Sunday Prayers - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Ordinary 18 - August 1

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide: Lord of All Wisdom and Creator of Time, we come before You as a people of faith. We seek to delight You with our prayers and praises. You are the sure foundation of our lives and the source of our well being. We willingly give our hearts to You; we freely want to serve You.

People: Gracious God, we know that we have committed acts that disappoint You; we have said words that disrespect You; we have made decisions that dishonor You. We are guilty of many sins, too numerous for us to count or even remember. Forgive us for those sinful deeds we have forgotten, and for all those selfish mistakes that we still commit. Hear us now as we make our confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Most Merciful God, Your Son Jesus Christ is the key to our forgiveness and restoration. He is the One who saves us from our selfish past and present mistakes. His authority removes our sins and redeems for Your Kingdom. Through His Name and in His words, we make these prayers, saying “Our Father... THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: When we acknowledge Christ as our Savior and confess our sins to Him, we are liberated from our fears of God’s punishment and restored to His favor. Christ alone has the power to decide our ultimate destiny, so let us rejoice in His abiding mercy and abundant grace. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): 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: O LORD, why does trouble come to us and why do good people suffer? We remember Your deeds of deliverance and Your ways of salvation. Come to us and heal us.

People: Turn towards us, O Living God, and take away our fears by strengthening our faith. You have helped our people across many generations. Come to us now, in this holy place. Touch us with Your Presence. Heal us by Your Love.

Pastor: Do not forget those whom we cherish and love, Almighty Lord. Heal them of all that harms them in body, mind, soul and spirit. Do not let our loved ones give into to despair. Fill them with peace and hope, strength and health, restoration and power.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: May God rise up and deliver us. May His Healing touch be with us all day long. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 74)

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close."

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, heal us by the power of the Gospel and grant strength to our souls through Christ’s message. Open our hearts and minds to the bounty of the wisdom, knowledge and encouragement that Jesus provides. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, thank You for enabling us to set aside these tithes and gifts from the resources and income that we have been blessed with. Take them and bless them for the continuing work of Your church here, for the preaching of the Gospel, the spreading of Your love, and the glorifying of God. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ preach to our hearts each day; may the Father grant us opportunities to serve Him in this community; and may the Holy Spirit encourage us to worship the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology  & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Ordinary 17 - July 25

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude and Gathering

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Exalted and Almighty God, we have come into Your house to acknowledge Your authority over our lives and to proclaim You as the Ruler of the Universe. You fill our hearts with strength and love; You sustain our lives with mercy and grace.

People:            Heavenly Father, we know that we are imperfect and our souls are tarnished because of spiteful sins, selfish deeds, and mistaken choices. We have followed our own ways and disregarded Your commands. We are guilty of being ineffective servants for Your Kingdom and inconsistent followers of Christ. To You alone, we bring our silent confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide:              Righteous Lord, Your justice is merciful and Your judgments are compassionate. You have given us Your Son to be our Savior. You have promised us forgiveness through His sacrifice at Calvary. Through Christ alone we are redeemed; by His authority, we are restored to God. In His words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: We have no need to be afraid of God’s eternal wrath because Jesus redeems us with His life and restores us through His grace. When we truly acknowledge Christ as our Savior and King, our souls are cleansed and reconnected to God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): 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: O Lord, when our hearts are full of grief and fear, bring to us Your goodness and faith. When we are beset with worry and overcome with chaos, grant us peace and restoration.
People:            You are always with us, Lord; come near to us now and embrace our spirits. Guide us and counsel us, O God; comfort and strengthen us in the days ahead.

Pastor: In You alone, we place our faith. To You alone, we bring our prayers. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that causes our flesh to fail and our hearts to fear. Hear us now we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord is our Sovereign and our refuge. It is good to be near Him. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 73)

Singing of “Jesus, Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, help us to pay close attention to these scriptures today. May God’s message penetrate our hearts and minds, so that we may receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (unison):   Lord Jesus, we are privileged to be Your people and honored to do Your work. We have gathered our tithes and gifts before You. We ask that You will receive and bless them, so that Your appointed ministries and missions may be accomplished by our congregation in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                         May Christ open our eyes to His work in today’s world; may the Father brighten our spirits with the hope of the Gospel; and may the Holy Spirit keep us for the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude