Sunday Prayers for August 11 - Ordinary 19C

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               You surround us with Your Love, O Lord; You bless us with Your grace and fill our hearts with cheer.
People:                 The Lord supports us each day, therefore we have nothing to fear.
Liturgist:               Our help comes from the Lord; may He be a blessing to all of us gathered here. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Father, whose strength sustains our well-being, and whose power impacts our lives, we set aside this sacred time to worship You, bringing You our prayers and voicing our joy of knowing Your love. You are wise beyond all human limits and Your works far exceed our own. Today, we seek to serve You sincerely, and want to please You with our praise.

People:                 Merciful Lord, at times our faith is weak and we allow our anxieties to burden our hearts. During stressful times, we make foolish decisions and sometimes say hurtful words. Instead of seeking Your wisdom, we follow our own ways; instead of being guided by the Gospel, we get lost in sin. Forgive us for allowing pride and vanity, selfishness and temptation to contaminate our souls and eradicate our relationship with You. Hear us now as we humbly pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Everlasting God, we know that only Jesus can bring peace and restoration to our lives. Only He can save us from our sinful selves. By Christ alone, we are forgiven and returned to Your favor. In His words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  We are personally accountable for our sinful mistakes, and under God’s judgment each day. Jesus, however, intercedes for us at the throne of God, claiming us as His own. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our Compassionate King and Gracious 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 Health and Healing

Pastor:                 We are grateful to You, O God, for we are always in Your presence, surrounded by Your wonderful works and glorious deeds. In the midst of our present anxieties and concerns, steady our hearts and bring peace to our minds.

People:                 Pour out the blessing of Your healing power upon us and all of our loved ones. Restore to health and strength all those for whom we now silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: Let us remain confident in the goodness of the Lord. May we glorify His comforting ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, reveal to us the true greatness of Christ through the reading and hearing of these sacred scriptures. Open our hearts and minds to the simple and abiding message of His Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering and offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):  Lord Jesus, You have restored us to God and sought His approval of our lives. You have blessed us each day, and promised us an abundant life that is yet to come. We can never repay the everlasting debt that we owe You, but we can give to Your church, to share the Good news, through word, deeds, and support. Take our tithes and gifts, as well as our lives and souls. Use them for the glorifying of God in our church, across our community, and throughout the entire world. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully give and faithfully pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (in unison):               May the light of Christ brighten our lives; may the Father increase our knowledge of His words and ways; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to cheerfully worship and glorify the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude