Sunday Worship Prayers - Advent 2 - Second in Advent - Dec 4

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Call to Light the Advent Wreath

Family: Today - the second Sunday in Advent - we hear about Isaiah's
vision of a new and transformed world.
Congregation: A world where all creatures live together in harmony and peace.

Family: We wait with hope for this vision to become reality.
Congregation: The God of hope fills us with joy and peace in believing. We light the candle of hope.

(The first purple candle is relit)

Family: We proclaim our belief in God's faithfulness in keeping promises, as we light the candle of peace.

( A second purple candle is lit)

Family:  God of all faithfulness - Isaiah's vision paints a picture of a world shaped in accordance with Your will and Your design.

Congregation:   He tells of One so enlightened by your Spirit that he would open eyes and ears and hearts to a new understanding of your will and your design for the world. Isaiah described the one for whom the people waited - the Messiah .

Family:  We wait also, but we wait in the joyful knowledge that the Messiah has come in the form of your beloved Son.

Congregation:   We wait in faith, praying that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus - Prince of Peace - will be born anew in our hearts and in our lives. Amen

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Everlasting Lord and God of all the Universe, who calls us each by name, we offer You our devotion and pledge to You our hearts. Almighty Father, who helps the powerless and supports the weak, we worship Your holy ways and glorify Your loving deeds.

People:           Merciful Lord, we know that we are utterly dependent upon You to sustain our lives, yet we humbly confess that we often take You for granted and frequently try to cast You aside. When we take Your name in vain, or choose to neglect our neighbor's need, or decide to hate our enemies, please forgive us. When we place ourselves at the center of our lives, or selfishly seek to satisfy our sinful desires, or forget to honor Your Son, pardon our mistakes. Hear us now as we humbly confess our faults to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Loving Father, left to ourselves, we would do nothing about our need to repent, nor would we change our lives. You Son Jesus challenges our ways and offers us the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins and restored to Your favor. Therefore, in His precious Name, we make these confessions and continue to pray in His own words, saying, “Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER”  (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Christ came into the world, to reconcile all things to Himself, and to witness to God's everlasting grace. He alone is the Savior of our souls and the Redeemer of the Earth. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him, 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)

           

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             Give ear to our words, O Lord, consider our feelings and prayers. Listen to our cries and pleas for help, for You are our King and God.

People:           This morning, O Lord, we lay our requests before You and wait in expectation. We have come into Your house seeking mercy; in reverence we bow before Your presence and ask for healing.

Pastor:             Help us to release our prayers to You and to put all that concerns us into Your hands. Lead us O Lord, in Your righteousness. Make plain Your ways before us, as we pray for our loved ones and ourselves. Heal us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor:             We will take refuge in the Lord and be glad. May He bless us with His favor and love. In Christ's Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 5)

           

Singing of ‘Jesus Draw Me Close.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, may God speak to us through these sacred words. May we become familiar with His ways and honor the teachings of His Son. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You call upon us to do everything in a fit and orderly way. We bring before You our tithes and offerings, praying that they may be given to Your service and dedicated for Your work by this congregation. Take these gifts, and our lives, for the glory of God's Kingdom and the life, ministries and missions which You ask us to undertake, accomplish and fulfill.  In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.            

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May our Lord Jesus Christ bring us closer to the Father of all compassion; may the Holy Spirit lead us each day to the One, Triune and Everlasting God of all comfort, joy, and love, both now and forever. Amen.          

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude

Advent Clip art: Free advent art

Here are four clip images that I've drawn for Advent Bulletins





You can also find all four in larger versions at the following facebook link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150368100662109.346523.525292108&type=1&l=babd9171df

Sunday Worship Prayers - Advent 1 - First in Advent - Nov 27

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Lighting of Advent Candle

Family: Today, the prophet Isaiah describes a future shaped by peace for all nations as they walk in the light of the Lord. We wait in hope for this prophecy to be fulfilled.
Congregation: We light the candle of hope to proclaim that God's light is coming into the world

A purple candle is lit.

Family:           God of all nations - You spoke to Isaiah and You empowered him to speak welcome words of peace and hope to the people of his time.

Congregation:            We need to hear Your word anew to us today as the darkness of despair is still experienced wherever peace and hope are absent.

Family:           Strengthen us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we may be Your prophets in this day and age - teaching Your ways to release people from darkness through words and work of love, peace, and justice.
Congregation:            In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Divine Maker of all creatures and Mighty Sustainer of every life, we humbly bow before Your holy presence and peacefully place our lives into Your hands. Living God, who knows all of our ways and whose love has never let us go, we gather together as one people, who are thankful for Your blessings and grateful for Your goodness.

People:            Gracious Lord, in the midst of our hardships and distress, we sometimes make rash and selfish decisions. We allow fear and anxiety, anger and pride to undermine our faith and diminish our devotion to You. When we treasure our troubles or nurse our wrath, when we gloat over other people's mistakes or neglect to help those in need, forgive us and pardon our sins. Here us now as we personally pray to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Almighty God, You have given us Jesus to be our Burden Bearer and Sin Receiver. He has borne Your wrath and endured the punishment due for our sins. He alone has the power to free us from our unprofitable and unworthy ways.  Without Jesus, we have no everlasting hope. Without His mercy and grace, we have no future life in eternity. In His Name, we bring our confessions and continue to pray in His precious words, saying, “Our Father...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         The Law of God demands justice and punishment for our sins. Jesus is our only Redeemer and His testimony before God, on our behalf, releases us from oblivion, and restores us to the everlasting favor of God. To Christ, be glory, thanksgiving, and power, 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             Please answer us, when we call to You, O Righteous God. Grant us relief from our distress and hear our prayers. Forgive us, Lord, for doubting Your compassion, because of our emphatic fears and worries.

People:            O Living God, be merciful and listen to our heartfelt pleas. Enable us to set aside our anxieties by trusting in Your holy power. Search our hearts and deliver us from all that stops us placing our lives into Your care.

Pastor:             Help us to focus our prayers on You and to put all that concerns us into Your hands. Let the light of Your face shine upon us and all our loved ones, O Lord.  Heal all of us from everything that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

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

Pastor:             The Lord fills our hearts with hope and joy, strength and peace. In Christ's Name, we make these prayers. Amen.                        (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 4)

           

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close."

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, let the promises of God touch our hearts and transform our lives through His Sacred Word. May Christ take possession of our minds and souls through His message and teaching.  In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, throughout the ages Your word has come alive in the hearts and minds of millions of people. Today, we join with them through the giving of our lives to the holy service of Your sacred kingdom. Bless the tithes and gifts that we bring before You. May they be used for the ministries and missions that You have appointed to this congregation.  In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ's grace be experienced by all of us and made evident in our daily lives; may the Father's peace endow our hearts with fortitude and strength;  and may the Holy Spirit grant us courage and compassion, so that we may effectively witness to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology        May God's Blessing & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Christ the King Sunday - Nov 20

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             The LORD is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.

People:           Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high?

Pastor:             From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the LORD is to be praised. Amen.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Living Lord and Divine Creator, whose mighty deeds have delivered Your people, and whose sacred power sustains our lives; we humbly gather in Your presence to joyfully praise Your Holy Name. Your mysterious ways challenge our lives, and Your plans are never thwarted. We place our lives at Your disposal, to do Your bidding and serve Your Kingdom.

People:           Heavenly Father, we confess that our sins bring shame upon us, and that our selfish mistakes damage our souls. Forgive us for choosing to do wrong, and for deserting Your commands when we seek to fulfill our own desires. Here us now as we pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Everlasting God, You have laid the disgrace of our deceits and the humiliation of our iniquities upon Jesus. You have made Him the scapegoat for our sins and the victim of our vices. Without His sacrifice, we would remain unforgiven. Without His suffering, we would be unsaved. In His Name , we make our confessions and continue to pray, saying, "Our Father....THE LORD’S PRAYER"  (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Jesus judges us correctly because He knows us completely. We cannot make excuses before Him, nor can we justify our sinful choices. He alone stands with the Father, who sent Him to us. When we sincerely confess our sins to Christ and earnestly repent of our foolish ways, Jesus receives our prayers, reclaims our lost souls, and restores us to God's everlasting favor, 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             King of all the nations, we come to You for healing; may our prayers not be in vain. We gather together in Your holy presence, and ask that You anoint us with Your Healing Spirit.

People:           O LORD, throw off the fetters of our fears; cast aside our worries that chain us to despair. Smile upon us and bless us with Your comfort; favor us with Your grace and mercy.

Pastor:             Rebuke the sicknesses in our hearts and minds; heal the injuries of our bodies and souls. Loving God, install Your holiness within us and all our loved ones. Grant us recovery and remission, strength and sustenance; health and healing. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             God speaks to us and calls us His children. He hears our prayers and remains our Loving Father. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 2)

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.” (twice)

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, help us to leave behind our personal issues as we approach God's sacred word.  Inspire us with Christ's teaching and send us into our community with faith, hope, and love. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we cannot ignore Your commands, nor set aside Your teaching. You claim us as Your own and we need to respect You as our Master and King. We give of our lives and resources, our tithes and offerings, asking for You to bless them, so that we may sacredly use them for the continuing ministry of Your Church in this congregation and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ send us out into the world to do God's will; may the Father strengthen our church so that we may serve His ways; and may the Holy Spirit bind us together with all the saints to glorify, worship and praise the One, Triune and Living God forever and ever. Amen.

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 33 - Nov 13

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             O God, You are our God, and earnestly we seek You.

People:           Because Your love is better than life, our lips will glorify You.

Pastor:             Let us praise God as long as we live; in His Name, let us lift up our voices.

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Living God, whose wondrous works are displayed across the Universe and whose glorious deeds will praised throughout eternity, we call upon Your Holy Name and seek Your Sacred Presence. You care for our lives and set purposes for our existence; we humbly approach Your Throne, praising Your almighty power and worshipping Your invincible ways.

People:           Heavenly Father, we know that we are weak and sinful, selfish and proud, as well as being arrogant and foolish at times. We make many mistakes and choose to neglect our responsibilities. We seek to be served, instead of helping others. We want to be personally glorified, instead of bringing honor to You. Forgive us for being impertinent and impatient. Pardon us for being angry and unkind, unfaithful and unfruitful as Christians. Hear us now, as we humbly pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Merciful Majesty, we are eternally indebted to Your Son Jesus Christ, who died for all our sins.  His sacrifice paid the price for our offenses. His death fully redeemed us forever.  We are truly thankful for our Savior and in His holy words, we unite our hearts to Him, praying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER." (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  We publicly proclaim Jesus to be the Savior of our souls and the Forgiver of our sins. He is the Christ who came into the world to lay down His life, so that we may be restored to God's favor and His Kingdom forever. So let us rejoice and be eternally glad, for Jesus is our Lord, and we are called to be His own, both now and always. 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 Mission

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

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             May Your unfailing love come to us, O Lord; may Your promised salvation heal us today. We will trust in Your words when trouble taunts us and we are faced with fear.

People:           Your word of truth will be on our lips, as we place our hope in Your hands. May we always seek Your help and accept Your holy ways. Liberate us from our anxieties and cares, O Living God, for we seek Your blessing of peace and strength.

Pastor:             May we delight in Your protection and may all our loved ones be touched by Your Holy Spirit, so that healing of body and soul, mind and heart, may occur at this sacred time. Hear us now as we personally pray.

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

Pastor:             We will lift up our hearts and glorify the Lord, whom we love. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Waw)

Unison Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.'

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, strengthen our beliefs in Christ's ministry and mission today, so that we may go forth from this place of power and prayer, ready, able and willing to serve Him by inviting, attracting and encouraging other people to come and praise His Holy name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):  Lord Jesus, bring order and peace into our lives through the praising of Your Name and the preaching of God's Word. Take our tithes and offerings for the use of Your church, and the advancement of God's Kingdom, in this community and throughout the earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ fill us with joy each day; may the Father continually grant us peace, as we trust in Him, and may the Holy Spirit enable us to overflow with hope to the everlasting glory of the One, Triune and Living God. Amen.         

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