Sunday prayers for 5th Sunday of Easter - Easter 5 - 10 May

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Eternal Creator of Life, whose precious words gave birth to the Universe and whose wonderful ways sustain this planet we call Earth, we approach You with our prayers and praises, asking that You will hear our heartfelt cries and be pleased with our songs of salvation.

People: Loving Lord, Your power is displayed throughout the nations of the world and Your will can never be diminished nor thwarted. We give You thanks for being mindful of our needs, our concerns and cares. We also confess that we have committed sinful deeds and omitted to do charitable acts. We have harbored ill-thoughts and spoken injurious words. We have disappointed our loved ones and diminished our faith before them.

Guide: Gracious God, forgive our foolish ways and grant us Your pardon. We regret the mistakes we have made, the disappointments we have caused, the responsibilities we have neglected, and the opportunities we have wasted. Help us to glean Your goodness in our lives by yielding our hearts and humbling our pride to Your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior. Hear us now as we intentionally confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Compassionate Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers and petitions. Thank You for bringing Jesus into our lives. We know that His Sacrifice has canceled all our sins and created clean hearts, new lives, and faithful spirits within us all. Hear us now as we pray Christ’s own words saying, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus is the Bread of Life that we seek to nourish our souls and strengthen our spirits. He alone has the power and authority to forgive our sins, in order to restore us to God’s favor and grace. Let us celebrate His goodness and glorify His love, both now and 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Be merciful to us, O God, for worries constantly burden us. All day long we are under pressure; when we are anxious, we will trust in You.

People: O God, whose words we praise, take away our fears and grant us peace of mind. We place our lives, our loved ones, our prayers and concerns into Your healing hands.

Pastor: We pledge ourselves to Your Kingdom and humbly ask that You will heal us, and all whom we pray for, from all that harms us in body, mind, soul and spirit. Deliver us from despair and keep us from falling into fear or frustration. Hear us as we sincerely pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: May we walk before the Lord in the light of life and His love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 56)

Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of Jesus, Draw Me Close

Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, may we walk with Christ as we read and hear the sacred scriptures. May we be drawn nearer to Him, so that we may praise and glorify His wonderful ministry on earth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we all belong to the Your body of believers and we each are called to honor and bless Your continuing work in the world. Take our gifts and set them apart for the life, ministry and mission of Your Church here on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn :

Benediction: May Christ’s grace keep us humble; may the Father’s blessings keep us faithful; and may the Holy Spirit keep us loving and serving the One, True, Triune God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow & Postlude