Sunday Worship Prayers - Advent 4 - Fourth in Advent - Dec 18

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Call to Light the Advent Wreath

Family: The season of Advent continues. Today we shall be lighting the candle of love.

Congregation: No other word so completely describes what we know of our God.  For God so loved the world that a child was given....God's love in human form.

Family:            We wait in hope and peace, and with joy.

The two purple candles and the pink candle are lit

Family: We light the candle of love to proclaim that God's love is revealed in the Child born in Bethlehem.

Congregation:            We are challenged to proclaim and
reveal that same love as we live out our faith here in this area.

The purple candle is lit

Family:            We give thanks for a love that passes our human understanding.

Congregation:            We await once more the birth of God's enduring love this Christmas. In Christ’s Sacred Name, we hope, wait, love, and pray. Amen

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Heavenly Father, we gather as Your people and children, seeking to delight You with our prayers and music, as well as our praises and worship. We come before You as humble servants, thankful for our lives and grateful for Your blessings.

People:           Merciful Lord, we know that we are sometimes rebellious and wayward, and that we do not make the best choices each day. We confess that we are sometimes unwilling to listen to Your words and constantly ignore Your commands. We are guilty of being unholy and unfaithful, unworthy and ungodly. We keep allowing pride and prejudice, anger and greed, arrogance and envy to diminish our faith and contaminate our souls. Hear us now as we make our sorrowful confessions to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Loving Father, You gave Jesus to us to become our only Savior and Perfect Redeemer. He can save us from our sins and restore us to Your grace. We ask for Your mercy in His Name. Without Christ's power, we would be doomed forever. Without His love, we would be eternally lost. In His precious words, we continue our prayers, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER"  (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:              Christ taught us everything about God's grace and offered Himself as the Supreme Sacrifice for all of our sins. Death cannot seize us forever, for we have been liberated by Christ's blood and reinstated to God's pleasure, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung 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:             O Lord, our God, we take refuge in You; save and deliver us from all that harms us. When pain reduces us to tears, or fear overwhelms our souls, grant us comfort and peace.

People:           O Lord, if we have brought harm and suffering upon ourselves, grant us mercy and relief. When we seek peace of mind and strength to overcome weariness, be near to us, O Lord.

Pastor:             O Lord God Most High, You are the shield of our hearts and the sustainer of our lives. Hear our pleas for healing and bestow upon our loved ones health and wholeness, recovery and restoration. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             We will give thanks to God for His righteousness and give praise to the Lord Most High.  In Jesus' Name, we make these prayers. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 7)

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, we are heirs to the Lord's covenant and His chosen people. Let these sacred words penetrate our hearts and minds, so that our spirits and souls may be strengthened through the teaching, love and grace of Christ. In His Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we are saved through Your Gospel when we firmly hold to the words You have preached. Strengthen our beliefs and personal commitment to You. Take these tithes and gifts for the service of the Kingdom, the preaching of Your Word and the glorifying of God's Name.  In Your Presence, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ flow into our lives and enhance our faith; may the Father comfort and strengthen us every day; and may the Holy Spirit empower and enable us to worship and witness to the One, True and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Advent 3 - Third in Advent - Dec 11

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Call to Light the Advent Wreath

Family: Today - the third Sunday in Advent, we hear from the writer of the Psalm and the prophet Isaiah.
Congregation: We hear of a world where even the desert sings, rejoices and blossoms.

Family:            A world where eyes will see and ears will hear; where everyone will want to dance and sing for joy. We watch and wait for these signs of the in-breaking of God's kingdom.
Congregation:            We wait in hope and peace, and with joy.

(Two purple candles are relit)

Family:            The God in whom we rejoice, prepares our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We light the candle of joy.

(The pink candle is lit)

Family:            God of grace and truth, may our spirits rejoice in the forthcoming birth of Christ, our Savior, in whom we are privileged to experience Your mercy and see Your glory.

Congregation:            May this house of prayer become a sanctuary of joy. May our hearts and spirits be lifted up through the praising and glorifying of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is yet to come amongst us again. Amen.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide: Almighty God, whose words of hope have been written across the universe as signatures of Your salvation and guarantees of Your grace, we rejoice at being in Your presence and are glad to worship You.

You know all things and see the years yet to come, therefore we acknowledge Your authority over our lives and proclaim You as Sovereign over all creation.

People:           Gracious Father, we confess our selfish feelings and faithless ways. We regret our past mistakes and sinful deeds. Instead of wanting to witness to Your glorious kingdom, we waste our lives on fulfilling our own desires. Forgive us for casting You aside when we make important decisions. Forgive us for casting others aside when they need our help. And pardon us for setting aside Your commands when we are under pressure, deeply troubled, or worried. Hear us now as we make our confessions to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Compassionate Father, without Your mercy, we would meander through life and drift into the darkness of death without any hope. Because of Your Son Jesus and through His sacrifice, we can be redeemed from our sins and restored to Your kingdom. We praise You for sending Jesus into the world and for giving Him authority over our lives. In His Name, we offer our confessions and with His own words we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father...” THE LORD’S PRAYER  (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Christ came to reveal to us the mercy of God and to grant us the opportunity of being restored to His Father. He alone can bring us this everlasting hope, and in Him, we can find eternal salvation. So let us praise our Savior's Name, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri(sung 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:             Be merciful to us, O Lord, in the midst of our troubles. Heal us from all that harms us. When we get anxious about our lives, grant us peace. When we become impatient with our issues, grant us strength.

People:           Turn to us, O Lord, and deliver us; save us because of Your unfailing love. When we are worn out from worrying, and crushed by our concerns, take us by the hand and help us to overcome our fears.

Pastor:             When we are weak with sorrow and beset with problems, have mercy on us, O Lord. We bring before You all our loved ones, who need Your strength and compassion, Your care and healing. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:             The Lord has heard our cries for healing. The Lord accepts our prayers. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 6)

           

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, we have come to worship God in this holy place and we seek to become His servants. As we hear these sacred words, open our hearts and minds, as well as our spirits and souls to Christ’s teaching. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You brought to us the Gospel and now welcome us into God's Kingdom. You empower us to serve You and to use our gifts to glorify Your ways. Take our tithes and offerings, and bless them for the holy work of Your Church on Earth.  In Your Sacred Name, we give and pray. Amen.  

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ continue to comfort us in the midst of our troubles; may the Father embrace us each and every day; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to share these blessings with others, to the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology         May God's Blessing & Postlude