Sunday Prayers January 10 - Epiphany 1

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  Come, let us seek the peace of Christ and love of God.

People:                 May the Lord give us strength in this place of praise and prayer.

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

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Creator, we gather in Your Holy House to praise Your Greatness and honor Your Name. Your works and mighty acts have blessed our people for generations. Your ways and sacred words have inspired our spirits across the centuries.

People:  Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that we are unworthy of Your blessing. You are righteous, but we are sinful. You are powerful and truthful; we are weak and deceitful. Our lives are imperfect because we allow pride, greed, and anger to contaminate our souls. Forgive us for being shallow and selfish, as well as faithless and false. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving Lord, may You make smooth our rough ways and level out our unbalanced lives. Allow Christ to make our ways straight and lead us on the right path. With His mercy, we are restored to You forever. With His grace, we are completely forgiven. We eternally thank You for Jesus, in whose Name we make our confessions and continue to pray saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Long ago, many disciples rejected Jesus because of what He said and did. The Christian life is never easy and we are expected to have higher and holier standards than the rest of the world. When we fail to live up to Christ’s teaching, we need to seek His forgiveness. When we confess our faults and sincerely ask for His pardon, Jesus immediately forgives us. So let us rejoice and be glad, for we have been shown great mercy and are restored to God’s favor and love. 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.

Anthem

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Praise Song

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Hear, O LORD, and answer us, for we are poor in spirit and in need of Your care. Guard our lives and protect us from illness, for we are devoted to You. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we call to You alone for health and healing. Grant joy to us, Your servants, as we lift up our prayers and bring to You our burdens.

People:                 O Lord, You are compassionate and good, abounding in love to all who call on You. Hear our prayers, and listen to our personal concerns. Heal us and each of our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 In the day of our trouble we will call to You, O Heavenly Lord, for You will compassionately answer us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 86)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, encourage us through the reading of these sacred scriptures and open our hearts to receive God’s word. Encourage us with this teaching and enable us to embrace all that God fulfills in the life of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, we read and pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You have given us faith, hope, and everlasting love, so we can never repay You for the eternal debts that we owe. In faith, we gather this offering and bring to You our gifts. With hope, we ask for Your blessing on these tokens. Through love, we seek Your favor and pray for guidance to use this offering for the preaching of the gospel, the sharing of the scriptures, and the praising of our God. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (unison):  May Christ help us to live faithful lives which are worthy of His Name; may the Father encourage  us to share our faith through charitable acts; and may the Holy Spirit fill us with compassion and love, to make the world a better place, both now and evermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday January 03 prayers - Christmas 2C

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  The Lord our God has said, “Behold I make all things new!”

People:                 We pledge our hearts to Him and devote our lives to God’s Kingdom.

Pastor:                  May we glorify the Lord with our thoughts, words, and deeds. In Christ’s Name. Amen!

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, to whom this world owes its existence and through whom the whole universe is sustained, we seek to serve You with our worship and hope to please You with our praises. We humbly approach You as Your people, opening our hearts to Your gracious love and focusing our minds upon Your holy presence.

People:                 Merciful Father, we know our own weaknesses and our habitual mistakes. We acknowledge our faithless ways and inconsistent devotion. We have trampled on the feelings of others with thoughtless words, harmful deeds, and selfish choices. Forgive us now as we humbly and sincerely confess our grievous faults to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Almighty God, we know that only Jesus can pardon our sins and grant the forgiveness that we continually need. Only Your Precious Son can restore us to Your Favor and reclaim our souls for Your Kingdom. In His Holy Name, we bring our confessions and make these prayers, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ speaks to us individually through His teaching of God’s Holy Word. He calls us to repentance and seeks to save our souls by sacrificing Himself. When we honestly confess our sins and sincerely depend upon Him to rescue us, we will be completely forgiven and eternally reconciled to God. In Christ’s Name, we gratefully pray. 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.

Anthem

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 O Loving Lord, may Your favor be graciously shown to Your people by restoring our health through Your holy power. Forgive our faithless fears and diminish our doubts. Please strengthen our bodies and bring peace to our minds.

People:                 Gracious God, restore us to Your mercy and let Your holiness abide within our hearts. Please allow Your unfailing love to be experienced by our families and friends. Grant them deliverance from illness, depression, or pain. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 May the LORD indeed give what is good, so that 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, help us to accept the fact that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus, for there is no other being under heaven given to us by God, through whom we can be saved. May today’s scriptures enhance our spiritual awareness and plant this precious teaching in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we do not fully understand all that happens in this world but we know that Your Spirit continues to inspire many people to do good, help the poor, and support the weak. May our gifts be blessed and used to advance Your ministry, life, and work throughout this church, our community, and across the world. In Your Sacred Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison):  May Christ’s light brighten our hearts each day; may the Father’s love inspire and encourage us to bless our loved ones; and may the Holy Spirit guide and help us to become effective servants of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and evermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers Dec 27 - Christmas 1C

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  As the Lord’s Name is praised over all the Earth, may we also offer Him our worship.

People:                 May we come into His presence, singing songs of salvation and declaring His deeds.

Pastor:                  Let us rejoice, for Christ is our Redeemer and we are united to Him forever. Amen.

Hymn   

               

End of Year Litany Prayer

Guide:                  Eternal God, we exist in Your universe and are sustained by Your grace.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Forgive us for the sins we have selfishly committed throughout this year.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Pardon us for any pain we have caused; for any harm we have done.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Forgive us for telling lies, speaking harshly, and expressing anger.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Pardon our moments of pride and stubbornness; our times of bitterness and rancor.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Forgive our greedy and selfish ways; our self-centered moments and self-absorbed lifestyles.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Pardon our neglect of those in need, as well as our uncharitable thoughts and deeds.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Forgive our prejudices and judgmentalism, as well as our lack of love and understanding.

People:                 By Your mercy, we are forgiven; with Your love, we are restored.

Guide:                  Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

Silence

Guide:                  By Your mercy, we are forgiven.  All: With Your love, we are restored. Amen.

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus is the Savior of our souls and the redeemer of our lives. His presence make a vast difference concerning who we are, what we do, and what we have still to accomplish. He restores us to God because He sacrificed His life on our behalf. Therefore, let us be glad and rejoice, for Christ is our Everlasting Lord and Mighty King 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.

Anthem

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  O Living Lord, whenever we have been foolish and disappointed You, please forgive us. If we have been selfish and angered You, be merciful to us. Gracious Father, help us to be aware that sometimes we suffer sickness and experience illness because of our selfish ways and sinful habits.

People:                 O Loving Lord, moments of pain and isolation, fear and anxiety, even guilt and worry, overwhelm our spirits, damage our souls, weaken our bodies, and stifle our minds. Our faith can be feeble and our confidence is sometimes crushed. We need You, Lord, to save us from all that attacks us, and heal us from all that harms us. Hear us now, as we silently pray.

               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  Come quickly to us and help us, O Lord, our God and Savior. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 38)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts and minds for the promises of the Lord, which are revealed to us through these sacred scriptures. Help us to accept the wisdom of God’s ways, so that we may apply these lessons to our lives and teach them to each succeeding generation in this church and community. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

Sermon

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):                       Lord Jesus, despite our weaknesses, You still love us. Despite our failings, You still forgive us. In response to the abundant riches of Your Grace, we gather before You these gifts of our gratitude. Accept and bless them for the holy work of this church. Sanctify this offering for Your ministries and missions, which You have called upon us to begin, continue, and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.   

Hymn                                   

Benediction (unison):                    May Christ continue to bless us loving and faithful ways; may the Father guide us in His goodness and love; and may the Holy Spirit inspire us each day and direct our devotion toward the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude     

Sunday Prayers for Advent 4C - December 20

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Advent 4 Reader: “As soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

All:    In the beginning was the Word—spoken and breathed, a promise made and kept. God’s promise is true! The Word was in the beginning, and through Him all things come into being.

Advent 4 Reader:     Eternal and near at hand, already and not-yet, God’s promise is the foundation of all life. Trust in God! Wait with faith, giving voice to Christ’s love for all.

~3 purple candles and pink Joy candle are lit~

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal Lord of Life, we come before You as people seeking Your favor, and as servants devoted to Your Kingdom. We personally place our trust in You, for You are our rock and refuge, our shield and salvation, as  well as our gracious redeemer and loving guide.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we have wandered from Your ways and rebelled against Your righteousness. We have sometimes chosen to embrace our pride and greed, as well as living out our fallen ideals and selfish sins. We have placed our faith in our own strength and set aside Your truth. Forgive us for being faithless and foolish, unholy and unworthy. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful God, we regret our past mistakes and humbly look to Jesus for our salvation. We turn away from our guilty sins and seek Christ to renew our lives. Help us to remain united with Him. In His Holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ was sent by our Heavenly Father to save the world from sin. He sacrificed Himself so that we may be given the opportunity of being forgiven and restored to God’s favor and grace. Without Jesus, we have no hope of avoiding the wrath of God. With Christ, we are spiritually purified and eternally pardoned, therefore we will rejoice in His power and Holy Name, 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.

Anthem

Minute for Mission

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Eternal Lord, in the midst of this sanctuary, our souls yearn for Your Favor, and our hearts cry out for healing. Bless us, Living God, for we have set our hearts on You and trust You for recovery and strength.

People:                 Hear our prayers, O LORD God Almighty; listen to us, O God of Jacob. Look upon Your people, O God, gathered here in Your Name. Look upon us with mercy and compassion.

Pastor:                 For You, Heavenly Father, fill us with hope and help us through each day. Do not withhold Your power from us, and graciously heal our loved ones from their sickness and pain, anxiety and depression, illnesses and injuries. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Everlasting God, blessed are those who trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 84)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, enable us to be open to Christ’s teaching through the reading of these sacred scriptures. Heal us of the past and lead us now by His active presence in our lives. May we experience Christ being born in our spirits this day and forevermore. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You are the Perfect One, so our lives are transformed by Your mercy and grace. In return, we pledge to You our souls and dedicate our time, talents and treasures to You alone. Take these gifts and bless them for Your work in the world, as well as Your ministry among us. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction(unison):  May Christ enable us to truly love our neighbors each day; may the Father help us to support one another with mercy and grace; and may the Holy Spirit lead us to fulfill God’s law through being servants of His Kingdom and disciples of Christ, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Prayers for Advent 3C - December 13

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Advent 3 Reader:             “Sing praises to the Lord, for He has done gloriously; let this be known in all the Earth. Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

All:    In the beginning was the Word—spoken and breathed, a promise made and kept. God’s promise is true! The Word was in the beginning, and through Him all things come into being.

Advent 3 Reader:     Eternal and near at hand, already and not-yet, God’s promise is the foundation of all life. Keep going! Persevere in joy, giving voice to God’s presence yet again.

~2 Purple candle and pink Joy candle are lit~

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Everlasting God, who sets the stars on their courses and sustains the entire universe, we praise and worship You from the depths of our hearts. We thank You for sharing Your wonders with us; we glorify You for granting us life, learning, and love.

People:                 Loving Lord, we seek Your peace and yearn for the blessings of Your favor. We know that we are not worthy of Your devotion, for we are weak and sinful creatures, subject to fear and full of sin. We have neglected to help other people and have declined opportunities to witness to Your Word. Forgive us for being fearful and timid servants. Hear us now as we personally confess our failings.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Gracious Father, keep us constant in our faith and committed to Your Holy Son Jesus. He alone has provided for our salvation; He alone has the authority to forgive our sins and restore us to Your Favor. In His Holy Name, we pray saying:  “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)”

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  By accepting Jesus as the Savior of our lives, we can be acquitted of our sins and accepted into God’s Kingdom. By being faithful to Christ alone, we are received into His Spirit and He remains within us at all times. Let us rejoice and be glad, for we are a forgiven and favored people, 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.

Anthem

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 O Lord our God, do not be far from us or remain inactive when we pray to You for healing. In the midst of our troubles, calm our souls with Your presence and strengthen our hearts with Your promises.

People:                 Gracious Lord, when we are unsettled and fearful in our lives, be our shield and firm foundation. When we face distress or discomfort, as well as pain or sickness, be our Comforter and Savior. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 O LORD our God, You alone are the Most High over all the Earth and have the power to answer and fulfill our prayers. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 83)

Singing of “Sanctuary”

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, hold us accountable for all that we do today. Let these sacred scriptures fill our hearts and minds, so that we can apply the challenges and lessons Christ grants to us. In the Name of Jesus, we humbly pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we freely give these gifts to enable us to support the life and work of our church. Empower us to do everything that You require of us in ministry and mission. Help us to prayerfully and cheerfully give of ourselves, as well as our assets to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction(unison):  May Christ help us to love one another; may the Father enable us to care for one another; and may the Holy Spirit equip us to support and bless one another; in the Name of the One, Triune, and Living God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude