Sunday prayers - Ordinary 22B - September 02

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Be merciful to us, O Lord. In our weakness, become our strength.
People:                 Turn, O Lord, and deliver us. Hear our prayers and praises.
Youth:                   May the Lord be pleased with our worship. May we delight in His bountiful favor. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                 Almighty God, whose sacred words are life to the believing soul, and whose eternal ways impact our world; we gather together to praise Your Holy Name and to exalt Your everlasting power. Your whose infinite strength gives hope to billions of people throughout the Earth, therefore we cheerfully lift up our hearts to worship and glorify Your boundless sovereignty.
People:                 Merciful Majesty, despite seeking to faithfully serve You, we still yield to temptation and surrender our lives to selfish acts and sinful ways. We appeal to Your grace and seek Your pardon. We confess our faults and regret our mistakes. Hear us now as we quietly bring our admissions of guilt to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Heavenly Father, without the love of Your Son Jesus Christ, our hopes would be vanquished and our confessions made in vain. Christ alone is the One who saves us from our sins and restores us to Your favor.  In His everlasting words, we continue to lift up our prayers, saying “Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: How does Christ return us to the blessing of God’s pleasure? By sacrificing Himself in our place and fully atoning for all of our sins. Let us rejoice and be glad of His mercy, which endures 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

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 We are called to be God’s people, to listen to His words, and to apply His teaching. For generations, our people have known the bounty of hope and the blessing of healing from the LORD.

People:                 O LORD, we seek to experience Your Holy touch; we pray for recovery, renewal, and restoration. We call upon You, O Living God, to show us Your wonders by healing our hearts, mending our minds, and strengthening our spirits

Pastor:  Eternal Lord, let miracles of hope and health, of blessing and healing be granted to us and to all whom we pray for, on this holy day. May all of our loved ones and neighbors, our friends and colleagues trust in Your word and experience deliverance from pain, discomfort, suffering, and disease. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:  May the Lord shepherd us to salvation and lead us towards an abundance of health, wholeness, and healing. In Jesus’ Name, we ask and pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 78)

Singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader: Holy Spirit, as we read and hear the good news of the Kingdom of God, open our hearts and minds to the living presence of Christ. Enable us to seek His truth and to apply His ways in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. 

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering and Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):  Lord Jesus, You help us wherever we go through life and in times of trouble, You tarry with us. In return, we offer You our lives for service in God’s Kingdom, as well as for the spreading of the Gospel. Take our tithes and gifts from our resources; use and bless them for Your continuing work in this congregation and community. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully give and faithfully pray. Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Jesus protect us from all that would persecute our faith and diminish our beliefs; may the Father refresh and strengthen our souls; and may the Holy Spirit continue to keep us in the loving service of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude