Sunday Prayers - Ordinary Time 10 - June 7th

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us approach the Lord and await His holy presence.

People:                 We praise God for His mercy, peace, and love.

Pastor:                  Let us worship our King and glorify His Everlasting Name! Amen.

Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                 Almighty God, in whose presence we live and by whose will we are sustained, we humbly seek to worship You with our words of prayer and songs of salvation. You are the Father of all the Earth and Lord of all living beings, therefore we give glory to You alone.

People:                 Gracious Lord, sometimes our mistakes have disappointed You and our sinful ways have affected our faith. We are far from perfect and often allow our selfish motives to influence our choices and lives. Please forgive our wrongdoing and pardon our misdeeds. Hear us now as we silently make our personal confessions to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, we place our lives into Your hands by giving our hearts to Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. His death has bought us our salvation. His sacrifice has allowed us to be restored to Your favor and grace. We make these prayers in Jesus’ Name, and unite our souls with Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus, through the love of His Father, gives us access to Heaven. By Christ’s wounded body, our broken ways are healed; by His perfect obedience, we are reclaimed by God. Therefore, let us cheerfully rejoice, for our sins are completely forgiven, 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)

Praise Song

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Deliver us from what we fear, O God, and protect us from our troubles. We are both human and frail, O Lord, vulnerable to attacks on our bodies, in our minds, and within our hearts. Arise and help us; look upon us with mercy.

People:                 O LORD, You are the God of our people; please guard us from any illness or disease; deliver us from sickness and pain. Loving Lord, become our Strength, as we seek Your favor and blessing. May we experience Your healing and praise You for Your love, especially in times of uncertainty or trouble. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 O God, You are our constant help and strength. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.             

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 59)

Anthem

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, may we embrace the words of Christ and be encouraged by His words and deeds. May our hearts embrace Him, and may our minds be filled with His Holy Peace. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your work that is being undertaken, supported, and accomplished in this church. We have heard Your challenges to us through the preaching of the Gospel. Take these simple gifts, the tokens of our gratitude, and bless them for the purposes of Your Kingdom in ministry, mission, service and stewardship to glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to actively unite as one body of faithful believers in this holy place; may the Father give strength to our entire congregation and nurture our church; and may the Holy Spirit help us to see that we all belong to God, so that we may support one another in the service of His Everlasting Kingdom. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Trinity Sunday Prayers - May 31st

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us worship and glorify God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit!

People:                 We lift up our hearts and voices in praise of the Glorious Trinity.

Pastor:                  May our songs, prayers, and praise and be acceptable to the One, Triune, and Living God. Amen.

Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Creator, whose ways are often mysterious, but whose love is widely known, we come here to serve and honor You with our songs of salvation and hymns of holiness. You sustain the universe by Your mighty word and we are truly blessed to be the followers of Your Son, and the children of Your grace.

People:                 Merciful Father, we confess that our lives are still tainted by sin and selfish desires. We allow our pride to damage our relationships with You and other people. We set aside Your words of wisdom when we want to get our own way. We deceive ourselves and make foolish choices. We discard our faith to suit our decisions. Forgive us, Holy Lord, for wandering away from You, as well as for separating ourselves from our loved ones and family of faith. Hear us now as we inwardly confess our mistakes to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious God, we are unworthy of Your pardon and undeserving of Your forgiveness. We humbly thank You for sending Jesus into the world to die for our sins, so that we may be restored to Your Kingdom. In His Sacred Name, we make our confessions and now gratefully pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  We cannot command Christ to pardon us for our sins. We can only confess our faults and then put our lives into His hands.  Our hope of absolution and salvation comes from Christ alone, so let us anticipate this great miracle in each of our lives - the miracle of Christ’s complete forgiveness and eternal restoration.  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:                 Let us humbly come before the Living Lord of all the Earth. Let us bring before God with our personal prayers and Individual pleas. We know that the Lord has made us and that He can grant us peace and strength, help and healing. We remain in this holy place and wait for hope. We seek the Lord's favor for ourselves and all our loved ones.

People:                 We know that the Lord is good and His love endures forever. He is faithful and gracious to all His people. We ask God for health and healing, peace and calm, as well as strength and salvation to come to us. May the Lord heal us, and all for whom we pray, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. May God hear us now as we quietly pray.

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

Pastor:                 We remember the promises of God and praise Him for His love which endures both here on Earth and Heaven. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.    (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 100)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, kingdoms and nations may rise and fall, but Christ's words will outlast all of them. Teach us His precious lesson for today and as we hear these sacred Scriptures, may we faithfully receive, ponder, and apply them in our daily lives. Through the Name of Jesus, our Lord and Anointed One, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You have blessed us in many ways to make our lives faithful and fruitful. Take these tithes and offerings that we cheerfully give to You. Set them aside for the preaching of the Gospel, the teaching of the truth, and the healing of Your people. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction(unison):     May Christ enable us to be supportive to one another through His grace; may the Father fill our hearts and sprits His amazing love; and may the Holy Spirit endow our souls with strength, faith, and charity, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Pentecost Sunday Prayers - May 24

(You can also find some of my bulletin cover art for Pentecost at this link: Pentecost Art.)

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Let us come before the Lord with cheerful hearts and voices filled with praise.

People:                 We will worship God freely and openly, as well as humbly and faithfully.

Pastor:                  May our songs of faith and devotional prayers be acceptable to You, O Living Lord. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting Majesty and Lord of all Creation, we come here to praise Your Holy Name. We lift up our hearts to cheerfully rejoice in Your sacred presence. Throughout the Earth, billions of people are blessing and glorifying Your presence in their lives. Today, we gladly join them in the worship of Your ways and the praising of Your deeds.

People:                 Gracious Father, we know that our lives are imperfect and that we make disappointing mistakes. We confess to being selfish, proud, and faithless; stubborn, greedy, and insensitive; as well as angry, bitter, and spiteful.

Guide:                  Heavenly Lord, forgive us when temptation troubles our souls and sin separates us from You. Pardon us for neglecting our responsibilities, as well as carelessly casting aside our faith. To You alone, we bring our personal confessions and seek Your mercy through Your Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, without Christ’s sacrifice, we would have no one to restore us to Your favor. We would still be subject to Your wrath, with no hope of entering Your everlasting Kingdom. Humbly and thankfully, we make our confessional prayers in the Name of Jesus, our Only Savior and True Lord. In His precious words, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).”

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus, through the amazing love of His Father, gives us the key to Heaven. By Christ’s wounded body, our broken ways are healed; through His perfect obedience, we are reclaimed by God. So let us cheerfully rejoice, for our sins are completely forgiven, 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Be merciful to us, O God, for in You our souls take refuge. We cry out to You, O God Most High, for You both create and fulfill the purposes of our lives. Release us from our fears through the power of Your faithful love. In the midst of our anxieties and troubles, grant us peace. From the discomfort of our illnesses and the suffering we endure, heal us, O Lord.

People:                 Let Your goodness and grace be experienced in our lives and those of all our loved ones as we seek healing from all that damages us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Deliver us and all whom we pray for this day from distress, disease, depression, or despair. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Great is Your love, O Lord, reaching from the farthest heavens into the very core of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.              (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 57)

A Time to Remember & Silence

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, may we embrace these Scriptures and be led into Your beautiful presence. May we be filled with wonder and thanksgiving by all that Christ has done. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we all have special gifts and talents, just as we all have different resources and treasures. When we combine them by gathering them before You, we glorify Your work and continue to proclaim Your Name. Take all that we offer this day, along with our lives, and bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church, which You have called us to support and advance in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ keep us united to His body so that we may accomplish great things together in His Name; may the Father sustain us as members of Christ’s church, so that we may honor His Kingdom; and may the Holy Spirit grant us a new vision, so that we may proclaim the purposes of God for this church and community, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Easter 7 Sunday prayers - May 17

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Almighty God, we come to worship You in this holy place of prayer and praise.
People:                 We thank You for calling us here, where we can freely worship and serve You.

Pastor:                  May our songs and praises, prayers and devotions be acceptable to You. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, we thank You for creating Life and sustaining our planet. We praise You for bringing us together as a community of faith and a church of Your Kingdom. Your ways are always fulfilled and Your works declare Your glory each day. We are blessed to be alive and to be here in Your Sacred Presence.

People:                 Merciful Lord, You know that we constantly struggle with temptation and often succumb to our self-centered desires. Instead of serving You, we serve ourselves. Instead of helping others, we mainly help ourselves. Save us from our sinful and selfish ways. We seek Your forgiveness and humbly ask for Your grace. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Gracious God, without having Jesus as our Savior, we would be cast away from Your presence forever. Without His powerful sacrifice, we would have no opportunity to be forgiven, or ever be restored to Your everlasting kingdom. Thank You for sending Jesus to us, and for the constant gift of the Holy Spirit, who guides and counsels us. We make these prayers in Christ's Name and through His own words continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus challenged the people, rulers, and leaders of His day to repent of their sins and be restored to God. Today, we face the same challenges from Christ, therefore we have humbly confessed our sins and sought His mercy. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and we are all accepted by God.

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.

Kids Sermon

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us come to the Lord and seek His blessings; let us dwell in His presence and abide in God’s love. May the Lord grant us health and healing, as well as strength and support. May the fruits of our prayers enhance our faith and increase our devotion to God.

People:                 May our loved ones and siblings, as well as our families and friends, receive help and power, energy and strength to overcome their illnesses or crises, their troubles or worries. O Lord, we seek peace for our souls, health for our hearts, and strength for our bodies, and wholeness for our minds.

Pastor:                  Gracious God, may we be granted Your healing mercies. May we experience Your Holy Spirit among us and be restored physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Hear us now as we silently pray, for our loved ones and neighbors, our families and ourselves.

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

Pastor:                  May the LORD favor us with His blessings of health and strength. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 128)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’.

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, You inspired the disciples of long ago to spread Christ's Good News and to proclaim the victory of God's Kingdom over all the Earth. Lift up our spirits in the same ways and rekindle our faith through the reading, hearing, and applying of these sacred words. In Christ's Name, we ask.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we have sang Your praises and received Your message this day. We have been empowered by Your Spirit and embraced by God. Take these gifts and tokens, tithes and offerings as our cheerful response to Your Word and our grateful thanks for Your Love. Bless them for the continuing work of the Gospel, the glorifying of God's Kingdom and the praising of Your Everlasting Name. Amen. 

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ continue to welcome us into His heart; may the Father constantly enhance our faith in Him; and may the Holy Spirit challenge us each day, so that we may glorify, worship, and serve the One, Triune, and Living God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Easter 6 - Sunday Worship prayers - May 10

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  We have gathered in this holy house, so let us praise God’s Sacred Name.

People:                 We are blessed to be called God’s people and are pleased to be God’s children.

Pastor:                  Let us humbly worship together and proclaim God’s greatness forevermore. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal Creator of Life, whose precious words gave birth to the Universe and whose wonderful ways sustain this planet that we call Earth, we approach You with our prayers and praises, asking that You will hear our petitions and be pleased with our songs of salvation.

People:                 Loving Lord, Your power is displayed throughout this planet, for Your presence can never be diminished nor ignored. We give You thanks for being mindful of our needs, our concerns, as well as our cares. We confess that we are guilty of wrongdoing and have omitted to do what is right. We have nursed our wrath and spoken unkind words. We have disappointed our loved ones and broken our promises to them.

Guide:                  Gracious God, forgive our selfish ways by granting us Your pardon. We regret the mistakes we have made, the disappointments we have caused, the duties we have neglected, and the opportunities we have wasted. Help us to rediscover Your goodness in our lives by humbly yielding our hearts to Your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers of confession. Thank You for bringing Jesus into our lives, whose sacrifice has canceled all our sins and created clean hearts, new lives, and faithful spirits within us all. Hear us now as we pray Christ’s own words saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER.” (Debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus is the Source of Life for our souls, which strengthens our spirits. He alone has the power and authority to forgive our sins, so we may be restored to God’s favor and grace. Therefore, let us celebrate His goodness and glorify His 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Stewardship Minute for Mission

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Be merciful to us, O God, for our worries constantly burden us.  Each week, we have different pressures, so when we are anxious, help us to trust in You. Diminish our fears and grant us peace of mind. We place our lives, our loved ones, our prayers and concerns into Your healing hands.

People:                 As we pledge ourselves to Your Kingdom, we humbly ask that You will heal us, and all whom we pray for, from all that harms us in body, mind, soul, and spirit. Deliver us from despair and keep us from being fearful or frustrated. Hear us now as we personally pray.

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

Pastor:                 May we walk before the Lord in the light of life and God’s love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.               

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 56)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, may we walk with Christ as we read and hear these sacred scriptures. May we be drawn nearer to Him, so that we may praise and glorify His wonderful ministry on Earth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we all belong to Your body of believers and so we are each called to honor and bless Your continuing work in the world. Take our gifts and set them apart for the life, ministry, and mission of this congregation, as well as Your Church here on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ’s grace keep us humble and faithful; may the Father’s blessings keep us thankful and grateful; and may the Holy Spirit keep us loving and serving the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude