Sunday Worship Prayers - Lent 3 - March 11

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:             We come to this sacred place to honor and glorify God.

People:            O Lord, as we gather in Your presence, let us become a family of faith.

Pastor:             Jesus, Sacred Son of God and Christ of the entire world, grant us the blessing of Your love.                     Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Sovereign Lord of the Universe and Gracious God of our hearts, we praise Your glorious ways and bless Your wonderful deeds. You are the One, True and Living God. We are honored to be called into Your Holy Presence. We feel favored to gather in Your Holy House.

People:            Loving Lord of Life, You rule over the Earth and see our entire ways. You know that we are sometimes sinful and selfish, foolish and faithless, as well as proud and greedy. Forgive our faults and pardon our past mistakes. We confess that we have neglected to do good deeds and have inflicted hurt on other people. We have followed our own self-centered ways and allowed temptation to overwhelm our souls. Hear us now as we humbly admit our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                         Heavenly Father, enable us to honor Your Name by placing Christ at the center of our lives. May His Passion free us from our sins. May His sacrifice restore us to Your Favor. For we make our confessions in Christ’s Name and through His own words, we unite our hearts in prayer, saying, “Our Father…” THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                         Christ convicts us of our sins and reveals to us how fallen we have become. He does not leave us to despair, but instead He offers us a sacred opportunity to find forgiveness, peace, and love in Him. By His sacrifice at Calvary, we receive mercy and are restored to God’s favor forever. Therefore, in Christ’s powerful Name, let us rejoice and pray. Amen.

Gloria Patri (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:             Hear our cries, O God; listen to our heartfelt prayers. Deep within our souls, we call to You. When we are weak and our hearts are troubled, be the Rock of our salvation.

People:            You are our refuge and our strength against all things which harm us in body, mind, heart and soul. We seek to dwell in Your healing presence and look to You to keep us safe from illness and injury, disease and despair, as well as pain and suffering.

Pastor:             We call upon You for healing on behalf of ourselves, our loved ones, and for those that we know are in need of Your help. May Your love and faithfulness protect all of us and may our loved ones experience Your peace and blessing, Your hope and healing. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:             May we sing praise to the One True and Living God, whose compassionate healing is given and fulfilled in each of our lives this day. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.         

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 61)

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.” (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, lift up our hearts and help us to understand Christ’s message from these sacred scriptures. Reveal to us His teaching for our lives, and help us to apply all that we learn from Him today.  In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen. 

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication(unison):   Lord Jesus, You have revealed to us Your ways through the Living Word of the scriptures. In response, we gather together our tithes and offerings, placing them into Your keeping. We ask that You will bless these tokens and enable us to use them for the many ministries and missions You have called us to pursue and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):            May Christ help us to regard each day as a special gift; may the Father continue to supply our needs and satisfy our souls; and may the Holy Spirit teach us to live our lives in thankfulness to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude