Sunday worship prayers - Ordinary 16C - July 21

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude & Gathering song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:                      Let us come before God to cheerfully praise His wonderful ways!

People:                        How amazing is our God, the Lord of the Universe and Creator of Life.

Liturgist:                      Let us sing our songs of salvation to God; let us rejoice in our King forevermore. Amen.

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Almighty God, You are above and beyond all that we can ever humanly imagine. You are perfect and holy, limitless and immortal. Humbly, we bring before You our lives and love, as well as our prayers and petitions. Hear our words and listen to our pleas.

People:            Gracious Lord, we try to live according to Your ways, but we often fail You each day. We attempt to pay attention to Your words, but we frequently get distracted by our own thoughts and desires. Forgive for falling short of all that You expect of us; pardon us for making selfish choices and faithless decisions. Grant us Your mercy and grace, through Your Son Jesus Christ. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Loving God, it is only through the sacrifice of Your Son that we can be saved. He is our Mighty Redeemer and the Only One who can restore us to Your blessing and favor. We gratefully acknowledge our eternal debt to Him and we continue to pray in His own words, saying: “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:              Jesus came among us to show us how to live our lives as Kingdom People. He perfectly obeyed God and completely gave His life for our salvation. He is our everlasting Savior and glorious Lord, so let us worship and praise Him 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:             Our confidence remains in You, O God, for You uplift our spirits in times of personal need and moments of anxiety and concern.

People:            We will continue to praise Your healing ways among us, for Your love sustains us, casting away our fears.

Pastor:             O Living Lord, You are proclaimed throughout the Earth as Life Bringer and Compassionate Creator. We appeal to Your loving kindness, asking that You would deliver us and our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor:             In this sacred place of peace and prayer, God speaks lovingly to our hearts. His mercy and compassion always endure. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 108)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, let Christ’s words and teachings captivate our hearts and minds. Permit these scriptures to speak to our spirits, so that our faith may be enhanced and our lives may be empowered to witness to the glory and presence of our Everlasting God. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):              Lord Jesus, You have invited us to be here in church today. You have called us to live thankfully and give generously of our time, talents, and money. Take our tithes and gifts; bless them for the continuing life, work, and mission of Your Church in our community and throughout the world. In Your Sacred Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (Unison):                         May Christ’s protection be always with us each day; may the Father strengthen our faith with His goodness and grace; and may the Holy Spirit keep us devoted to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Sunday worship prayers - Ordinary 15C - July 14

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:          As we gather in God’s Holy House, may our spirits be prepared to worship and applaud Him.
People:            We adore the Almighty Lord for His unlimited power; we glorify His Everlasting Name above all else.
Liturgist:          Let all who gather here today, praise the One, True, and Living God, whose glory lasts for ever and ever. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:             Everlasting Father, we have come to this sacred place of praise and prayer to honor Your sovereignty and to worship Your greatness. Your infinite grace sustains our lives and we are richly blessed by Your unending love.

People:            Gracious God, we seek to live our lives by pleasing You, but sometimes we fall prey to temptation and yield to sinful ways. We make impulsive choices that disappoint You and we follow our own misguided beliefs. We neglect to do deeds that are both good and right. Hear us now as we humbly and silently confess our faults and sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:              Loving Lord, Your Holy Son Jesus Christ is the Only One who can forgive our sins and restore us to Your favor. Only His Name can save our souls; only His blood can redeem us forever. Thank You for sending Him to the Earth and for giving us His life as the means of our eternal salvation. In Christ’s Name we pray, and through His own words we make our sacred requests, saying: “Our Father...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:              Jesus is our Intercessor, who pleads for our souls before God’s holy throne. He has the mercy and grace that we need to be welcomed into Heaven. Let us, therefore, praise and glorify Christ, for He has redeemed and restored us 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:             Grant us Your healing, O Gracious God. Allow Your righteousness to strengthen our bodies and minds. Help those among us who are afflicted with pain and discomfort, or with anxiety and sorrow. Comfort them with Your love and blessing.

People:            Restore our spirits, O Living Lord, and free us from all that ails or harms us. Protect us from all illnesses and enable us to fully recover from injury or surgery, accident or infirmity.

Pastor:             Eternal Father, Your loving kindness has been known and experienced by our people for generations. Refresh our weary spirits and renew our tired souls. Heal us and our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:             Loving God, sustain our hopes with healing. May we know of Your abounding grace, both now and always. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.         

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 72)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, descend among us and open our hearts and minds to the message of the Gospel. May we honor and glorify Christ through the hearing of these words and the living of His teaching. Amen.oly

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (unison, led by pastor):                Lord Jesus, we give everything of ourselves to You alone. We ask that You will accept our lives, and the tokens of gratitude that we place before You. Bless them for the work of this church, as well as for the proclaiming of the Gospel, and the advancement of God’s Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ grant us opportunities to serve Him in this community; may the Father help us to reach out to others who need His love; and may the Holy Spirit grant us the courage to live out our faith in our homes, businesses, schools, and neighborhoods, to the glory of the One, Triune, and Living God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Sunday Worship prayers - Ordinary 14C - July 07

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Sing to the Lord and praise His Name, all you His people.
People:                 We will rejoice in His presence and lift up our hearts to glorify Him.
Liturgist:               May the Lord favor our praises, as we proclaim His faithfulness forever. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, who has appointed the days of our lives and the seasons of this planet, we come here today to glorify Your goodness among us, and to adore Your everlasting holiness. We are servants of Your Kingdom, seeking to please You with our lives and wanting to love You with all of hearts.

People:                 Merciful Lord, You have given us the great gift of freedom, but sometimes we use it to fulfill our selfish desires and sinful ways. You have planted the unalienable seeds of liberty in our hearts, but sometimes we have reaped recklessly and harvested havoc in our lives. Our ways have not always been pleasing to You, and our choices have frequently disappointed You, as well as other people. Forgive us for wasting our freewill and spoiling our liberty. Hear us now, as we come to You silently, in order to make our humble confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious Father, we have asked You for forgiveness and we have received this through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. By Him, we have been restored to Your favor and peace. Hear us now as we thankfully conclude our prayers in Christ’s everlasting words, saying, “Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  We are meant to be harvesters for the Kingdom of God and servants of His Son Jesus Christ. By confessing our sins, we are re-welcomed into God’s company and have been granted Christ’s peace in our lives. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord 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 Hope and Healing

Pastor:                 O Lord, we call upon You for help and seek to be healed of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Spare us from pain and distress; allow us security and sanctuary in Your holy presence.

People:                 O God, keep us from being overwhelmed and dismayed by the current issues and crises in our lives. Turn our fears into faith and our cries into confidence. Hear us now as we silently approach You on behalf of our loved ones and ourselves.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Precious Lord, may our hearts sing of Your faithfulness to us, and may we always give thanks for Your presence in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.       

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 30)

Singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, strengthen us as a family of believers through the reading, hearing, and preaching of God’s Word. May Your peace descend upon us, so that we may apply Christ’s teaching with grace and love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. 

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):  May the marks of Christ be shown in our lives through the good works and holy giving that we complete each day. May our gifts and tithes be blessed and used for the preaching of the Word, the practice of the Gospel, as well as the praising of God’s Kingdom throughout our community and across the world. In Jesus’ Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn

Benediction (in unison):               May Christ continue to encourage us to go forth into the world to share His message; may the Father teach us the everlasting values of life, liberty, and love; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to stand in the glorious presence of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 13C - June 30

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Living Lord, we humbly approach You, seeking to please You with our worship and prayers.

People:                 O God, We ask that You prepare our hearts and minds to receive Your important words for us today.

Liturgist:               We welcome Your Holy Spirit to our sanctuary and hope to be blessed with Your sacred presence. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, whose resolve sustains the universe and whose will shapes our lives, we come before You as Your people, called to worship and glorify Your Everlasting Name. We want to please You as servants of Your Kingdom, and as followers of Your Holy Son.

People:                 Gracious Father, sometimes we disappoint You with our sinful deeds and selfish ways. Frequently, we forget to share our faith with other people, or we omit to do good deeds and kind acts that would witness to Your power in the world. Instead of following Your words, we make up our own ideas and justify our misconceptions. Instead of being messengers of Your Gospel, we mess up our lives, and those of others, through gossip, anger, pride, and vanity. Forgive us, Lord God, for failing to be sincere servants and genuine Christians. Here us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful God, instead of rebuking us, You seek to redeem us; instead of casting us aside, You want to call us back to Your Son, so that He may become our Savior and Lord. For this, we are truly thankful, and in Christ’s holy words, we now pray saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus wants us to come to Him, to be restored to God’s favor, and proclaim the Kingdom through our changed lives. He is the Only One, given by God, who can forgive our sins and welcome us back in God’s service. Let us, therefore, be truly thankful, for Christ is our Cherished Redeemer and Everlasting King. 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:                 In God, we find our safe place and refuge. All good things originate in His love, therefore we appeal to His grace for help, healing, and wholeness.

People:                 Sometimes our sorrows separate us from God and we feel isolated, vulnerable, and weak. Our fears cause our faith to falter, and troubles torment our spirits. We seek assurance and pray for improvement. We long for protection from pain and the healing of our illnesses.

Pastor:                 O Living Lord, grant us guidance, godly counsel, and invaluable instruction. Heal us and our loved ones from all that harms us, whether in body, mind, heart or soul. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 May we delight in the mercy of the Lord and the great gift of His love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. 

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 16)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, be the Messenger of Christ’s teaching to us today. Open our hearts and minds to this proclamation of God’s Kingdom through these sacred words. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we seek to serve You with our lives and to follow You through faithful ways. You call us to support the work of Your Kingdom by giving gifts and offering tithes. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for Your continuing ministry and mission, both here at this church, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction:      May Christ call us to be messengers of His Gospel to our community; may the Father keep us faithful to His Everlasting Kingdom; and may the Holy Spirit encourage us to serve, worship, and glorify the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Sunday church prayers - Ordinary 12C - June 23

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights above.
People:                 Praise Him all His people; praise Him throughout the world.
Liturgist:               Praise the Name of the Lord, for He alone is to be exalted. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                 Gracious Lord, throughout our lives we seek opportunities to serve and worship You. On this holy day, accept our praises and thanksgiving. You are our strength and salvation, as well as our source of hope and healing. Each day, we place our lives and dreams into Your hands. Each time we do this, You do not disappoint us.

People:                Merciful Father, we know that our disobedience diminishes our faith. We understand that our spiteful words and hurtful deeds distress others and disappoint You. Forgive us for being self-centered and full of pride. Pardon our vain and shallow ways. Help us to turn to You for mercy and grace; forgiveness and pardon. Hear us now as we pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Eternal Father, we are indebted to You for sending Jesus into our world. He has given His life as the everlasting sacrifice for all of our mistakes, regrets, and sins. We pledge our lives to Him and place ourselves under His authority. Hear us now as we pray in Christ’s own words, “Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ is the answer to all of our questions, and He is the One who fulfills all our obligations. In Him, we have the perfect Savior, the most merciful of all Lords. We will rejoice and declare our allegiance to Him alone. Forever and ever. 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:                 Hasten to us, O God; come quickly among us and give heed to our prayers. We seek Your love to remedy our fears; we ask for Your compassion and grace.

People:                 In the midst of our troubles, support us. In times of illness and crisis, be ever faithful. May we know of Your complete joy; may we be strengthened by Your kindness.

Pastor:                 Almighty God, we are human and frail, prone to worry and sickness, fear and depression. Be near to us and all our loved ones. Heal us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 O Living Lord, You are our help and redeemer. Come quickly to us, O God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                  (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 70)

Singing of '”Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, build up Your church and enhance our knowledge about God’s ways. Let the words that we read seep into our souls, softening our hearts, and reshaping our lives.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):  Lord Jesus, You are the source of our eternal well-being and the One who forgives our sins. We will always be indebted to You, therefore we gather this offering to honor and glorify You.  Help us to be generous with our gifts and responsible in our stewardship. Bless the tithes and gifts we place before You. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):    May Christ’s mercy fill our lives with favor and blessing; may the Father’s compassion bring us purpose and meaning; and may the Holy Spirit keep us from despair and lead us to a greater glory, through our service, worship, and devotion to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude