Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 23A - 04 September

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             We will praise the Lord with all our hearts and souls; let us lift up and magnify His Holy name.

People:           We will remember His glorious deeds; we will recount His wonderful blessings.

Leader:            We will glorify the Lord who crowns us with love and compassion; we will worship Him forever.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Almighty and Everlasting God, to whom our hearts belong and through whom our lives are given meaning, we approach Your holy throne and seek to please You with our praise. Holy Lord, whose compassion embraces us and whose strength empowers us, we offer ourselves as servants to Your Kingdom, and as disciples of Your Son.

People:            Merciful Father, You know us perfectly and are completely aware of our mistakes and misdeeds, as well as our shameful secrets and selfish sins. Forgive our foolish and fallen ways. Pardon our self-importance, insensitivity and intolerance. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Compassionate Lord, absolve us of our sinful past and cleanse us of our faithless ways. Forgive us through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for His sacrificial death has purchased our salvation. Change our lives through Christ's teaching and challenge us today by His message. In His holy words, we make our confessions and continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Christ confronts our life style choices and seeks to change us with the gospel. He has the power to forgive our past mistakes and restore us to God's everlasting favor. So let us thank Him for giving His life and taking our punishment. He is our immortal Savior and eternal Lord. 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)

Children leave after sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O LORD, hear our prayers and listen to us as we cry for mercy. In Your faithfulness and righteousness, come to our relief.

People:           Answer us, O Lord, especially when our spirits fail or we become fearful. Do not hold back Your healing from us; do not leave us in despair.

Pastor: Bring to us Your unfailing love, O God, for we have placed our trust in You. Show us what to do, O Lord, on behalf of our loved ones who are ill and in need of comfort. Heal us and them from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul.  Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             The Lord, in His unfailing love, can preserve our lives and bring us out of trouble. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 143)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, grant us wisdom and understanding of these sacred scriptures. Speak to our hearts and fill us with Christ's love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):    Lord Jesus, You have spoken to our hearts through Your word and message. Help us to weigh carefully all that You have given to us here. In loving response, we gather before You our tithes and gifts. We pray that You will receive and bless them for the ministries and missions You would have our church fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ's grace be with us each day; may the Father's peace empower our faith; and may the Holy Spirit keep us devoted to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

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

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 22A - 28 August

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             O Lord, look down from Your sanctuary on high; cast Your loving gaze upon Your people.

People:           We will declare the deeds of the Lord and give praises to His holy Name.

Leader:            We have assembled to glorify and worship God. Let us continue to love and adore Him.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Heavenly Father and Wonderful King, we humble ourselves in Your sacred presence; we rejoice in Your holy love. We belong to You and so we seek to serve Your Kingdom. We exalt Your powerful ways and lift up on high Your Everlasting Name.

People:           Loving God, in the midst of our many needs and numerous wants, we sometimes give in to temptation and sin, selfishness and pride. When we go against Your Word or turn our backs on Your counsel, forgive our foolishness and pardon our ingratitude. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Eternal Lord, through Your divine wisdom, we have been given a Holy Savior. By Your compassionate love and perfect grace, we have been redeemed through Jesus Christ, our Lord. We make our confessions in Christ's Name, knowing that He has all authority in Heaven and on Earth to restore us completely to You. In His sacred words, we now pray, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:              Christ stooped down from Heaven to become one of us. His perfect obedience to God led Him to be sacrificed for all of our past mistakes and shameful sins. He writes our names in the Book of Life and reclaims us as God's own. Let us rejoice in our Redeemer and celebrate the everlasting victory of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 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

Offering & Offertory anthem

Dedication (unison):              Lord Jesus, You enable us to interpret Your teachings through acts of devotion and love.  Faithfully, we bring before You our tithes and gifts, asking that You will bless them for the preaching of Your Word and the praising of God's Name. Amen.

Children leave for Enrichment and Planet Worship

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O LORD, we cry aloud to You and lift up our voices for mercy. We pour out our petitions to You, O Lord; we tell our heartfelt troubles to You alone.

People:           When our spirits are weary and our hearts are full of anxiety, we turn to You, O Lord, who sees the way ahead. When we feel isolated and alone, uncared for and unloved, we seek refuge in You, our God.

Pastor:             The Lord is our source for strength. He has the power to overcome our sickness, suffering and pain. Rescue us, O Lord, and all our loved ones, for we are in need of healing, wholeness and recovery from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul.  Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             The Lord sets us free from our fears and restores us by His goodness, compassion, and love. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 142)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, grant us wisdom and understanding of these sacred scriptures. Speak to our hearts and fill us with Christ's love. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May we obediently serve Christ in our daily lives; may the Father's wisdom brings us everlasting joy; and may the Holy Spirit keep us faithfully devoted to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

            

Sunday Worship prayers - Ordinary 21A - August 21

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Let us sing of God's love and justice; let us sing our praises to Him.

People:           We will devote our lives to God; we await His coming among us.

Pastor:             Let us worship the Lord in His holy house; let us glorify the Living God!

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide: Amazing and Almighty Lord, we come before You as Your people. We gather together to bless Your Wonderful Name. We open our hearts and minds to Your presence and power. We seek to delight in Your words and want to please You with our praises.

People:           Eternal Father, sometimes we close our spirits to Your guidance and sever our hearts from Your love. We permit pride to direct our paths and allow sin to determine our choices. We create gloom and darkness in our lives through ungodly and deceitful ways. Forgive us for being foolish and mistaken, selfish and sinful. Hear us now as we confess our faults to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Gracious God, through Jesus Christ, we are absolved of the past and forgiven of our mistakes. We are embraced by His love and restored through His sacrifice. Therefore, inChrist's Name, we sincerely pray and with His words we continue by saying, “Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER”

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Jesus answers all of our prayers through His holy words. He frees us from our sinful past and allows us to regain the hope of eternal life with God. He is the Savior of our souls and the healer of our broken ways. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our Redeemer and Everlasting King. 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

Offering and Offertory Anthem

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You personally speak to our hearts and call us individually by name.  We are privileged to be Your servants, so we gather our tithes and gifts before Your throne. Take them and bless them for the ministries and missions that You would have us support, enable, accomplish and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Children leave for Planet Worship

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O LORD, come to us quickly when we call to You; hear the cries from our hearts. May our prayers be set before You, as we lift up our requests for healing to You.

People:           Keep us focused on these prayers; help us to value our requests and petitions. Enable our hearts to be drawn to Your compassion and love. Let our minds be strengthened with Your peace and grace.

Pastor:             May Your kindness uplift our spirits; may Your care cause us to endure. As we pray, Almighty Lord, may we, and all our loved ones, be healed of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             May the furrows of our faith bring forth a harvest of healing and wholeness. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 141)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, overcome our opposition to Christ's teaching and holy words. Help us to retain His message in our hearts and permit us opportunities to practice and share His commands in our daily lives. In Christ's Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Closing Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May we serve Christ faithfully and effectively each day; may the Father speak to our hearts and direct our paths; and may the Holy Spirit keep us determined to worship the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

            

Sunday Worship prayers: Ordinary 20A - August 14

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Shout for joy to the LORD, all you His people and worship Him with gladness.

People:           We will come before Him with joyful songs, for we know that the LORD is God.

Leader:            Let us glorify the One who made us, for we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Amen.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Lord of Time and God of Ages, throughout the centuries Your Name has been praised and Your works glorified. Today, we come before You, worshipping Your ways and revering Your Word. Our lives are sustained by Your goodness and our times are in Your hands. We seek to serve and love You; to please and delight You.

People:           Gracious Lord, we confess to being sinful and wasteful, inconsiderate and unfaithful, selfish and vain. We fulfill our own desires, instead of doing what You want of us. We follow our own paths, instead of being guided by Your Spirit. We are wayward and self-centered. We are rebellious and inconsistent with our faith. Forgive us for being hostile to Your holiness and disrespectful of Your truth. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Loving Father, we pledge our lives to Your Son Jesus Christ, for He alone grants us forgiveness and restores us to Your favor. His death at Calvary has redeemed our sinful souls and returned us to Your everlasting grace. In His Precious Name, we make our confessions and continue to pray in His holy words, saying, Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Jesus frees us from our sins and enables us to avoid the traps of temptation. He no longer accuses us; instead He assures us of the forgiveness of all our sins when we sincerely confess our mistakes to Him. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ our Savior reconciles us to our Creator, both now and forever. 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

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):              Lord Jesus, You seek to strengthen our church through the gifts and blessings which You grant to all of us. We have combined our tithes and offerings and gathered them before You. Bless them for the life, work, and ministry of Your church in this community and throughout the Earth. In Your Holy name, we give and pray. Amen.

Children leave for Enrichment programs

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             Rescue us, O Lord, and deliver us from fear; protect us from sickness and suffering. Free us from anxiety and strengthen our hearts; in the midst of our troubles, grant us peace.

People:           When we have doubts, O Lord, carry and support us. When despair or depression hounds us, be our protector and shield. Keep us safe in Your hands and guard us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

Pastor: When we feel isolated or vulnerable, when we experience pressure or suffer stress, let Your Holy presence encourage and embrace us. O Lord, You are our God, and we cry to You for mercy and grace, for healing and wholeness. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             Sovereign Lord, You are our strong deliverer and greatest hope. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 140)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, fill us with God's grace and power through the reading and receiving of these sacred words. Reveal to us Christ's wonders and show to us His will for all our people. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ keep us free from conflict and division by granting us peace and unity in our lives; may the Father free us from the obstacles and barriers that hinder our faith; and may the Holy Spirit keep our hearts and minds full of the teachings and truths of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

            

Sunday Worship prayers : Ordinary 19A - Pentecost 8 - August 7

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Great is the LORD in the universe; He is exalted above all of Creation.

People:           We will praise His almighty and everlasting name; He is awesome and holy.

Pastor:             Let us worship and glorify our God. Let us magnify and bless the Lord! Amen.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:             Immortal Creator and Everlasting Father, whose power sustains the universe and whose will enables life to endure; we applaud Your wonderful deeds and adore Your gracious ways. You formed our planet and permitted us dominion over the Earth. We approach You with our prayers and now come to You, confessing our sins.

People:           Loving God, we often question Your words and sometimes doubt Your decisions about our lives. We cast aside Your counsel and decline to accept Your commands. We think too highly of ourselves and allow pride to diminish our humble faith. Forgive us for subverting Your kingdom and ignoring Your sovereignty over us. Hear us now as we express our regrets and repent of our sinful ways.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Merciful Lord, without Your Son Jesus Christ, there would be no opportunity for forgiveness or restoration, repentance or reconciliation. We thank You for His sacrifice and seek to pledge our lives to Him.

We have made our confessions in Christ's Name and so through His holy words, we further pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Every day we break God's Law and dishonor His commands. We put ourselves under severe and eternal punishment, from which only Jesus can save us.  He alone has the power to pardon and return us to God's Kingdom. Let us rejoice and be glad in His Name. 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)

Offertory anthem and Offering

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You know the secrets of our hearts, and yet You still allow us to come to worship You. You have permitted Your holy presence to be experienced in this sacred place. We thank You for these blessings and bring before Your our tithes and gifts, our loyalty and lives. Bless them for the work of God's Kingdom and the praising of His Everlasting Name. Amen.

Children leave for Enrichment

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O Lord, You have searched our spirits and You know us completely. You see all that we do and perceive our thoughts, our worries and concerns.

People:           You are familiar with all of our ways; You understand all that we experience.

Before we voice our prayers, You know what we are about to ask.

Pastor:             When we feel pressure or suffer from stress, You lay Your loving hand upon us. Your presence is wonderful; we appeal to You for healing and peace to come upon us and all our loved ones. Hear us now as we pray.

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

Pastor: We are never out of God's reach. We always belong to Him. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 139)

           

Singing of “Jesus, Draw me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, spread God's Word into our hearts and souls, so that we may grow spiritually and become obedient to Christ Jesus in faith, hope, and love. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ embrace us each day and fill us with His love; may the Father send us into the world with His strength; and may the Holy Spirit guide us to worship the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

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