Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Christmas 2 Prayers: Sunday prayers for Epiphany - January 4

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude
Gathering Song

Call to Worship
Herald:                 May the Lord Who makes all things new, permit His Holy Presence to be with us today.
People:                 May our praises be acceptable to God; may our prayers be answered by Him.
Herald:                 Let us sing and rejoice; let us worship and glorify God! Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, as we enter this New Year, we pray for Your guidance and reassurance, Your presence and blessing in our lives. We know that our world is sustained by Your power, and we acknowledge that our lives are extended by Your grace. You have created us for Your pleasure, so enable us to find ways to faithfully and lovingly serve You.
People:                 Gracious Lord, we know that we have many failings and that our weaknesses cause us to drift away from You. We allow sin to corrupt our souls and permit greed to tarnish our lives. Forgive us for offending You by neglecting our faith. Pardon us for disappointing You by ignoring Your commands. Hear us now as we inwardly repent of our wrong ways and confess our selfish sins to You alone.
- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving Father, You gave Your Son Jesus to our world as the means of forgiveness for all of our sins. We know that there is no other salvation without Him; we understand that there is no other Savior except Him. Therefore, we place our lives into His hands and our souls into His keeping. We make our prayers in His Name and conclude with His own words, saying: “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                   As our Teacher, Christ reveals to us God’s words and ways; as our Savior, Jesus brings to us God’s mercy and grace. In Him, we are completely forgiven in order to be restored to God’s Kingdom and Love, 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, bestow Your favor upon us and restore our health through Your holy power. Relieve our fears and diminish our doubts; strengthen our bodies and heal our minds. Place Your peace within our hearts and grant Your unfailing love to our families and friends, in the midst of their troubles, illnesses, and crises.
People:                 May Your love rekindle our hopes; may Your faithfulness restore our health. May Your righteousness speed our recovery and may Your peace bestow well-being to our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our lives will experience healing and strength. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                 (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 85)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination
Reader:                 Holy Spirit, allow us to gladly receive God’s Word and accept the message given to us through the reading of them. May our spirits be encouraged and our lives inspired through this precious teaching. 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 called us to serve You by using our time, talents, and money to support the ministries and missions that You desire our church to accomplish. May our gifts be blessed and used to fulfill Your work throughout this congregation, around our community, and across the world. In Your Name, we cheerfully give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison):  May Christ’s light brighten our lives each day; may the Father’s love protect us from all harm; and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide and bless us, so that we may faithfully serve the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and evermore. Amen.


Doxology & Postlude

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