Thursday, September 12, 2013

Sunday Prayers 15th September - Ordinary 24c

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude
Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Your hands made us and formed us, O Lord; give us understanding to learn Your commands.
People:                 May Your unfailing love be our comfort, according to Your promises to us, Your servants.
Liturgist:               Let Your compassion come to us that we may be blessed; for Your law, O God, is our delight. Let us worship and praise the Lord!

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, Your power brought this universe into being, and Your presence sustains life on this planet. We come before You as Your servants and children, seeking to please You with our praise and serve You with our lives. Throughout the years You have led our people and delivered us from our enemies. You have globally grown Christ’s Church through the seeds of faith which Your Son Jesus has sown in billions of hearts and minds.

People:                 Gracious Lord, the harvest of holiness which You desire from us is not always fulfilled or abundantly clear in our lives. We allow ourselves to weaken our faith by falling prey to temptation, or by making selfish choices and doing sinful acts. Be patient with us and have mercy on our souls. Forgive our faults and pardon our foolish ways. Challenge our choices and change our lives. Hear us now as we come to You individually with our prayers of confession.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Father, without Your compassion, we would not have any everlasting hope. Without Your redeeming love, we would have no opportunity to escape eternal punishment. You have given us Jesus, Your Only Son and He has laid down His life for us. We know that we are unworthy to receive such a wonderful and amazing blessing, so we are truly grateful for all that we have been given.
In Jesus’ Name, we praise You forever and through His words of prayer, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus has come into our world and dwells with us. He seeks to influence our spirits with God’s everlasting love. We are blessed through Him because He sacrificed His life for us. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah and Redeemer, reigns 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:                  The LORD is our shepherd, He knows all of our needs. He makes us rest in His presence, He gives us peace in the midst of our troubles.
People:                 He heals our wounded souls and guides us through our fears. Throughout all that deeply troubles us and in the face of all that harms us, we will not be afraid, for the LORD is with us; His strength and power will restore us to health.
Pastor:                  Lord, spread out the bounty of Your Love before us and anoint us with healing. May your goodness and love be granted to our families and friends. May Your peace be restored to their lives and may You heal them of all that harms them. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May we dwell in the Holy Presence of God from this time forth and forevermore. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                (Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 23)

Unison singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination
Reader:                                Holy Spirit, may the words of our Lord Jesus Christ always be with us and be foremost in our minds. May His teaching become our strength and may His gospel enable us to overcome our troubles and fears. 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, by bringing this offering before You, we hope to please You with our gifts. We do this to glorify Your Holy Name and to bring faith, hope, and love into the lives of other people through Your message, ministry, and mission, from this church to the community at large. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (in unison):               May Jesus keep us focused on His work throughout the world; may the Father bless us with mercy and compassion; and may the Holy Spirit enrich our lives with faith to overcome fear, hope to bring us health, and love to defeat loneliness, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude


No comments: