavering. Look kindly upon us, LORD; pacify our troubled hearts and ease our anxious minds.

People:           For Your love is always with us; we gain strength from Your Saving Power and Eternal Truth. Heal us from all that harms us so that we may proclaim aloud your praise and tell of all your wonderful deeds.

Pastor:             May we experience Your Holy Presence in this house of prayer. May our loved ones know of Your healing Love at this time in their precious lives. Be near to our families and friends, Gracious Lord. Strengthen their souls, release them from pain, and restore them to health, hope, and happiness. Hear us now, as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:             May we lead faithful lives and be grateful for the mercy and compassion of the One, True and Living God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 26)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, forgive us for disrespecting and misquoting the sacred words of God. Teach us Christ’s ways and let Him rule over our lives, so that we may be judged by His mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by the pastor)

Lord Jesus, we are made alive in You forever. You have blessed us with complete forgiveness and granted us God’s everlasting grace. With thankful hearts, we gather before You our tithes and gifts. We pray that You will bless them for the mission of hope, help, and healing that You brought into world, and will continue to express them through the life, work, and ministry of Your Church on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Christ remain the Lord of our lives; may the Father’s joy work great blessings within us; and may the Holy Spirit keep us firm in our faith as we serve and glorify the One, Triune and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude