Sunday Worship prayers - Ordinary 25B - Sept 23

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Youth:                   O LORD, our God, how majestic is Your Name in all the Earth!
People:                 What are we that You are mindful of us; of what importance have we become, that You care for our lives?
Youth:                   You have made us a little lower than the heavenly beings and yet You have crowned us with glory, therefore we will worship and honor You with our praises. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                 Glorious Majesty, we come before You as servants and followers of Your Son. We offer our praises and thanksgiving to the glory and power of Your Sacred Name. You are the Sustainer of all life and the Revealer of all that we know. Your ways are mysterious and awesome to us, yet Your works are full of compassion and blessing
People:                 Living Lord, we know that our lives are sometimes motivated by greed and desire, envy and jealousy. We allow pride to distort Your words and arrogance to diminish our faith. We are sorry for our sinful and selfish ways.  We try to change our lives for the better, but we often fail to overcome temptation every single day. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Lord, cleanse our sins, for we are sinners. Have mercy upon us and grant us forgiveness. We make these prayers in Christ’s Name and through His everlasting words, we continue to pray, saying

“Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  The world does not truly understand why we would want to be disciples of Jesus. We know that we have sinned greatly, but that we also have a Great Savior. Through Christ’s death, we are pardoned of our past mistakes and restored to God’s bountiful favor eternally. Let us rejoice and be glad in His Name, forevermore. 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:                 Hear us, O Living Lord as we call upon Your Name. Be our shepherd and guide us in the midst of our troubles. Come amongst us, Gracious God, and touch us with Your Healing hands. Save us from our sicknesses and deliver us from despair.

People:                 Restore us, O Lord, to health and strength. Look favorably upon us and grant us hope with peace. Hear our prayers, LORD God, and give us patience to wait upon Your answer.

Pastor:                  Heavenly Father, listen to the cries of our hearts and heal us, as well as our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. In the midst of our discomfort and pain, grant us rest. At the time of our greatest anxieties and deepest concerns, be our strength and solid foundation. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  Restore us, O God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be healed. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 80)

Singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, bless us with today’s scriptures, so that we may earnestly follow Christ as our Teacher and Lord. Open our hearts and minds to His lessons and grant us the courage to apply them in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):  Lord Jesus, keep us focused on serving You with our time, talents, and money. Give us cheerful hearts when we offer You our tithes and gifts. Take this offering and bless it for the life, work, and ministry of Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we freely give and faithfully pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May we each be given over to Christ, so that we may glorify His power; may the Father take our lives and use them for His purposes; and may the Holy Spirit reveal to us the glory of the One, Triune and Living God,  both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude