Sunday prayers - 4th Sunday of Easter - Easter 4 - 3 May

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty God, whose power controls the Universe and whose kingdom never ends, we humbly approach You as servants and children of Your grace, as seekers and followers of Your ways. You know all of our secrets and see everything that happens in our lives. Help us to focus our minds on You alone, and open our hearts to Your will.

People:  Merciful Father, sometimes we set aside our faith. We neglect to support the needs of other people. We omit to set aside time to worship You each day. We follow our own selfish impulses and to choose to fulfill our sinful desires. Have mercy upon us and forgive our foolish deeds. Be patient with us and pardon us for the mistakes we make, the faults that we have, and the sins we commit. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Compassionate Lord, instead of causing us to hide from Your anger and flee from Your wrath, You graciously allow us to seek forgiveness from Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. His mercy endures forever through His sacrificial obedience to You, and we are thankful for His grace. In Christ's name, we pray and through His own precious words, we unite our hearts saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Christ is our shelter from sin and we abide in His mercy. He deletes our past mistakes and opens our lives to the love of God. He calls us by name, so that we may celebrate, feast and rejoice in His goodness, grace and glory. So let us be truly glad and worship our Savior forever.  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

Minute for Mission

 

Prayers for Health and Healing

 

Pastor: The LORD reigns over all the nations. He sits enthroned above the Earth. Great is the LORD throughout the world. He is exalted above all others.

Guide:             We praise the great and awesome Name of God. We seek His holiness and healing. The LORD is our mighty King. We pray for His favor, help, and strength

Pastor:              As we exalt the LORD, may He hear and bless our prayers. As we worship His ways, may He heal us by His love. O LORD our God, we ask that You will answer our prayers. Release us from our restless ways. Save us from sickness. Deliver us from distress and disease. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

 

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

 

Pastor: Let us praise and worship our God in this holy sanctuary, for He is gracious and merciful, benevolent and compassionate. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 99)

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part # 1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:             Holy Spirit, may we take our stand with Jesus, the King of all the earth. May these scriptures help us to gather our thoughts together, so that we can focus on His teaching, His Truth, and His Life. In the Name of Jesus, our Lord and Anointed One, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication(unison): Lord Jesus, You have spoken to us through Your gospel. We have interpreted Your words and seek to apply Your ways in our daily lives. In response, we bring to You our gifts and tithes. We ask that You will bless these tokens of gratitude for the purpose, work and ministry of Your Kingdom in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

 

Benediction(unison):  May Christ enable us to give our lives to Him alone; may the Father keep us accountable for all that we seek to do in His Name; and may the Holy Spirit lead, guide, and counsel us each day, so that we may glorify God both now and always. Amen.

 

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

Sunday Prayer - Third Sunday of Easter - Easter 3 - 26 April

 

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Everlasting Father, whose deeds throughout the generations have sustained our people; whose ways across the centuries have enhanced our faith; we worship and adore You forever. Living God, whose purposes are never thwarted and whose plans are always fulfilled, we look to You for favor and blessing, mercy and grace.

People:  Immortal Lord, we know that we are weak and human; our bodies are frail and our minds are constantly distracted. Forgive us when we allow our wants and desires to overcome our souls and cause damage to our spirits. Deliver us from deceitful and dishonorable deeds; pardon us for making poor choices and persistently opposing Your power over our lives.  Hear us now as we silently confess our sins.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Almighty God, refresh us with Your loving kindness; restore us through Your Holy Son. May Christ claim authority over our lives, by cleansing our souls and renewing our faith in You. For we make our requests in Jesus' Name and with His own holy words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Our Lord Jesus placed Himself in harm's way and died upon a lonely Cross, so that we may be forgiven and restored to God's love. We deserve God's punishment for our mistakes, yet Christ shields us from God's wrath and brings us back into His Holy Presence and Everlasting Favor. Let us rejoice and glorify our Savior forever.  Amen. (John 7:1)

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:            Let us come to the Lord with praise and thanksgiving, for He has done marvelous things. The Lord has made His salvation known to us and revealed His righteousness to all our people.

People:            May the Lord remember His love for us as we present our petitions; may His faithfulness to us grant us courage and hope. May we jubilantly proclaim God's healing amongst us; may we shout for joy when He answers our prayers.

Pastor:            O Lord, take our prayers and reshape our lives. Take our sicknesses and reclaim our health by Your gracious love. Be near to us and all our loved ones. Heal us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

 

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

 

Pastor:            Let our hearts resound in faith; let our hopes be realized through God's favor and blessing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 98)

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, may Christ speak to us through the words of the Gospel. May all that You inspired to written about Jesus become holy and sacred, meaningful and mighty in each of our lives today. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2  & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication(unison): Lord Jesus, may we excel in faithfulness, as we give these gifts to build up the church. May we eagerly serve You with our time, talents and tithes, as we contribute our resources, talents and money to You this day. Bless these gifts and guide us to use them wisely for the life, work and ministry of Your Kingdom here on earth. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn

 

Benediction:  May Christ write His ways across our hearts; may the Father teach us to worship reverently; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to confess our faith in the One, Triune and Eternal God, both now and always. Amen.

 

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

Sunday Prayer - 2nd Sunday of Easter - Easter 2 - April 19

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Immortal God, who brought Life into being and whose will sustains the entire universe, we approach You as the children of Your Grace and as servants of Your Kingdom. Your ways are mysterious and yet Your love is known by all. Today we glorify Your greatness and magnify Your Holy Name.

People:  Merciful Father, You know that we struggle with temptation and wrestle with sin. You know all of our weaknesses and can list every mistake that we have ever made. In Your patience and benevolence, have mercy upon us. Forgive our foolish and selfish ways. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Everlasting God, we cannot earn salvation for ourselves. We depend upon Jesus to grant us complete forgiveness. Only He can save us from our sins. Only He can restore us to Your eternal love and favor. Hear us now as we unite our hearts with His, through the saying of Christ's own words: “Our Father, …THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Christ forgives us, even when we betray and deny Him. He has the power to cleanse us of the past and can restore us to the riches of God's grace. May we be thankful and rejoice in the Lord, for He has saved our souls and returned us to the eternal love of God.  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)

Minute for Mission

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

 

Pastor:            The LORD reigns, let us all be glad; let those both near and far rejoice. Our prayers and petitions are made to Him, for righteousness and justice are the foundations of His love.

People:            Let us place our prayers before God, knowing that He receives them from all of our hearts. O Lord, light up our lives with Your favors and blessings; let us see Your compassion and know that You care.

Pastor:            Our fears melt our courage and our worries meddle with our faith, yet we will continue to ask the Lord for the healing of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. Heavenly Father, we proclaim Your righteousness and ask to see Your glory in the lives of our loved ones who are suffering from sickness and injury, unease and fear, worry and discomfort.  Hear us now as we quietly pray.

 

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

 

Pastor:            The light of the Lord's love is shed upon us; His joy is showered upon our hearts.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 97)

 

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, may the words of our Sovereign Lord. who made the heavens and the earth. penetrate our minds and enter our hearts. May we gladly receive the blessings of Christ as He teaches us through His life and ministry, both now and always. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we have grasped the meaning of Your giving through the preaching of Your word. In return, we gather before You our tithes and offerings. We do this to please You, asking that You bless all of these resources for the building up of Your church, the proclaiming of the Gospel, and the praising of God's Name.  Amen. 

 

Hymn

 

Benediction (unison):  May Christ keep us from judging other people's mistakes by helping us to remember that He has forgiven our own; may the Father bless us with tolerance and compassion for one another; and may the Holy Spirit bring us to God's judgment seat as faithful and dutiful servants, both now and forevermore. Amen.

 

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

Easter Sunday Prayers - Easter prayers - 12 April

 

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Almighty and Everlasting King, we gather in this place of peace and praise, of joy and jubilation, as one family of faith, one church of Christ. On this day we celebrate the victory of Your Son Jesus Christ. We proclaim His power over all of our lives; His authority to forgive our mistakes; and His ability to change our lives.

People:  Gracious Lord, we know that we have been foolish, selfish and sinful at times. We recognize that we have made mistakes, bad choices, and faithless decisions. We are sorry for those moments when temptation has caused us to get angry, be bitter, remain proud, and be insensitive to those around us. Hear us now as we confess our faults and silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Eternal Lord, on this Easter day, we claim the victory of Christ over sin and death. His sacrifice has acquitted us of our mistakes. His grace can renew and bring rebirth to our lives. We make our prayers in the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Christ calls us to become His disciples, yet He has to constantly deal with our sinful nature and human failings. He has overcome both death and sin, so our souls can be resurrected to a new beginning. Let us rejoice and give thanks, for Christ has blessed us with an everlasting hope and He has saved our lives forever.  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)

Minute for Mission

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

 

Pastor:            Let us praise the LORD with new hearts; let us rejoice with all the earth and glorify His Name. Each day, we will proclaim the Lord's salvation; each week, we will come to Him with our praises.

People:            The Lord has done marvelous deeds among His people, therefore we will ask Him to heal our lives. O LORD, You are great and most worthy of our worship; You are above and beyond all that we know.

Pastor:            O LORD, You made the heavens and sustain the nations; be merciful to us and grant us healing from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. There is power and strength in this sanctuary; listen to our prayers and attend to the needs of our loved ones who are ill, distressed, worried or depressed.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:            We will worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness. We will give thanks throughout this day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 96)

 

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, release us from our fears and restore us to God's heart. Open our minds to this glorious message of hope, so that we may gladly receive Christ as our King and report His words to all our people. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication: Lord Jesus, through the act of cheerful and thankful giving, we offer You these tithes and gifts. Bless them for Your wonderful ways that have changed the world forever. Enable us also, to rededicate our lives this day, in the holy service of Your Kingdom. Both now and forever. Amen. 

 

Hymn

 

Benediction:  May Christ resurrect our faith by becoming Lord of our lives; may we know the Father's compassion and grace throughout our days; and may the Holy Spirit keep us glorifying and worshipping the One, Triune God, both now and always. Amen.

 

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

Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service

Prelude: 

Call to worship:

Pastor:                                                            Psalm 89:50-51           

Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,

how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,

the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O LORD,

with which they have mocked every step of your Anointed One.

HYMN:  O Jesus I Have Promised......................................... No. 388 vv1-3

 

Prayer of Confession:

 

Guide:             Lord Jesus Christ, just like Your disciples, we know that our faith is weak.  We say that we will follow You, but our choices are not always Christian. Christ, have mercy.

People:            Lord, forgive us.

Guide:             When we neglect our prayers, and choose to ignore Your teaching: Christ, have mercy.

People:            Lord, help us.

Guide:             When we are challenged by the world and pressured into compromising our beliefs: Christ, have mercy.

People:            Lord, strengthen us.

Guide:             When we hide our faith or avoid being known as Christians, Christ, have mercy;

People:            Lord, pardon us.

Guide:             When we cast aside Your Cross and disconnect our sins with Your sacrifice, Christ have mercy.

People:            Lord, cleanse us.

                        Remove our sins with Your precious blood, and graciously restore us to Your service; for Your sake and glory.  Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING:                                            Psalm 55:12-21

 

HYMN:  An Upper Room Did Our Lord Prepare............................... No. 94

OLD TESTAMENT READING:............................................. Psalm 109:1-5

 

ANTHEM: 

NEW TESTAMENT READING:........................................... James 1:12-18

HYMN:  O Sacred Head Now Wounded........................................... No. 98

NEW TESTAMENT READING:                                               John 13:1-17

HOMILY:        Anointed and Attacked                                  Rev. John Stuart

OFFERING & DEDICATION

All:      Lord Jesus, You sacrificed Your life for us, so there is nothing that we can do or give which will ever be equal to Your precious gift.  We gather these tokens and ask that You will bless them for ministry and mission, pastoring and preaching, church planting and faith sharing.  In Your Holy Name. Amen.

COMMUNION  - at the appropriate time, the congregation come forward to receive the bread and wine. After this, the elders will come to those who wish to take communion where they are seated.

Congregational Prayer:         God our Father, Your Son Jesus Christ has left to us this meal of bread and wine in which we share His body and His blood. As we keep the feast of His redeeming love may we feed on Him by faith, receive His grace, and find fullness of life: through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN:  Go to Dark Gethsemane....................................................... No. 97

NEW TESTAMENT READING:                                                 John 18:1-7

 

Congregation Exits Silently

Sunday Prayers - Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements

Gathering Song & prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: LORD God Almighty, Creator of the Universe and Sustainer of our lives, we come to You with our prayers and petitions, our cares and concerns. You have called us by name to come into Your House. You have welcomed us to this sanctuary of praise and peace, holiness and healing.

People: Loving God, in the midst of our troubles, we call upon Your Name. We look for Your help and inspiration; Your patience and forgiveness; and Your mercy and grace. We have sinned against You by allowing ourselves to be overcome by temptation. We have neglected our faith and cast aside Your words. Forgive our foolish ways and selfish choices. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful Father, You lovingly allow us to approach Your Holy Son Jesus to seek forgiveness, absolution, and acquittal for our sins. We praise You for sending Him to us and for His perfect sacrifice, which restores us to Your everlasting Favor. In Christ’s Name and through His words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: We believe and know that Christ is the Holy One of God. His Passion and obedience, His Crucifixion and sacrifice, have given us the glorious opportunity of remitting our sins, renewing our lives, and restoring us to God's love and kingdom forever. 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)

Baptism

Encountering God

Minute for Mission

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Come, let us pray for healing from the LORD; let us voice our concerns to the Rock of our salvation. We come before God with personal pleas; we pray to Him sincerely and faithfully.

People: The LORD is the great God, the great King above all. He will hear our prayers and answer our needs. O Lord, from Your hands comes the power of healing; have mercy upon us, as we belong to You.

Pastor: We are His, for He made us; He shapes our lives and has the power to save our souls. Almighty God, we bow down before You; heal us and all our loved ones from sickness and despair; pain and anxiety; suffering and depression. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The LORD is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 95)

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, let the words and ways of Jesus touch our hearts today. May His miracles and messages challenge our lives so that we may change our church, community and country. To the glory of God forever. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we express our faith and thanksgiving through these tithes and offerings. Bless them for the life, work and ministry of Your church, as well as the preaching, teaching and proclaiming of Your Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Christ be the Lord of our lives throughout our days on earth; may the Father enhance our faith and life through His loving ways; and may the Holy Spirit keep us serving the One, Triune and Living God, in this world and the next. Amen.

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