Sunday Prayers: Christ is King Sunday - Nov 24

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Leader:                 Let us come before the Lord with our songs of gratitude and prayers of thanksgiving.

People:                 We will gratefully worship the God of all goodness and the Creator of all compassion.

Leader:                 O Living Lord, hear us as we praise You for the gifts of life and love in our lives. Amen.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, Whose powerful words of creation brought forth light and life, we adore You for being our Creator and we serve You for being our King. Throughout the world, people are gladly praising Your Holy Name and we rejoice with them at this holy and sacred time.

People:                 Almighty Lord, You have guided our paths and clarified our thoughts. You have given us peace in the midst of our troubles and protection during times of trial. You have sustained us by Your grace and love, so we are truly thankful for Your presence and influence in our lives.

Guide:                  Gracious Lord, we know that we have sinned. We confess to being shallow people at times and faithless Christians. We have hurt loved ones with words of anger and disappointed others with our mistakes. We have fallen into temptation too many times and have allowed sin to blemish our souls and character. Forgive us, Lord, for the misdeeds of our lives and for the good deeds we have neglected. Hear us now as we humbly pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful God, we are eternally grateful for Your Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior. His blood has cleansed our souls; His broken body has painfully paid the price for our sins. We are thankful for His perfect obedience and almighty sacrifice. In Him, through Him, and by Him alone, we are saved and restored forever. Hear us now as we pray His wonderful words, saying, “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus gathers us to Himself and fills us with His grace and love. He takes the broken pieces of our sinful lives and heals us of all our past and personal sins. Let us therefore rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our Savior, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri ( sung in unison)                     Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

                                                As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the Earth is full of His unfailing love. The plans of the LORD stand firm forever; the purposes of His heart are sustained through all generations.

People:                 O Living God, who formed the hearts, minds, and bodies of us all, consider our present troubles and provide for our personal needs. Your eyes are constantly on us; You know our worries and fears. We place our lives into Your hands and put our hopes in Your unfailing love.

Pastor:                  You are our help and shield, O Lord. We wait for Your mercy and ask that You heal us, our families, as well as our friends of all our hurts, harms, and hindrances. For we trust in Your Holy Name and we humbly ask that You hear our heartfelt petitions and       personal prayers.

                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You and Jesus’ Name.                 Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 33)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, descend upon us and open our hearts to God’s message. Grant us understanding of these scriptures and give us opportunities to apply these sacred words in our daily lives. For the sake of our Savior and 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, through Your death, You made a new covenant with humanity, which we gratefully acknowledge and fully proclaim. We therefore freely give our lives to You in service of Your Everlasting Kingdom. Take these gifts that we offer, and bless them for the ministries and missions that You would have our church undertake, support, as well as fulfill to the glory of God and the preaching of His Word. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.  

Hymn                   

Benediction (unison):                    May Christ deliver us from God’s wrath and enable us to do His will; may the Father spare us from temptation and reclaim us as His own; and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide, counsel, and comfort us, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Blue Christmas Service Outline

Blue Christmas Service Outline

Prelude: As the Deer

Call to Worship

Psalm 42:1-3      As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Hymn:   In the Bleak Midwinter

Prayer (unison):                               Gracious God, You know us perfectly and You understand what we are presently experiencing. Our lives have been tainted by hurt and sorrow, disappointment and loss. We are weak and frail, so we depend upon Your love to support and sustain us. Carry the burden of our hearts and help us to overcome our troubles. When we feel lonely and vulnerable, be our strength and shield. When we experience isolation and confusion, be our peace and tranquility. Hear our prayers, both spoken and unspoken. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Reading: Psalm 13:1-6

Poem: Blue Christmas: Part 1

There's no room at Christmas for sadness,
There's no place for hearts that are blue.
All the world wants to hear
Is a word full of cheer,
Not a sigh, not a tear, not from you.

There's no room at Christmas for loneliness,
There's no place for your emptiness and grief.
All the world wants is peace,
Mistletoe and Christmas trees,
Not a heartache that mars its beliefs.

There's no room at Christmas for sickness,
There's no place or time to be ill.
All the world wants is health,
Prosperity and wealth,
Not a pain that can spoil its goodwill.

There's no room at Christmas for Jesus,
There's no place for His family, too,
All the world would not share,
No one seems to really care,
A stable will just have to do.

Silence

Reading: John 6: 60-69

Hymn:   What Child Is This?

Homily

Prayer:                 Lord Jesus, You knew what it was like to be rejected and forsaken, wounded and hurt by other people. You understand the pain that we feel and the sadness that we carry. Help us to share our hearts and tears with You. Embrace us in our weakness; strengthen us in our plight. For we pray this in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Poem: Blue Christmas: Part 2

Yes, there's room at Christmas for sadness,
There's a place in God's heart for you.
For He knows pain and loss,
Which He felt on the cross,
So this candle is lit here for you,

For Christ knows what it's like to be blue.

Lighting of Blue Candle

Revelation 7:16-17          Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Quiet dismissal

Advent Candle Readings 2013

Advent One

Pastor:                 Isaiah 2:3            Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Family:                  Hope is the theme of the First Sunday in Advent. Hope reminds us that our future is in God’s safe hands and that His promises will always be fulfilled. He teaches us His ways through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lighting of First Advent candle.

Family:                  We are blessed by Christ’s Birth and redeemed through His Resurrection.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Advent Two

Pastor:                 Isaiah 11:6-7      The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Family:                  Peace is the theme of the Second Sunday in Advent. Peace is what we all long for in our lives and the scriptures tell us of a wonderful day when all of nature will be at peace forever. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and we welcome His sacred presence in the world.

Lighting of Two Advent candles

Family:                  May Christ’s peace descend upon our hearts and souls during this time of praise.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Advent Three

Pastor:                 Isaiah 35:1-2                      The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Family:                  Joy is the theme of the Third Sunday in Advent. Joy refreshes our spirits in times of trouble and emptiness. Jesus Christ is the everlasting joy of our loving hearts. We look forward to that glorious day when He will return among us, so that the whole Earth may rejoice with Him forevermore.

Lighting of Three Advent Candles, which includes the Pink Joy candle.

Family:                  May the joy of Christ be present in our lives as we worship Him as our King.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Advent Four

Pastor:                 Isaiah 7:14          Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Family:                  Love is the theme of the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Love is what we all seek from our families and friends. The scriptures tell us that God is love, and that He loved the world so much, He allowed His Son Jesus to come among us. Love is at the heart of our faith and will continue beyond our mortal lives, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lighting of Four Advent Candles, including the Pink Joy Candle.

Family:                  May the love of God be experienced by all in our worship today.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Christmas Eve

Pastor:                 Isaiah 9:6-7        For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Family:                  On this holy night, Christ will be born among us and our spirits will be at one with Him. He came into the world to offer us salvation. He will return again and meet us face-to-face, when we, as Christian believers, will be restored to God’s favor forevermore.

Lighting of all four candles, plus the white Christ candle in the center.

Family:                  May we all know the blessing of Christ in our hearts and homes this night. May His blessings of hope, peace, joy, and love be with us and all our loved ones, both near and far.

All:         Glory be to God on high and on Earth, peace and goodwill to everyone. Amen.

Sunday Prayers for Ordinary 31c - Nov 03

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Almighty God, Your promises have always been fulfilled and we have been constantly blessed by them.

People:                 Gracious Lord, Your righteousness is everlasting and Your Words are forever true.

Leader:                 Heavenly Father, Your teachings are always right; they give us a better understanding so that we may live in Your Presence forever. Amen.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Father, Who created the land, sea and air, we worship Your wonderful ways and praise Your everlasting Name. You are the King of Glory, Whose words produce Life and Whose thoughts uphold the Universe. You have filled history with Your deeds of deliverance and sustained our people with Your Love. You have directed our destinies and determined the paths that we should follow.

People:                 Merciful God, we have sought safety in Your plan of salvation and refuge in Your acts of  redemption. You have become a haven of healing and a harbor of holiness for our minds, our hearts, and our souls. Become a river of life for us, cleansing us of our past mistakes, freeing us from our vilest sins, as well as pardoning us of our selfish ways. We acknowledge that we have disappointed You with our false choices and feeble faith. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Father God, without Jesus, we have no hope of forgiveness. Without His sacrifice, we have no way to be forgiven. We place our sinful selves into His Hands and pray that His power will restore us to Your Favor and Eternal Kingdom. For we ask this in our Precious Savior’s Name and through Christ’s own words, we pray, saying,

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

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus alone has the authority to forgive our sins, to feed our souls, and to give us God’s blessings. When we truly believe that He is the Son of God and place our lives into His Keeping, we are guaranteed forgiveness for our sins and receive God’s everlasting love. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our One, True, and Living Savior, both now and always. 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  We will worship you, O LORD, for You lift us out of the depths of despair and will not let our troubles overwhelm us. We call to You for help, for You alone can truly heal us.

People:                 We feel secure in Your Presence and safe in Your Love. Strengthen our faith and diminish our fears. Fill us with peace and free us from pain. O LORD, show Your favor to our friends and families. Grant them health and healing; release them from dismay and depression. Bring to them hope and happiness. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May our hearts sing to You and never be silent. May we give thanks to You forever. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 30)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, You know what lies ahead of each of our lives. You know the joys we will celebrate and the problems we will encounter. Prepare our hearts and minds for those future times by enabling us to hear Christ’s words, receive them in our hearts, and apply them in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

Message

The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison):                                 Lord Jesus, may we primarily give of our lives to Your ministry in this church, community, and nation. May we freely give to You of our time, talents, and resources in ways and means that will honor and glorify Your Name. May You favorably bless these tokens and pledges, these gifts and offerings for the life, work, and mission of Your church at Erin, as well as throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen. 

Hymn                   

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to branch out into the world in service, ministry, and mission; may the Father establish strong and firm roots of faith in our hearts, souls, and minds; and may the Holy Spirit empower us with godly gifts, so that we may witness to Christ’s grace, God’s love, and the Spirit’s compassion, both now and always. Amen.

Prayers for Ordinary 30c Sunday Oct 27

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               O Lord, Your teaching and commands are wonderful; we will seek to obey and fulfill them.

People:                 Your Holy words brighten our lives; they bring to us understanding and wisdom.

Leader:                 May Your face shine upon Your servants, O God,  and teach us Your ways, as we worship and glorify Your Name. Amen.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  LORD Almighty, whose plans are always fulfilled and whose will is never diminished, we adore and revere You as our True Creator, Heavenly Father, and Everlasting God. You have called us to this place of prayer and worship, so that we may know Your peace, share Your Words, and experience Your Love.

People:                 Loving God, we praise You for being patient with us. We acknowledge Your kindness and compassion. We know that we have sinned against You by allowing pride to determine our actions, fear to diminish our faith, and greed to overrule our generosity. Merciful Father, humble us in Your Holy Presence. Enable us to cast off our sinful ways. Forgive our foolish mistakes and inept decisions, as well as our selfish choices and unworthy deeds. Please hear us now as we personally confess our faults to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Eternal God, You can save us from our sins when we place our lives into Christ’s hands. You can even forgive our most grievous of faults when we humbly confess to Jesus, Your Son, who died for our sake. We ask these prayers in Christ’s Name, seeking His forgiveness and uniting our spirits with Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus receives our confessional prayers and changes our sinful lives. He takes each one of us, despite our weaknesses and failings, and blesses us with forgiveness and faith, salvation and strength. So let us rejoice In God’s grace and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our Savior and Lord forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Ascribe to the LORD, all you His people, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due to His Name, for He is powerful, compassionate, and kind.

People:                 We worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; in this place of prayer, we seek His healing. The voice of the LORD is powerful; when He speaks to our spirits, we can be restored to health, wholeness, and happiness.

Pastor:                  The power of the LORD is majestic; therefore, we humbly call upon Him to heal us of all that harms us.

May He be merciful to our family and friends; may He love them and comfort them, releasing them from pain and suffering, as well as renewing their strength and mending their broken bodies, minds, hearts and spirits, all in Jesus’ Name. Hear us now as we silently pray.

                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses us with peace.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 29)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, reveal to us God’s message for our lives today, through the words of these sacred scriptures. Enable us to seek, find, and experience the promises of blessing, guidance, and wisdom that emerge from Christ’s life and teaching. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message

The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, direct our lives and enable us to freely give of our resources to You.  Take these gifts and bless them for the life, work, and ministry that You have called our church to undertake and fulfill. Let Your Name be praised through this offering and let Your Word be spread through these assets. For we give and pray in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Hymn                   

Benediction (unison):    May Christ set us free from our fears and sins; may our Heavenly Father bring us to His Kingdom and grow us in His Love; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to share in God’s work and be nourished by His Everlasting Word, both now and always. Amen.