Sunday Worship Prayer - 6th Sunday in Easter - Easter 6A - May 29

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                         Everlasting God, whose kingdom is above all the nations, and whose dominion extends throughout all of creation, we come to worship Your ways and praise Your sacred Name.

Your words are always fulfilled and Your ways can never be stopped. We approach You humbly and reverently, seeking to please You with our songs, and to petition You with our heartfelt prayers.

People:                       Gracious Lord, we are constantly attacked by temptation and besieged by sin; we are continually fighting against faithless ways and selfish choices. In the midst of all our restless and wrongful ways, forgive us for failing You, for neglecting others' needs, and for imposing our sinful demands on those around us.  Hear us now as we make our sincere confessions.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Compassionate Lord, You have given us Your Son Jesus to save us from our mistakes, wrongdoing, and faults. He alone can cleanse us of the past. He alone can shield us from Your wrath. In Christ, we place our lives and souls, seeking mercy and absolution, forgiveness and restoration. In His Name, we pray, saying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus personally touched the lives of many and made them better people. His words were full of healing and holiness, challenge and change. We have come to Him with our confessions and He has received our prayers. Let us give thanks and rejoice, for Christ is our everlasting Savior and Merciful King. 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             We cry to the Lord in the midst of our troubles; we come to Him with our worries and fears. The Lord listens to our voices and is attentive to our prayers for health and strength, peace and healing.

People:                        If God judged and punished us for our sins, we could not come to Him with our anxieties and cares. In Him, we find forgiveness and compassion, grace and love. He is the source of our strength and the center of our existence.

Pastor:             We wait for the Lord to be merciful. We call upon His Holy name and seek salvation through Him alone. We place our hopes for healing in Him; we place our family and friends into His unfailing love. May we each be healed of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor:             God Himself will answer our prayers and set us free from all our fears. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 130)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’.

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, guide us by the power of these sacred words and help us to apply Christ's teaching in our lives. Enable us to grasp the meaning of today's message and to seek effective ways with which to practice its importance. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):

Lord Jesus, we give You thanks for all that You have done on our behalf and for granting us salvation. We place before You our tithes and offerings, asking that You bless them for the edifying of Your church, the enhancement of faith in our community, and the sharing of the Gospel throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                        May we remain in Christ and continue to honor Him each day; may the Father captivate our hearts and minds, so that we may serve Him with our gifts and talents; and may the Holy Spirit keep us true to our faith in the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

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

Sunday Worship Prayers - 5th Sunday in Easter - Easter 5A - May 22

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         LORD God Almighty, whose power is greater than thunder and earthquake, whose strength is mightier than windstorm or tempest, we gather before You in reverence and awe. Your authority extends across all time and space; Your dominion is boundless and infinite. Humbly, we gather together to worship and glorify Your Holy Name.

People:            Merciful God, we confess that we are unworthy of Your grace and have lived unholy, sinful and selfish lives. We have constantly discarded Your words and frequently ignored Your commands. We have neglected Your charitable ways and disparaged some of Your holiest of works.

Guide:                         Gracious Lord, forgive our foolish actions and fallen ways. Pardon our pride and pretense. Absolve us from our arrogance and avarice, and protect us from our godlessness and greed. Hear us now as we personally pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Blessed Father, whose favor and blessings we yearn, we humbly thank You for providing us with Jesus, our Perfect Savior and Only Lord. We are truly grateful for His sacrifice and we are overwhelmed by His Grace. We praise You for the forgiveness of all our mistakes through the powerful presence of Christ in our lives. We offer these prayers in His Victorious Name, saying, Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets, removing the curse of sin and the wrath of God over us. We are liberated from everlasting punishment and eternal separation from God, through Christ alone. So let us rejoice in His grace and praise Him forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri(sung – 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             When illness oppresses us and anxiety overwhelms us, we call upon God for healing. In the midst of our suffering and sickness, may the Lord bring us strength and recovery.

People:                        The Lord is righteous and merciful. He can free us from our pain and distress. May our God grant us healing and wholeness, peace and protection, restoration and renewal.

Pastor: When we depend upon the Lord, He will not fail nor forsake us. When we call upon His Name, He will hear our prayers. May our God heal us and all our loved ones from everything that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. May He gather us in His arms and embrace us in the midst of our troubles.

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

Pastor:             May the blessings of the Lord be upon us all. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 129)

Singing of 'Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, let these words from God inspire our hearts and minds. May we find ourselves serving Him through the power of these scriptures, by applying Christ's message in our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):

Lord Jesus, we praise You for the lessons You have taught us today and for the blessings You have bestowed upon our spirits. We bring before You our tithes and offerings as thanksgiving tokens of our service and symbols of our dedication to You alone. Bless them for the continuing work of Your ministry here on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ enable us to serve Him faithfully each day; may the Father empower us to witness to His ways; and may the Holy Spirit embrace us as servants and children of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

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

Sunday Worship Prayers - 4th Sunday of Easter - Easter 4a - 15 May

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                         Almighty Father, whose Sacred Word brought this universe into being, and whose Divine Will sustains all life, we approach You as Your humble servants and children. Your ways are never thwarted, and Your  works signify Your immortal greatness; we applaud Your plan of salvation and we worship You above all else.

People:            Gracious God, before we knew You, we were enemies of Your kingdom, and rebelled against Your Son. We have been reckless with our time, and wasteful with our lives. We constantly surrender to temptation and give way to our fears. Save us from our sinful and selfish ways. Keep us from damaging our souls and diminishing our faith. Help us to ask for forgiveness and to seek Your grace. Hear us now as we silently confess to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Heavenly Lord, without Jesus as our Savior, we would be cast away from Your loving presence forever. Without His sacrifice, we would have no opportunity to be forgiven nor restored to Your everlasting kingdom. Thank You for sending Jesus among us, and for the gift of the Holy Spirit to Your True Church on Earth, who guides and counsels us. We make these prayers in Christ's Name and through His own words continue to pray, saying, Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Jesus challenged the people, rulers, and leaders of His day to repent of their sins and be restored to God. Today, we face the same challenges from Christ. We have humbly confessed our sins and sincerely sought His mercy. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and we are accepted by God.

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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             We revere the Lord and seek His blessings; we come into His presence and abide in Him. May the Lord grant us health and healing, strength and support. May the fruits of our prayers enhance our faith and increase our devotion to Him.

People:                        May our loved ones and siblings, our families and friends receive help and power, energy and resolve to overcome their illnesses and anxieties, their troubles and worries. We seek peace for our souls, health for our hearts, and strength for our minds.

Pastor:             Gracious God, have mercy upon as we ask for healing. May we experience Your Holy Spirit and be restored physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Hear us now as we silently pray, for our loved ones and neighbors, our families and ourselves.

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

Pastor:             May the LORD favor us with His blessings of health and strength. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 128)

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

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, You inspired the disciples of long ago to spread Christ's Good News and to proclaim the victory of God's Kingdom over all the earth. Lift up our spirits in the same ways and rekindle our faith. In Christ's Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we have sang Your praises and received Your message. We have been empowered by Your Spirit and embraced by God. Take these gifts and tokens, tithes and offerings as our cheerful response to Your Word and our grateful thanks for Your Love. Bless them for the continuing work of the Gospel, the glorifying of God's Kingdom and the praising of Your Name. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):              May Christ continue to welcome us into His flock; may the Father enhance our faith and friendships in Him; and may the Holy Spirit challenge and convert our ways, so that we may glorify, worship and serve the One Triune and Living God forevermore. Amen.

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

Sunday Worship Prayers - 3rd Sunday in Easter - Easter 3A - 8 May

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                         All Knowing God and Almighty Creator, Who sees everything in the Universe and Who knows all that happens on the Earth, we gather at Your invitation and congregate to do Your bidding. You grant us daily blessings and give us guidance through our lives. On this Holy day, we seek to worship Your Ways and cherish Your Counsel.

People:            Heavenly Lord, we are in awe of Your perfection and humbled by our mistakes. We are fully aware of Your Holiness and constantly mindful of our sinfulness. When we yield to temptation and damage our faith, grant us mercy, Lord. When we ignore Your advice or turn away from Your commands, forgive our foolish and rebellious ways. Hear us now as we silently and sincerely confess our faults to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Lord God, we are mere dust in Your eyes and do not deserve Your forgiveness. We are unworthy of Your Son's sacrifice, which cleanses us through His precious blood. We praise You for sending Jesus to save us and we glorify Him for completing Your Will. In His Name, we make these prayers and unite our spirits to Him, through His own words, saying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Jesus came to persuade us to turn to God, to repent of our sins, and to ask for mercy. We have followed His guidance and sought His forgiveness. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our Savior, Restorer and King, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri(sung 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             We look to the LORD to strengthen our spirits, otherwise our efforts may be in vain. We seek the LORD to watch over our lives, otherwise our hopes may be unfulfilled.

People:            When we are wearied through worry and exhausted by anxiety, may God grant us peace and rest. Health is a gift from God and strength is a blessing. May the LORD bestow these upon us.

Pastor:             O LORD, we gather the prayers of our hearts and bring before You the petitions of our souls. Heal us, and all our loved ones, from all that harms us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             May the LORD accept our prayers and grant us healing. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 127)

Singing of 'Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, guard our spirits through the power of the Gospel. Keep us closely connected to Jesus through His words and actions. Teach us His truths and empower us with His Strength. In Christ's Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):

Lord Jesus, our spirits constantly pray to You and seek Your favor. Before You, we gather our tithes and offerings, as pledges of our faith and tokens of our gratitude to You alone. Bless them for the continuing work of the Gospel, the preaching of Your word, and the expanding of God's kingdom through this community, country and world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                        May Christ continue to claim our lives for His ministry; may the Father keep us grateful for His blessings; and may the Holy Spirit strengthen the Sacred Church of the One, Triune and Everlasting God, now and always. Amen.

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