Sunday prayers - 050107

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 143)
Pastor: O Lord, may this morning bring us words of Your unfailing love, for we place our trust in You.
People: O God, show us the way to lead our lives, for to You alone we lift up our souls.
Pastor: O Lord, teach us to do Your will and may Your Spirit lead us in worship this Sabbath day. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession
Guide: Glorious and Eternal God, whose fruits of righteousness bring peace into our lives, we worship Your holy ways and devote ourselves to Your divine love.
People: Heavenly Father, You strongly influence our hearts and minds, so that our spirits can grow in confidence and faith.

Guide: Majestic Lord, we are accountable to You alone, and we are sustained by Your almighty power. We come here to glorify Your goodness and to seek Your guidance for lives.
People: Gracious King, we know that we often fail to meet Your standards and that we fall short of Your expectations. Forgive us for allowing sin to taint our souls and for letting temptation enslave our spirits. Pardon the mistakes that we have caused and the selfish choices we have made. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving God, only Your Son Jesus can restore us to Your blessing and favor. Only His blood can cleanse our unrighteous and unholy ways.
People: Enable us to seek His forgiveness and to rely upon Him for our salvation. For in Christ’s words we now pray, saying ... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors) (Isaiah 32:17)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ opens our eyes to our misdeeds and seeks to bring us back to God. His death has fully paid the debt we owe to God and now we can dwell eternally in His Kingdom. Let us rejoice and be glad for Christ is Savior, Lord, and King, both now and always. Amen. (John 9:14)

Gloria Patri: 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: Praise awaits You, O God, in this holy house; in You, are all promises kept.
People: In all the universe, You alone hear our prayers, so to You we will come with our pleas.
Pastor: When we are overwhelmed with worry, You can bring peace to our hearts and minds.
People: Blessed are those who choose to come to You with their burdens, for You fill them with goodness and love.
Pastor: Answer us, O God our Savior, with awesome deeds of healing, deliverance, and strength.
People: Support us in the midst of sickness and trouble; heal us and our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: When our prayers end, healing begins. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 65)

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, take our minds and open them to the love of our Lord. Let Christ’s ways enter our hearts through these sacred words. Grant us understanding and help us to apply these lessons in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 7:59)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: Lord Jesus, in the twinkling of an eye You will return amongst us. Until then, You have asked us to work for Your Kingdom and support Your church. In obedience to You, we bring before You our gifts of money and our faithful tithes. Bless them for all that You would have us accomplish in this congregation. Help us to augment these gifts with our devotion, time and talents. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ open our lives to do His work in today’s world; may the Father keep us mindful of His loving covenant; and may the Holy Spirit move our hearts to worship and glorify the One, Triune and Living God, from this time forth and forevermore. Amen. (2 Corinthians 3:14)
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude