Sunday Prayers - Lent 5 - March 22

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us approach God faithfully, offering Him our love and devotion.

People:                 We will sing praises to His Name and glorify God from our hearts.

Pastor:                  Come, let us truly worship the One, Triune, and Living God. Amen.

First Hymn

Guide:                  Loving Lord, whose mighty acts reveal to us Your divine power, creativity, and sovereignty over the entire universe, we praise and adore You as our Creator and King. Your ways have been conveyed to our people across the centuries and throughout all the nations, therefore we approach You with awe and reverence, as well as dedication and devotion.

People:                Gracious God, each day of our lives You seek to instruct us and guide us by Your holy counsel. Sometimes we rebelliously ignore Your advice and seek to do our own sinful and selfish things. Forgive our foolish and faithless ways. Pardon us for making bad choices and self-centered mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Merciful Father, You have allowed Jesus, Your Holy Son, to reclaim our lives, to teach us Your ways, and to save our souls. His perfect obedience and supreme sacrifice has won our salvation. We thank You for restoring us to Your everlasting love, and in the words of Christ our Lord, we continue to pray saying, "Our Father …THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                 Jesus is the King of our lives, the Anointed and Holy One of God. He alone has the authority to forgive our sins. Solely by His grace, we are cleansed of our sinful past and returned to God's favor. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him, our King of Kings and Lord of lords, both now and forever. 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:                 We call upon the Lord, in the midst of all our troubles, and He faithfully answers us. We ask Him to save from false ways and self-deception, clinging on to His eternal Truth. He is source of all our hope and the One who brings us healing. May the Lord have mercy upon us, for we are frail and fearful. May He grant us strength and renewal.

People:                 In Your Holy Presence, Lord, we live our lives. We often need Your help and long for deliverance from sickness and suffering, pain and discomfort, as well as anxiety and stress. We seek Your peace this day and pray that You will heal us, including our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor:                  Loving Lord, speak Your peace to us at this precious time and fill our hearts with Your hope. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.                 (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 120)

Unison Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, may Christ speak to our hearts, permitting God to resurrect our hopes through these sacred scriptures. May we receive and share the blessings of faith, strength, and love that we encounter throughout these biblical texts.  In Jesus' Name, we ask.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Prayer of Dedication

(In Unison – led by pastor)          Lord Jesus, all that we are has been accomplished by Your grace. Take our tithes and gifts that we freely offer to You, and use them for the preaching of Your Word, the enhancement of Your Church, and the glorifying of Your Name. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (in unison):               May Christ urge and inspire us to advance His ministry with our lives; may the Father's great and everlasting love be treasured in our hearts and conveyed by our deeds; and may the Holy Spirit keep us loving and serving the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and evermore.  Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - lent 4 - March 15

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Herald:                 This is the day that the Lord has made.

People:                 We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Herald:                 Let us worship and glorify God! Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord of our lives and Creator of all that exists, we proclaim You as our One, Triune, and Holy God. At this sacred time and in this holy place, we seek to serve You as Your called and chosen people.

People:                 Gracious Father, we want to please You and faithfully follow Your Son’s ways. However, we confess that we sinfully let our pride and anger hurt other people. We selfishly strive to have our own way, or to fulfill our selfish desires. Forgive us for rejecting Your words and damaging our faith by our unloving, unholy, and un-Christian actions. Hear us now as we humbly admit our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful God, You have the power to judge and punish us for our sins. Instead, You graciously gave us Your Son Jesus to die for our failures, faults, and fallen ways. By His wounds, we are healed. By His sacrifice, we are forgiven and restored, therefore we gratefully unite our hearts with Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                   Jesus saves us from being eternally separated from God. He wants us to choose life over death, faith over fear, and obedience over defiance. When we sincerely come to Him for forgiveness, He grants us mercy and grace. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus our Savior rescues our souls and redeems us forever. 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 reigns; He is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. God establishes our world and sustains our lives. We, in contract, are finite and frail, in need of help, healing and wholeness. Therefore let us lift up our voices of prayer to God, from our anxious hearts and troubled minds.

People:                 Loving God, have mercy upon us and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. We also bring to You our families and friends, as well as our colleagues and neighbors who need Your Loving touch and holy healing. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The LORD is merciful and holy, as well as just and faithful. He hears our prayers, given in Jesus’ Name, Amen.                    (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 93)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, help us to see what Christ is doing among us. Enable us to hear His words from these sacred passages. Teach us His ways, so that we may tell others of His ministry, mission, and kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we have worshipped You in song and praised You with our music. We have gathered our tithes and offerings in order to place them before Your throne. Take these tokens and bless them, so that we may bring life to Your words by ministering to our congregation, across our community, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):  May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in His Son Jesus Christ, so that we may overflow with the loving power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Lent 3 - March 8

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:                 Praise be to the LORD for He has shown His wonderful love to us.

People:                We will be strong and take heart, for our hope is in the LORD.

Pastor:                 Come, let us cheerfully worship and glorify God! Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Holy Lord of the Universe and Sacred Creator of Life, we come here as Your people to praise Your glorious deeds and to proclaim Your wonderful works. You have called us into Your Presence and we are blessed to be in this special place of peace and prayer.

People:                 Almighty Father, You rule over the Earth and see all of humanity’s ways. You know that we are sinful and selfish creatures, whose foolish and faithless ways separate our souls from You. Forgive our faults and past mistakes. When we have neglected to do good or have inflicted hurt on other people, pardon us. When we have followed our own stubborn ways and allowed temptation to influence our decisions, forgive us. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious Lord, enable us to place Christ at the center of our lives. May His pardon free us from our sins. May His sacrifice restore us to Your Favor. We make our confessions in Christ’s Name and through His own words, we unite our hearts in prayer, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                   Jesus wants us to turn our backs on our sinful ways and return to God’s goodness. He calls us to follow Him and becomes witnesses of His mercy. We know that our past sins are forgiven because He loves us; therefore we honor His authority over our lives and are sustained by His grace. 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:                 Lord of Life, we proclaim Your love this morning and thank You for Your faithfulness to us. You gladden us with Your wonderful deeds and we rejoice in the power of Your healing hands.

People:                 Gracious Father, we know that You understand us perfectly and that You think about us constantly. May we flourish by Your grace; may we be healed through Your mercy. In the midst of our sickness, be our salvation. During times of depression or despair, be our defender and deliverer. Look after our loved ones and heal them of all that harms them in body, mind, heart and soul. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The Lord is our righteousness, our peace, and our strength. He loves, heals, and restores us in Jesus’ Name. Amen.                    (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 92)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, empower us to discern between right and wrong through the guidance of these scriptures. Open our hearts and minds to Christ’s teaching, so that we may faithfully obey God every day. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You have revealed to us Your holy ways through the Living Word of the sacred scriptures. In response, we gather together our tithes and offerings, placing them into Your keeping. We ask that You will bless these tokens and enable us to use them for the many ministries and missions that You have called us to pursue and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ help us to regard each day as a special gift of grace; may the Father continue to supply our needs and satisfy our souls; and may the Holy Spirit teach us to live our lives in thankfulness to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Lenten Devotionals for Kindle

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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