Sunday prayers: First Sunday in Lent - Lent 1 - March 01

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Gathering and Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty Lord of power and peace, we approach You as servants and students, as devotees and disciples, and as seekers and sinners looking for Your love. You called us from the comfort of our homes to experience Your presence in this sanctuary. You have brought us to this peaceful place to touch our hearts, change our ways, and challenge our lives.

People: Heavenly Father, we know that we are imperfect and unholy; we recognize that we have weaknesses and faults. Help us to seek Your mercy and grace. Teach us to rely upon Your favor and blessing. Hear us now as we silently confess our mistakes and wrongdoing. Forgive us for neglecting our faith, ignoring Your words, and for being selfish.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful God, without Christ’s passion, we could not approach You for grace. Without His brutal sacrifice, we could not stand in Your Holy Presence to ask for mercy. We dedicate our lives to Him and unite our hearts with His, through the saying of Christ’s own prayer, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ tells us that no one can come to Him unless God has enabled it to occur. Today, God has brought us to this place to be received by Jesus, renewed in spirit, and restored to the Kingdom. When we confess our sins and dedicate our lives to Christ, we are completely forgiven and totally reunited to God’s love, both now and always. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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

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 the Lord to free us from our fears and protect us from all evil. O Lord, 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. O Lord, save us from anxiety and attack, depression and disease, illness and injury. We ask this for ourselves and all our loved ones, for whom we now silently pray
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord is with us in times of sickness and trouble. He will deliver us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 91)

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, remind us that Christ’s ways are radical and that His words often challenge our ideals. Enable us to receive these holy verses into our hearts, so that we may apply this teaching throughout our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part 2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication: 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. Take this offering and please bless it for the advancement of Your Kingdom, as well as the upbuilding of Your church on earth. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ judge 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 Praise God, from whom all blessings flow & Postlude

Sunday prayers: Transfiguration of the Lord - February 22

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty and Infinite God, Majestic and All-Powerful Creator, we approach You with awe and reverence; we gather in humility and service. Your Hands have formed our universe; Your Will sustains our lives. What are we that You are mindful of us? Who are we to receive Your compassion and care?
People: Gracious Lord, nothing is hidden from Your gaze; no secrets can be kept from Your heart. We have shamefully sinned and selfishly centered our lives upon greed, power, desire and deceit. We have also neglected our faith, spoken harsh words, passed by people in need, and put You to the back of our minds. We are guilty of many sins, so we seek Your forgiveness and ask for mercy. Hear us now as we solemnly pray.

- SILENCE -
Guide: Loving Father, we are unworthy to receive grace and yet You have given to us Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our mistakes, to take the punishment due for our sins, and to sacrifice Himself for all the wrong things we have said and done.

People: Without our Savior, we are unforgiven. Without Christ’s obedience, we are unrestored. Hear us now as we unite our hearts with His, through Christ’s own words, saying “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ knows all of our secrets and everything that goes on in our minds, hearts and lives. Only He can fully offer us salvation. Only He can restore us to the One, True and Living God. When we honestly believe in Him and sincerely confess our sins, He will forgive us and bring us back to God. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus has pardoned our foolish ways and re-established our everlasting relationship with the LORD, both now and always. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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
Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Lord, You have been our dwelling place and healing source throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born, or the Earth was brought in being, You existed.
People: O LORD, how long shall we suffer? Have compassion upon us and heal all Your servants. Satisfy our prayers with Your unfailing love, so that we may praise and glorify You every day.
Pastor: Make us glad by restoring our health; bring peace, hope and healing to all our loved ones.
May Your compassionate deeds be shown to us; may the splendor of Your strength be experienced by all, for whom we now pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: May the favor of the LORD rest upon us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 90)

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, open our hearts to Christ’s teaching, and enable us to spread His message amongst the people we know and love, through the applying of these sacred words in our everyday lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication(unison): Lord Jesus, through the things that we do, we witness to Your ministry. Today, we gather this offering as a true token of our faith and a loving response to Your sacred words. Take these gifts and tithes and bless them for Your continuing work and ways amongst us. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May Christ feed us with faith, hope and love; may the Father look down upon us with compassion and care; and may the Holy Spirit perfectly lead us into the presence of the One, Triune and Living God, where we shall live and be accepted forevermore. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time February 15

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Gathering and Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Gracious and Merciful God, Compassionate and Holy King, we humbly turn to You, seeking refuge and hope, healing and renewal. From You alone we learn the ways of righteousness; from Your Holy words and almighty works, we recognize and cherish Your authority over our lives.
People: Eternal Father, we know that we have sinned again this week; we understand that we have allowed desire and deceit, neglect and ignorance, pride and prejudice to diminish our faith and damage our relationship with You. Forgive our foolish and selfish ways. Forgive our failures and unholy mistakes. Pardon our pride and redeem us from our reckless ways and heedless words. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving God, restore us to Your Kingdom through the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant us Your favor and mercy through His obedience and sacrifice. For we make these prayers in Christ’s name and through His own words, we are united to You by saying; “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ grants us life by the giving of His life. Christ grants us mercy by making Himself our sacrifice. He speaks to our spirits and we are promised eternal life. So let us praise and adore Him, for Christ is our Loving Lord and our Sacred Savior, 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)

Welcome & Church Announcements

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Let us think upon the LORD’s great love forever; let us prayerfully proclaim His faithfulness to every generation. We will declare that His Love stands forever; we will keep faith in all that He establishes.
People: The LORD has made a covenant with us; He has sworn to help us in times of trouble and distress. When we are weak, He will become our strength. When we have doubts, He will defeat them.
Pastor: Heavenly LORD, reveal Your wonders to us. Heal us and all our loved ones by Your mighty power. For there is no other power to heal than Yours alone; in all of creation, there is no other source of sustenance and health, holiness and salvation. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The LORD is more awesome than all that we know. We are all safe in His hands In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 89)

Choir Anthem

The Message Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, show us what to do with these sacred words. Enable us to apply Christ’s teaching in our everyday lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, take these tithes and gifts, and bless them for Your holy work. May they be used to strengthen the weak, encourage the fearful, and comfort the lost. May we also dedicate our lives in the service of Your ways in this world and the next. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.


Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ nourish our souls with His love and grace; may the Father strengthen and protect us each day; and may the Holy Spirit enhance our faith so that we may truly serve the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers - 5th in ordinary Time - ordinary 5 - February 8

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering & Prelude

First Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Everlasting Lord and Glorious Majesty, who speaks to all creation, and with one Word sustains the entire universe, we worship and adore Your wonderful ways. We are blessed with Your presence and strengthened by Your love. Come among us and sanctify our worship, for You are the One True and Living God

People: Gracious Father, You command us to listen to Your voice and to follow Your commands. We confess that we have disobeyed You and rebelled against Your rules. We are weak, mortal, and imperfect; You are holy, immortal, and almighty. Forgive our faithless and selfish ways; pardon our wrong acts and sinful deeds. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Loving God, enable us to pay attention to You and hear what You have to say through Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. In Him, our spirits are reunited to You. Through Him, we are saved from eternal destruction. In His Name and by His words, we conclude these prayers, saying, saying, "Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: We thirst for Jesus and His soul-refreshing words. He is the Savior of our souls and the healer of our hearts. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ has overcome sin and death, bringing to us eternal blessings of faith, hope, and love Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: We call to You, with all of our hearts, O LORD; answer us and we will obey Your decrees. We call upon You to save us and heal us. We will follow Your counsel and accept Your ways.
People: Each day, Lord, we ask You for help; we place our hope in Your words. Hear our prayers, Lord, in accordance with Your love; preserve and sustain us, in accordance with Your compassion.
Pastor: You are near to us, O Lord, and Your promises are true. We bring before You our loved ones, our neighbors, other people and ourselves, who need You to heal us of everything that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now, as we faithfully pray.

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

Pastor: Lord God, long ago Your words were established and our people faithfully followed You. Grant us healing in Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.,
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Qoph)

Choir Anthem

The Message Part #1 -

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close’.

Prayer of Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, let these words of scripture send us a meaningful message today. Enable our hearts to receive Christ's teaching, and open our minds to His ways. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You come among us to display God's good works in our lives and throughout the world. You also call upon us to faithfully serve Your ministry and mission. Take these gifts as our cheerful response to that invitation, and bless them for the life and work that our church undertakes and fulfills to the glory of God’s Kingdom. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ enable us to please God throughout our days; may the Father continually direct our lives in purposeful ways; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to make meaningful contributions of ourselves, to the glory of the One Triune and Living God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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