Sunday Prayers - July 01, 2007

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering & Introit

Acclamation (based on words of Psalm 44)

Leader: O sacred Lord, You are our King and God, who decrees justice and mercy forever.
People: In God, we make our praise all day long, and we will worship His name always.
Leader: Let us glorify and magnify the One, true and Living God! Amen.

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Loving God of all creation, Giver of all good, we seek Your divine presence and hope to experience Your sacred strength.
People: Lord of all Wisdom and Provider of all blessings, we humbly approach Your throne of grace, looking for meaning and purpose to be given to our lives.

Guide: Blessed God and Ruler of all the nations, we know that we are sinful and proud, selfish and vain, rebellious and foolish. We come hear to confess our faults and to make peace with Your Spirit.
People: Gracious Father, in You we find refuge for our weary souls and comfort for our anxious spirits. You alone have the power to forgive our fallen ways. Hear us now as we sincerely confess our sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Heavenly Lord, You have restored us to Your favor through the noble sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ. We cling to Him as our savior and we look to Him for Your loving mercy.
People: We give these prayers in the Holy name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. In His perfect words, we now pray, saying “Our Father, etc.” (Isaiah 27v5)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus was hated by the world because He confronted evil. Today, He confronts the sins in our lives and challenges us to become more like Him. Through His blood, our souls are cleansed of our sinful past, so let us rejoice and be glad, for our Risen Savior Jesus has triumphed over death and sin forevermore. Amen. (John 7:7)

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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Leader: We will give thanks to the LORD and call on His Name; we will make known his glorious deeds.
People: We will praise and sing to the One, True and Living God, whose wonderful acts sustain our people.
Leader: Let us seek the Lord and rejoice in His goodness; let us approach Him with confidence and faith.
People: May we look to the Lord for strength; may He compassionately answer our prayers.
Leader: As we remember the wonders He has done, let us ask Him for healing and mercy.
People: May our God bring healing to our hearts, peace to our minds, strength to our spirits and wholeness to our souls and to all for whom we now pray.

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

Leader: He is the LORD our God and His blessings are all around us. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 105)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, may we all become one in heart and mind through the power of these sacred scriptures. May we share the teaching of Christ and receive the preaching of His word. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Acts 4:32)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: Lord Jesus, we have voiced our praises to God and listened to Your scriptural message. You have challenged our lives and changed our ideas. In response, we offer You our tithes and tokens, praying that You will bless them for the life, work and ministry of this church and Your mission throughout the entire world. In Your Name, we give and pray. Amen.
(1 Corinthians 14:17)

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May we serve Christ each day of our lives; may we please the Father with our thoughts and deeds; and may we seek the approval and joy of the Holy Spirit, both now and forever. Amen. (Romans 14:18)

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - 24 June, 2007

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 148)
Pastor: Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights above.
People: Praise Him all His people; praise Him throughout the world.
Pastor: Praise the Name of the Lord, for He alone is to be exalted. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession

Guide: Gracious Lord, throughout our lives we seek opportunities to serve and worship You. On this holy day, accept our praises and thanksgiving.
People: Almighty God, You are our strength and salvation, our source of hope and healing. Each day, we place our lives and dreams into Your hands. Each time, You do not disappoint us.

Guide: Merciful Father, we know that our disobedience diminishes our faith. We understand that our spiteful words and deeds distress others and disappoint You.
People: Loving Lord, forgive us for being self-centered and full of pride. Pardon our vain and shallow ways. Help us to turn to You for mercy and grace, forgiveness and pardon. Hear us now as we pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Eternal King, we are indebted to You for sending Jesus into our world. He has given His life as the everlasting sacrifice for all of our mistakes, regrets, and sins.
People: Therefore we pledge our lives to Him and place ourselves under His authority. Hear us now as we pray in Christ’s own words, “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors)
(Isaiah 33:2)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Christ is the answer to all of our questions, and He is the One who fulfills all our obligations. In Him, we have the perfect Savior, the most merciful of all Lords. We will rejoice and declare our allegiance to Him alone. Forever and ever. Amen. (John 9:19)

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: Hasten to us, O God; come quickly among us and give heed to our prayers.
People: We seek Your love to remedy our fears; we ask for Your compassion and grace.
Pastor: In the midst of our troubles, support us. In times of illness and crisis, be ever faithful.
People: May we know of Your complete joy; may we be strengthened by Your kindness.
Pastor: Almighty God, we are human and frail, prone to worry and sickness, fear and depression.
People: Be near to us and all our loved ones. Heal 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: You are our help and redeemer. Come quickly to us, O God. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 70)
Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, build up Your church and enhance our knowledge about God’s ways. Let the words that we read seep into our souls, softening our hearts, and reshaping our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:3)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: Lord Jesus, You are the source of our eternal well-being and the One who forgives our sins. We will always be indebted to You, therefore we gather this offering to honor and glorify You. Help us to be generous with our gifts and responsible in our stewardship. Bless the tithes and gifts we place before you. In Your Holy name, we give and pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 15:56)

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ’s mercy fill our lives with favor and blessing; may the Father’s compassion bring us purpose and meaning; and may the Holy Spirit keep us from despair and lead us to a greater glory, through our service, worship, and devotion to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 4:1)

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude

Sunday prayers - June 17, 2007

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 147)
Pastor: How good it is to sing joyfully to God; how fitting and pleasant to praise Him!
People: Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
Pastor: Let us sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; let us make music to Him in this holy place. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession
Guide: Faithful and Loving King, Ruler of all Nature, we come to You as servants seeking to please You with our praises; as children looking to delight You with our devotion.
People: Everlasting and Glorious God, in whose presence we thrive and by whose power we grow, we thank You for giving us faith, hope, and life.

Guide: Gracious Father, we confess that we have betrayed Your commands in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We have diminished Your influence over our choices and have sinfully followed our own ways.

People: Merciful Lord, we are guilty of disappointing You and hurting others. We have selfishly fulfilled our own desires, putting ourselves first before You and others. Hear us now as we sincerely confess our faults and silently express our regrets to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Benevolent God, we place our lives into Your hands and put ourselves under Christ’s authority. We need Him to save us from destruction and rescue us from sinful ways.
People: In Christ, we have forgiveness. By Him, we are restored to Your favor. To Him, we offer our prayers, in His own holy words, “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors)
(Isaiah 33:1)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus helps us to overcome our doubts and disbelief. He leads us to God through His loving words and precious ways. We are indebted to Him forever; therefore we will rejoice and glorify His Name, both now and always. Amen. (John 9:18)

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 GodAnthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: We pray to You, O Lord, at this special time, asking for Your favor.
People: In Your great love, O God, answer us with Your sure salvation.
Pastor: Rescue us from our worries; do not let us sink into despair.
People: Deliver us from all that harms us, from all that overwhelms our hearts and minds, bodies and souls.
Pastor: Do not let our fears engulf our spirits; bring healing to us and all our loved ones.
People: Answer us, O God, out of the goodness of Your love; in Your great mercy, hear our prayers.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: Come near to us and rescue us, O God. Redeem us in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 69)

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

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, afflict us with Christ’s godly ways. Let His message penetrate our hearts and change our lives for the good and glory of His Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:2)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: Lord Jesus, You have accomplished the greatest victory in history. You have vanquished the powers of sin and death. We owe our eternal salvation to You alone. With thankful and cheerful hearts, we lay before You our tithes and gifts. Please take this offering and bless it all for the work of Your church, the preaching of the Gospel, and the saving of souls. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ enable us to reflect God’s glory day by day; may the Father be pleased with our words and deeds; and may the Holy Spirit fill us with a desire to devote our lives to the service, worship, and praise of the One Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.
(2 Corinthians 3:18)

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - June 10

Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 146)
Pastor: We will praise the Lord all of our lives; we will sing praises to our God as long as we live.
People: Blessed are they whose help is in the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD our God.
Pastor: Let us worship the Maker of heaven and earth, the LORD who remains faithful forever. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession

Guide: Everlasting Lord of all bounties and blessings, we gather in Your presence to worship Your holy ways and to praise Your sacred Name.
People: Almighty God, to whom we pledge our hearts and devote our lives, we glorify Your Kingdom and power.

Guide: Merciful King, we try to please You with our words and deeds, but sometimes we leave our promises and pledges unfulfilled. We forget and reject Your commands. We still choose to make selfish choices.
People: Gracious Father, we hurt our loved ones by our mistakes and we dishonor our faith by rebelling against Your laws. Forgive us for being foolish and faithless, bigoted and proud, greedy and insensitive. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Lord of our lives, we thank You for setting us free from the bondage of sin and death. We praise You for allowing Your Son Jesus to walk the earth, to sacrifice His life, and to reclaim us for Your Kingdom.
People: Through Christ’s obedience and love, we gratefully receive the blessings of forgiveness and restoration. We unite our hearts to His through the saying of Christ’s own words, “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors)


Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus has opened our eyes to the consequences of our sins. He is the Holy One sent by God to redeem the world and bring us back to God’s mercy, grace, and love. He is our eternal Savior and everlasting Lord, both now and always. Amen.

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

Minute for Mission : VBS

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
People: Our God is a God who saves; the Sovereign Lord grants deliverance from all our fears.
Pastor: Summon Your power, O God; show us Your strength, O Lord, as You have done before.
People: We proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over the world, and whose healing strengthens our loved ones.
Pastor: You are awesome, O God, and in this sanctuary, we experience the blessing of Your presence.
People: Hear us now, O Lord, as we lift up our loved ones in prayer to You. May You protect and heal us from all harm.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: God gives strength, healing, and power to all His people. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 68)

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

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, scatter Christ’s teaching into our hearts and minds. Let these sacred scriptures challenge and change us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:1)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: Lord Jesus, we bring to You our tithes and gifts, our money and resources. Compared to the riches of Your grace, these are mere tokens of gratitude. With Your blessing, You can transform these gifts into messages, ministries and missions that bring will health, healing, and hope to many people throughout the world. Take our gifts and also accept our lives for the glorious work of Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.


Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ enhance our faith each day; may the Father always protect our freedom; and may the Holy Spirit sustain our allegiance to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude