Thursday, January 29, 2015

Sunday Prayers - Lent 1 - Feb 22

Approaching God

Welcome & Church Announcements

Prelude
Gathering Song

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Everlasting God, we approach You with awe and reverence; we gather together in humility and service. Your Hands have formed our universe and Your Will sustains our lives. What are we that You are mindful of us? Who are we to receive Your compassion and care?

People:                 Gracious and Merciful Lord, nothing is hidden from Your gaze and no secrets can be kept from Your heart. We have frequently sinned and selfishly squandered our lives on greed, power, desire, and deceit. We have neglected our faith and spoken harsh words. We have by-passed people in need and put You to the back of our minds. We are guilty of many sins, so we seek Your grace and ask for mercy. Hear us now as we solemnly pray.
- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving Father, we are unworthy to receive Your love and yet You have given us Your Son Jesus. He died for our mistakes. He took the punishment due for our sins and sacrificed Himself for all the wrong things that we have ever said and done. Without Jesus as our Savior, we remain unforgiven. Without Christ’s obedience, we are unrestored. Hear us now as we unite our hearts with His, through Christ’s own words, saying “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” – (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide:                  Christ knows all of our secrets and everything that goes on in our minds, hearts, and lives. Only He can fully offer us salvation. Only He can restore us to the One, True, and Living God. When we honestly believe in Him and sincerely confess our sins, He is willing to forgive us and bring us back to God. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus has pardoned our foolish ways and re-established our relationship with the LORD, both now and always. 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:                 Lord God, You have been our spiritual dwelling place and our physical healing source throughout all generations. Your existence sustains our lives and Your love strengthens our souls.
People:                 Have compassion upon us, O Lord, and heal all of our loved ones. Satisfy our prayers with Your unfailing love, so that we may praise and glorify You every day. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: May the favor of the LORD rest upon us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, open our hearts to Christ’s teaching, and enable us to spread His message among the people that we know and love, through applying these sacred words in our everyday lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we witness to Your ministry through all that we do. Today, we gather this offering as a true token of our faith and loving response to Your sacred words. Take these gifts and bless them for Your continuing work and ways among us. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction(unison):  May Christ strengthen us with faith, hope, and love; may the Father look down upon us with compassion and care; and may the Holy Spirit inspire and lead us into the presence of the One, Triune, and Living God, where we shall live forevermore. Amen.


Doxology & Postlude

No comments: