Sunday Worship prayers: Ordinary 31 - October 30 - Reformation Sunday

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:            The LORD speaks to us in our hearts. He leads us to His holy throne.

People:           God extends His love to all His people. He fills our lives with faith and hope.

Pastor:            The LORD calls us to worship and serve Him, as servants and believers, as disciples and followers of His way. Amen.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Everlasting God, whose strength supports us and whose compassion comforts us, we offer You our hearts and pledge to You our lives. Your will sustains all living beings, and by Your Word this world was created. Today we seek to honor You with our service and please You with our praise.

People:           Merciful Father, we know that we have disappointed You this week by falling into temptation, following our own desires, and failing to keep Your commands. We have rejected Your counsel and objected to Your guidance. We have placed our pride above Your purpose; we have delighted in deceit and have been distracted from our duties. Forgive us for being poor witnesses of faith, and flawed messengers of Christ. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Loving Father, each day we come to You for pardon, and each time You offer us Jesus. Without His sacrificial death, we could never experience eternal life. Without His perfect obedience, we would never know everlasting joy. We confess our sins and seek forgiveness in Christ's Name. With His own words, we continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER"  (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                         Jesus came down from Heaven to save us from our sins. He was constantly challenged and confronted by His enemies. When we sin, we oppose God, and therefore we need to be forgiven for our rebellious and disrespectful ways. Only in Christ can we find salvation; only by His Name, can we be restored to God's Kingdom. 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 praise God in this sanctuary; we send our prayers to Holy One in the highest heavens. We worship God for His acts of power; we seek healing and blessing from His greatness.

People:           In the midst of our troubles, He hears our cries. When we are anxious or alarmed, He pacifies our souls. We come before the LORD needing help, strength, and guidance.

Pastor:             O Living God, send forth Your Holy Spirit and touch our lives. When our fears clash with our faith, be near to us and comfort our spirits. We humbly ask that You will sustain our petitions and grant our pleas. Heal us and our loved ones from all that harms our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 150)

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit may we listen to Christ's message from the gospel, and let His lessons be carried in our hearts from this time forth. In Jesus' Name, we ask.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, Your words inspire our faith and Your ways enhance our devotion to God. You seek to make us servants and stewards of Your Church.  We offer You our tithes and gifts, our time and talents, as well as our love and lives. Bless these tokens to Your continuing ministry in this church, community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we serve and give. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Christ make known to us His purpose for our lives; may the Father enable us to keep His commands each day; and may the Holy Spirit help us to share our beliefs, encouraging others to worship and obey the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude

            

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 30 - 23 October

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:            The LORD has saved us according to His love, therefore we will rejoice and praise Him.

People:            We will greatly extol the LORD; in this sacred place, we will happily glorify Him.

Pastor:            The LORD stands with us, in the midst of our troubles and needs. Let us honor and worship Him.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Lord God Almighty and Strong Deliverer of Your people, we approach Your throne of grace with thanksgiving and love, loyalty and devotion. You are the Holy One who creates our lives, who builds up the nations, and who sustains the universe, therefore we gather to worship and adore You.

People:           Gracious God, You offer us Your guidance and grant us Your perfect counsel, but we, as persistent sinners, continue to act without consulting You, and make choices that disappoint You. Instead of seeking Your strength, we rely upon our own. Instead of looking to You for help, we constantly follow our own understanding. We repeatedly set You aside, instead of centering You in our lives. Forgive us, Loving Father, and hear us as we confess our sins.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Everlasting God, You sent Your Son Jesus to save us from our sinful ways. His blood has atoned for all of our guilt. His death has completely purchased our salvation. We make these confessions and present these petitions in Christ's Name and, with His own words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Jesus was constantly challenged to relinquish His claims and to conform to the world. Instead, He chose to follow God's bidding and completely obey His will. He earned the right to become the Savior of the world and in Him alone rests the universal authority to forgive sins and redeem sinners. Let us rejoice and be thankful for His great sacrifice and perfect obedience, which has delivered us from God's wrath and returned us to His everlasting love.  In Jesus' Name, we pray. 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.

Minute for Stewardship

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:            We have gathered in God's House; we have assembled to praise and pray to the Lord. We will rejoice in our Maker; we will have confidence in the compassion of our King.

People:           We honor His Name by invoking His Spirit; we appeal to the Most High for healing. The Lord takes delight in His people; He crowns us with love and salvation.

Pastor:             O Merciful God, as we seek to praise You with our hearts, listen to our pleas. We pray that You will heal us and our loved ones, that You will calm our spirits, bring peace to our minds, settle our souls, and strengthen our bodies. Hear us now as we inwardly pray.

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

Pastor:             May the praise of God be on our lips as He answers our prayers in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 149)

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, reveal to us the Gospel truth through these sacred words of hope and love. Teach us Christ's ways and empower us to live our lives according to His message. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we speak to You with our prayers and praises; we show our love through our service and gifts. We bring before You our tithes and offerings, and ask Your blessing upon them. Receive these tokens of our gratitude and use them for the ministry of Your word and the mission of God's Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.   

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                        May Christ reveal His unique purpose for each of our lives; may the Father make known to us all that He commands; and may the Holy Spirit build up our faith, so that we may continue to believe and obey the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Midweek Worship - Oasis 01

Oasis is a new worship experience at our church. Each Wednesday evening, we hold a short worship service to renew our commitment to God, to refresh our weary souls, and to recharge our spiritual batteries.

Oasis – a place to worship

the Lord and be refreshed

Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." –Matthew 11:28-30

Worship Songs

Prayer

Father God, we worship You this evening and praise the Name of Jesus Your Son. As usual, we are always seeking your help.

When we lack energy, give us Your Spirit. When we lack discipline, grant us Your love. When we lack time, bless us with Your patience.

 We have so much to do, God. Smile on our tasks. Help us to be patient with those we need to help…or at least help them to be patient with us.

Let the patience and forgiveness we receive from others equal the patience we extend to them. The world around us seems to be spinning out of control. We am worried about many things and people. Hear us now as we silently name them before You.

Silence

Be with us Lord. We go through this life as best we can and sometimes it’s just barely enough. Other times we fall seriously short of the mark. Walk with us. Make us aware of Your presence beside us throughout this week. Help us to glorify You each day. Amen

Word of God

Devotional

Quiet Time

Responsive Prayer

God, there are times when we just want to throw in the towel and give up on everything. And the week is barely half over! Help us to be kind to those who aren’t. Help us be kind to our family and friends who must live with us. Help us to be kind to those who try our patience each day.

We’re feeling overwhelmed God. Stand beside us; let us feel Your presence.  Stay with us God. Get us through this crazy week. Fill our souls.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

Worship Songs

Peace of Christ

Benediction

May Jesus allow us to come to Him each day with our burdens; may God the Father continually hear our prayers and mercifully attend to our needs; and may the Holy Spirit lead us and guide us through the rest of this week, both now and always. Amen.

Sunday Worship prayers: Ordinary 29 - October 16

( This Sunday is when our congregation highlights Breast Cancer awareness. We call it "Pink Sunday." Everyone wears something pink, including the men to show our support to those who have this disease. The healing prayers reflect this)

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and announcements

Gathering song

Call to worship

Pastor:             Let us praise the LORD among the nations; let us sing of Him among our people.

People:           For great is God's love, higher than the heaven. His faithfulness reaches beyond the skies.

Pastor:             We will exalt our God above the heavens. We will declare His glory over all the Earth.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Everlasting Lord of the Universe, whose Name remains holy forever and whose works declare Your almighty power, we humbly approach You as servants who seek to praise Your ways. Your will sustains our planet and Your words strengthen our souls. We hope to praise and adore You by trying to live our lives according to Your commands.

People:           Loving Father, sometimes we are obstinate and stubborn, selfish and sinful. We allow ourselves to be overcome by fear and anxiety, temptation and desire. Forgive us for carrying out plans that do not have Your blessing and for choices that are sinful. Hear us now as we confess our failings to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Merciful God, through Your Son Jesus Christ, we are restored to Your love and favor. Through His supreme sacrifice and by the power of His atoning blood, we are forgiven. Hear our prayers, given to You in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, in whose words we continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in Heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER"  (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Jesus came from God to bring us the Good News. He laid down His life, so that we could be raised up above our sinful nature and be restored to God's holiness. So let us rejoice in His coming among us, both in the past and in the Sacred Day yet to come. In Jesus' Name, we pray. 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. Children leave for Enrichment and Planet Worship programs)

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             We praise You, O Lord, that we are living in a time when more people are becoming aware of breast cancer and are seeking to prevent it from progressing among us. We glorify You for the many women of the past who, through their courage and goodness, their sacrifice and persistence, have given us much medical knowledge and specialized treatments that are helping our people to turn the tide and win the battle against this disease.

People:           O Lord, through our cancer treatment centers, support organizations like Susan G Komen, educational programs and medical specialists, You have brightened the hopes and lengthened the years of those who have breast cancer. Each day, You bring us one step nearer to finding a cure and defeating this disease. We thank You for the dedicated women and men who have devoted their minds and hearts, bodies and souls to this important cause. We ask that You will bless their efforts and bring fruit to their labors.

Pastor:             O Lord, we thank You for the great things that are presently being accomplished in this field of medical science, treatment and cure. We lift up to You those among us who are breast cancer survivors and we praise You for their important part in discovering new ways to treat this disease and overcome it forever. In silence, we also remember our sisters and brothers from the past who have pioneered many programs and given us much knowledge from their own experiences of this cancer. Hear us now as we honor them in our hearts and recall them in our minds.

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

Pastor:             We remain confident, Lord, in the blessings yet to come and the cures that are soon to be discovered. We place all of our lives, our families and friends, our supporters and survivors into Your precious hands of care, compassion, and cure. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, help us to look and listen intently at these scriptures, so that we may receive them gladly in our minds. Let us find the face of Christ in these holy words and reflect upon the challenges He makes to our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You ask us to submit to Your ways and to place our lives into Your hands. You speak to our hearts in mysterious ways, and prompt us to give our tithes and offerings to Your Church. Take these tokens of our devotion and gratitude, so that we may turn them into gospel deeds of preaching, teaching and healing, both in our community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ establish His Gospel within our hearts, so that we may proclaim His work each day; may the Father reveal to us His purposes and help us devote our lives to Him; and may the Holy Spirit grant us the courage to publicly profess our faith in the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

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

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Sunday Worship Prayers: Ordinary 28 - October 9

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:            Let us give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and grace.

People:           His love and kingdom endure forever.

Pastor:            He has redeemed and gathered us as His people. Let us worship and praise His name.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                         Almighty Father and Ruler of all Creation, You have called us to Your House of Prayer and we have gathered in Your Sacred Presence. We have come to honor Your deeds and glorify Your greatness throughout the Earth.

People:           Gracious God, we are wayward in spirit and prone to being proud, selfish, and sinful. We lead lives that are sometimes inconsistent with our faith; we make choices that frequently challenge Your sovereignty. Instead of pursuing Your ways, we follow our own sinful desires. Instead of accepting Your authority, we complain about Your commands. Forgive us for being stubborn and foolish, as well as being rebellious and resentful. Hear us now as we confess our sins.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Loving Father, we have no Savior except Jesus. We have no hope of forgiveness, except what Christ has given to us. He alone cleanses our past mistakes. He alone restores us to Your favor. We make these prayers and petitions, these pleas and confessions in His name. Through His own words, we now continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:             Christ challenges us to accept His teachings. The scriptures witness to us by revealing Jesus as our Savior and testifying to the fact that He is the Holy Son of God. When we submit our hearts and minds to Him, and place our souls into His hands, He can forgive our mistakes and restore us to God everlasting Kingdom, both now and forever. 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 for enrichment at conclusion

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:            How good it is to bring our prayers before the Lord; how fitting it is to ask for healing. The Lord builds us up through His grace; He gathers us to ask for His blessings.

People:           The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds. The Lord determines the number of our days and calls us each by name.

Pastor:             Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding of our worries and concerns is complete. O Lord, sustain us and all our loved ones. Cast Your care upon us and heal us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we inwardly pray.

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

Pastor:             We will praise the Lord with thanksgiving. We will be glad and rejoice in Jesus' Name. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 147)

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close”.

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:           Holy Spirit, confront us with Christ’s words and challenge us to adopt His ways. Diminish our anxieties and fears by replacing them with a greater faith and the total acceptance of His teaching. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You bring blessings and order to our daily lives. You grant us peace and unity with God. We gather before You our tithes and offerings, which we ask You to receive and bless for the continuing life, work and purpose of Your church in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May Christ work His goodness through our deeds each day; may the Father sustain our faith and love for His ways; and may the Holy Spirit send us out into the world as messengers and witnesses, as servants and stewards of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever Amen.  

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