Sunday Prayers Oct 12 - ordinary 28A, proper 23, Pentecost 18

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to worship

Herald:                 Let us trust in God’s unfailing love.

People:                 Our hearts rejoice in His salvation.

Leader:                                 Let us sing to the LORD, for He has been good to us. Let us worship and glorify His Name! Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Lord, Maker of Mystery and Sustainer of Life, we come before You as servants seeking Your wisdom and as children cherishing Your love. We yield to Your authority and yearn for Your holiness; we freely submit to Your will and faithfully surrender to Your Word.

People:                 Everlasting God, You have the power to shape the patterns of our lives and influence our choices. You have the right to scrutinize our life styles and to reject our selfish ways. We know that we have sinned against Your Sovereignty and rebelled against Your rules. We have covered our sins with pride and contaminated our souls with deceit. We are guilty of greed and full of faithless ways. Hear us now as we personally confess to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving Father, without Jesus we would not know the joy of salvation. Without Christ’s sacrifice, we would not have any future or everlasting hope. We acknowledge that we are sinners and that only He is the Divine Savior of our souls. In the Name of Jesus, we make these confessions and through His holy words we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Jesus is the Bread of Life, which means that He is the Only One who can sustain our spirits and nourish our souls. He has the authority to forgive our sins and the right to restore us to God. Let us celebrate and be glad, for Christ has come into our lives and we are fully forgiven of all our sinful and selfish ways, both now and 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 give thanks to You, O God, for You are ever present and we glorify Your wonderful deeds. We pray that this sacred moment will become an appointed time of holiness and healing.

People:                 When we experience fear and confusion, or anxiety and worry, You steady our hearts and bring peace to our minds. Wherever we are, You are with us. Whatever we face, You support us.

Pastor:                 Heavenly Father, examine our hearts and minds, as well as our bodies and souls; heal us of all that harms us. Pour out the blessing of Your healing power upon us and all our loved ones. Restore us to health and strengthen all those for whom we now silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Let us declare the goodness of the Lord forever. May we sing and celebrate His wonderful ways. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.    (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 75)

Unison singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                               Holy Spirit, come among us and enable us to hear Jesus speak through these sacred scriptures. May His teaching and action challenge our ways and may we cherish His words by applying them in our daily lives. In the Precious Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we freely and confidently give our tithes and offerings to You, asking that You will lovingly bless these gifts by allowing our church to use them to finance, aid, and support the many ministries and missions that You want us to advance and accomplish through the faith, lives, and resources of our congregation. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May we submit to Christ’s compassion and share His love throughout our lives; may we fully serve and obey our Father in Heaven each and every day; and may the Holy Spirit establish faithful hearts and devoted souls within all of us as we serve the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers - October 5 - Ordinary 27A, Proper 22, Pentecost 17

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Herald:                 The LORD is King for ever and ever, so let us come and worship Him.

People:                 God encourages us to praise Him; we are embraced with His love.

Herald:                 May the LORD listen to our songs of salvation and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, Creator of the majestic mountains and Maker of the spacious sky, we come before You as humble servants and devoted seekers of Your ways. You have the power of Life and so we look to You for help and strength, guidance and counsel, as well as purpose and meaning for our lives.

People:                 Merciful Lord, we recognize that we are imperfect and unholy. We know that our actions can be foolish and selfish. We understand that our choices can be rebellious and wrong. We ask that You will be patient and have mercy upon us. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, the blood of Your Son Jesus has paid the price of our sins. Remove our transgressions from us and restore us to Your Kingdom. We fully proclaim that only Jesus can be completely pardon and totally forgive of all our faults and faithless ways. In His precious words, we continue to pray, saying,

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

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                  When we believe in Jesus, we have everlasting life. When we ask Jesus for forgiveness, He has the power to fully pardon our past mistakes. Let us rejoice and give thanks to God, for Christ is our Savior, both now and 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:                 O LORD, at times we wonder why trouble comes to us and why good people suffer. However, we will remember Your deeds of deliverance and Your ways of salvation. Turn towards us, O Living God, and take away our fears by strengthening our faith. Come to us now, in this holy place. Touch us with Your Presence. Heal us by Your Love.

People:                 We also appeal on behalf of those whom we cherish and love, Almighty Lord. Heal them of all that harms them in body, mind, soul and spirit. Do not let our loved ones give into distress or despair. Fill them with peace and hope; restore them through Your grace and power. Hear us now as we pray for them.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 May God rise up and deliver us. May His Healing touch be with us throughout each day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                 (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 74)

Unison singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, lift up our hearts through these sacred scriptures, so that we may be blessed by the teaching of Christ, and with the giving of our lives to Him this day. In His Precious Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message  & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we present our tithes and gifts to You, both cheerfully and lovingly. We ask that You will bless them for Your ministry and mission in this community and across the world. We also declare our loyalty to God’s Kingdom, and dedicate our lives to Your service, both now and forever. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Christ enable and encourage us to love one another; may the Father give us compassionate hearts to care for others each day; and may the Holy Spirit help us to impact our community through acts of mercy, kindness, and love, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Sept 28th - Ordinary 26A, Proper 21, Pentecost 16

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Herald:                 We have gathered in God’s House to praise and worship His Holy Name.

People:                 We come here freely to glorify Jesus and worship His ways.

Herald:                 Let us bow before our King and sing praises to our Savior. Amen.

Hymn:

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  All Powerful Creator, whose Living Word maintains the substance of this Universe, and whose mighty thoughts direct the path of human history; we come before You seeking refuge and salvation, peace and strength, as well as grace and reassurance.

People:                 Loving Father, You know that we struggle with sin throughout our lives. You see the trouble we create for ourselves and know the anguish that we feel each time we disappoint You. We confess to dealing lightly with Your ways and sinfully focusing on our own ideas, opinions, and feelings. Forgive us for being rebellious, intolerant and angry. Pardon us for neglecting our faith, diminishing Your work, and ignoring Your call. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Lord, thank You for allowing us to return to You and be restored to Your ways. You have given us Jesus, Your Holy Son, who has become our Savior and Lord, the One who forgives our sins; the One who redeems our souls. In His Name, we make these prayers and unite our hearts to Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus recognizes us as His people and He know our constant needs. He has the power to support us each day, in the midst of all that we endure and experience. He saves us from the clutches of sin and sets our spirits free. He is the Lord of all Creation and we are truly blessed to be called by the merciful power of His Precious Name. Amen.

Gloria Patri – sung in unison

Children’s Message

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Teach us Your ways, O LORD, and show us Your precious paths. Guide us with Your truth, for You are our God and Savior, and our hope is in You all day long. Remember, O LORD, Your great mercy and love, for we are in great need of these holy gifts. All Your ways are loving and faithful, so we seek You to heal us of all that harms us.

People:                 Turn to us and be gracious to us, for we are frail and fearful, and some of our loved ones are afflicted with pain and trouble, sickness and illness, disease and despair. Sometimes the troubles of our hearts are multiplied; free us from our anguish and let Your healing power touch our families and friends, neighbors and colleagues. Hear us now as we silently pray.

                                Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May the LORD’s integrity and holiness protect us, because our hope is in Him. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.       (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 25)

Unison Singing of Sanctuary

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, be near to us and open our minds to Christ’s holy words. Resurrect our faith to overcome our fears and keep us free of temptation through the power of the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: (unison – led by pastor)                       Lord Jesus, we try to remember You in everything that we do, and we attempt to hold on to Your teachings about faith, life, and giving. We entrust these tokens of gratitude into Your care. We pray that You will bless them for use by those ministries and missions which You have called us to establish and fulfill, to glory of Your Name. Amen.

Hymn   

Benediction: (unison)    May Jesus always be the One True Hope of our lives; may the Father arouse our faith in all that we do; and may the Holy Spirit empower us as Christ’s witnesses, so that we may help others to come to Him. To the Glory of the One Triune God, forever and ever. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Sunday Prayers for September 21 - Ordinary 25A - Proper 19A - Pentecost 15

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Herald:                 Let us praise the Lord with all of our hearts; let us be glad and rejoice in His Name.

People:                 O God, You are our stronghold in times of trouble, and You have never forsaken us.

Herald:                 Let us sing our praises to the Lord of lords and King of kings. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Lord, whose holiness and perfection are beyond our comprehension, we humbly bow in Your Presence, seeking Your Salvation, and the comfort of Your Grace. You have given us life and we are blessed by Your love. You are the center of our lives and the focus of our faith.

People:                 Gracious Father, commune with our hearts and change our foolish ways. In the midst of our problems and struggles with life, be our constant guide. When fear or anxiety threaten our faith, be our strength and shield. When we carelessly try to fall away from Your influence and presence, grasp hold of our souls and return us to Your Love. Forgive us and cleanse us of our sins; reclaim us and restore us through Your Son Jesus Christ, to whom we now silently pray for pardon.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Lord, we thank You the forgiveness of our past mistakes and personal sins. We praise You for bringing Jesus into the world, so that we may have the glorious opportunity of being restored to Your Holy Kingdom through His sacrificial death. In the Name of our Savior, we make these prayers and unite our hearts with His Spirit, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of God, whose perfect obedience and holy life fulfilled God’s great plan of salvation. Through Jesus, we have the prospect of being forgiven of our sins, reconnected to His Spirit, and perfectly prepared for God’s Coming Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah, reigns! 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.

Children’s Sermon - (Parents and children come forward to the front of the church)

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  The Earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

People:                 We have come into God’s Holy Presence, seeking His peace in this Holy place. O Lord, cleanse our souls and grant healing for our hearts; lift up our spirits and lead us by Your Truth.

Pastor:                  May we receive these blessings from the LORD and may our loved ones be touched by our Savior’s healing power. May we be united as a generation of those who seek Him, who seek God’s healing in all of our lives. Hear us now as we pray.

                                Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  The Lord is strong and mighty. He is the King of Glory and the Healer of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.       (Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 24)

Singing of “Sanctuary”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, make us glad in our hearts as we rejoice in Christ’s sacred words. Enable us to live in hope through the power of the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message And Apostles Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):                  Lord Jesus, we follow Your Loving example by sacrificing these gifts from our resources, in order to humbly place them before Your Holy Throne. Bless these tokens of gratitude for the work of Your Church here on Earth. Help us to use these gifts for the proclamation of Your Word, the enhancing of Your Kingdom, and the glorifying of Your Name. Amen.

Hymn   

Benediction: (in unison)                               May Jesus speak to our spirits and lead us every day; may the Father fortify our faith and send us out into the world; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to minister to the people we encounter each and every day. Glory be to the One, Triune, and Living God, forevermore. Amen. 

Sunday Prayers for September 14 - Ordinary 24A, Proper 18A, Pentecost 14

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Herald:                 O Lord, how amazing are Your works and how wonderful is Your Name!

People:                 Who are we, and why are You so mindful of us? What are we, that causes You to care for us?

Herald:                 Let us join with God’s people across the world to worship and glorify Him this day. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide: Eternal Creator, whose Universe displays Your almighty power, we come before You as seekers looking for Your favor, and as servants awaiting Your wonderful presence. We call upon You to fill our lives with Your blessings, bounty, and beauty. Your words sustain and guide us; Your mercies pacify and relieve us; Your love strengthens and nurtures us.

People:                 Almighty God, forgive us for letting our faith diminish in times of trouble and fear. Pardon us for being prideful people and selfish sinners. When we neglect to help others or ignore opportunities to support their needs, have mercy upon us; challenge us and change our ways. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Gracious Lord, only Jesus can restore us to Your joy and make our lives complete. When we have selfishly yielded to temptation and succumbed to sin, only Christ can redeem and return us to Your blessing and favor. In Christ's Name, we make our confessions and continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ's teaching came directly from God and His words of forgiveness can be applied to all who seek His mercy and believe in the power of His Name. Therefore, let us be glad and rejoice, for Jesus is the Restorer of our souls and the Savior of our lives, both now and 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 The Lord knows who we are and loves us completely. God blesses all who revere and glorify His Holy Name. May He increase our strength and that of all our loved ones. May we each experience the blessings of encouragement, renewal, and healing from the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

People:                Everything belongs to You, O LORD; our lives, our loved ones, and our church are in Your hands. Please heal us and all of our loved ones from everything that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

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

Pastor:                 We will praise and bless the One, Triune, and Living God, whose compassion conquers our fears and whose faithfulness cares for our concerns. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 115)

Unison singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, help us to hear and receive all that Christ is communicating to each one of us through these sacred words. Challenge our opinions and ideas; change our wayward lives and selfish ways. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.                                 

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You have come among us, calming the worries of our hearts and giving peace to our anxious minds. We place these offerings and tithes before You, as symbols of our service and tokens of thanksgiving for the truth that You still proclaim. Take our lives and sanctify them to serve, honor, and worship You each and every day of our lives. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray.  Amen. 

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison):  May Christ grant us faith and endurance for all that we face this week; may the Father bless us with encouragement as we seek to fulfill His purposes; and may the Holy Spirit bestow unity, harmony, and peace upon us as we worship, witness, and work this week to the glory of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always.  Amen.

Doxology & Postlude