Monday, April 13, 2015

Easter 4 Sunday Prayers - April 26th

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements
Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  We come here to offer God our worship, our devotion, and our lives.   
People:                 Let the light of Your Face shine upon us, O Lord.
Pastor:                  May we be blessed by God’s presence and Christ’s Spirit throughout this sacred time. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting Father, whose deeds throughout the generations have sustained our people and whose ways across the centuries have enhanced our faith, we worship You this day and adore You forever. Your purposes are never upset and Your plans are always fulfilled, therefore we look to You for favor and blessing, as well as mercy and grace.
People:                 Immortal Lord, we know that we are weak and human, that our bodies are frail and our minds are constantly distracted. Forgive us when we allow our wants and desires to overcome our souls, causing damage to our spirits. Deliver us from deceitful and dishonorable deeds; pardon us for making poor choices and disregarding Your influence over our lives.  Hear us now as we silently confess our sins.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Almighty God, refresh us with Your loving kindness and restore us to Your Holy Son. May Christ claim authority over our lives, with the cleansing our souls and the renewing our faith in You. We make these requests in Jesus' Name and with His own holy words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER.” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Our Lord Jesus placed Himself in harm's way and died upon a lonely Cross, so that we can be forgiven and restored to God's love. We deserve God's punishment for our disobedience and defiance, yet Christ shields us from God's wrath and brings us back into His Holy Presence and Everlasting Favor. Therefore, let us rejoice and glorify our Savior 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)

Time for Stewardship

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us approach the Lord with praise and thanksgiving, for He has done marvelous things. The Lord has made His salvation known to us and revealed His righteousness to all our people.  May God remember His love for us as we present our petitions; may His faithfulness grant us courage and hope.
People:                 O Lord, listen to our prayers and have compassion for our lives. Heal our sicknesses and re-strengthen our health by Your gracious love. Be near to us and all our loved ones. Heal us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Let our hearts confidently resound in faith; let our hopes be realized through God's favor and blessing. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.            (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 98)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination
Reader:                 Holy Spirit, may Christ speak to us through the words of the Gospel. May all that You inspired to be written about Jesus become holy and sacred, as well as meaningful and mighty in each of our lives today. In Jesus' Name, we ask. Amen

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, may we excel in faithfulness, as we give these gifts to build up the church. May we eagerly serve You with our time, talents, and treasures, as we contribute our resources, lives, and money to You this day. Bless this offering and guide us to use it wisely for the life, work, and ministry of Your Kingdom here on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ write His ways across our hearts; may the Father teach us to worship Him reverently; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to continually confess our faith in the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.


Doxology & Postlude

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