Sunday Worship Prayers - Lent 4C - 10 March

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Loving God, we come into Your House of praise and prayer; accept our songs and worship.

People:                 We are called to be in Your presence and seek to please You with our devotion.

Youth:                   Come among us, Holy Lord, and bless each of us here today. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                 Sovereign Lord of the Universe and Gracious God of our hearts, we praise Your glorious ways and bless Your wonderful deeds. You are the One, True, and Living God. We are honored to be called into Your Holy Presence. We feel favored to gather in Your Holy House.

People:                 Loving Lord of Life, You created the Earth and watch over our entire planet. You know that we are human and frail, prone to pride and drawn to sin. Forgive our faults and pardon our past mistakes. Have mercy upon us for we are foolish and faithless at times, overcome by greed and vanity, temptation and trouble. Hear us now as we humbly confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, enable us to honor Your Name by placing Christ at the center of our lives. May His Passion free us from our sins. May His sacrifice restore us to Your Favor. For we make our confessions in Christ’s Name and through His own words, we unite our hearts in prayer, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (DEBTS/DEBTORS)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ opens our eyes to the consequences of our sins. By giving His life for us, He shows us how seriously God deals with our selfish and deceitful mistakes. Thankfully, He also opens the gates of eternal freedom to those who come to Him sincerely seeking forgiveness, peace, and love. By the power of His blood, we receive mercy and are restored to God’s favor. Therefore, in Christ’s Name, let us rejoice and 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.

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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Hear our cries, O God; listen to our heartfelt prayers. Deep within our souls, we call to You. When we are weak and our hearts are troubled, be the rock of our salvation.

People:                 You are our refuge and our strength against all things which harm us in body, mind, heart and soul. We seek to dwell in Your healing presence and look to You to keep us safe from illness and injury, disease and despair, pain and suffering.

Pastor:                 We call upon You for ourselves, our loved ones, and those whom we know need Your help. May Your love and faithfulness protect all of us and may our loved ones experience Your peace and blessing, Your hope and healing. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 May we sing praise to the One, True, and Living God, whose compassionate healing is given and fulfilled in each of our lives this day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.    

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 61)

Singing of “Sanctuary"

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, lift up our hearts and help us to see the real Jesus in the midst of these scriptures. Reveal to us His teaching for our lives, and help us to apply what we learn from Him today.  In Christ’s Sacred Name, we pray. Amen. 

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (infusion – led by pastor):    Lord Jesus, You have revealed to us Your ways through the Living Word of the scriptures. In response, we gather together our tithes and offerings, placing them into Your keeping. We ask that You will bless these tokens and enable us to use them for the many ministries and missions You have called us to pursue and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Christ help us to regard each day as holy and special; may the Father continue to bless our needs and strengthen our souls; and may the Holy Spirit teach us to live our lives in thankfulness to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayer - Lent 4 - Fourth in Lent - March 18

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:             Hear us, O Shepherd of the Nations, who leads us as His faithful flock.

People:           Awaken our spirits and come among us in a mighty and powerful way.

Youth:             Restore us, O God, and let Your face shine upon us, as we worship and glorify You.

First Hymn:

Guide:              Loving Lord, whose mighty acts and wondrous deeds reveal to us Your power, creativity and sovereignty over the entire universe, we praise and adore You as our Creator and King. Your ways have been known to our people across the centuries and throughout all nations; we humbly approach You with reverence, dedication, and devotion.

People:           Gracious God, each day of our lives, You seek to instruct us and guide us by Your holy counsel. Sometimes we foolishly ignore Your advice and seek to do our own selfish things. Forgive our sinful and faithless ways. Pardon us for making the wrong choices and self-centered mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Merciful Father, You have given us Jesus, Your Holy Son, to reclaim our lives, to teach us Your ways, and to save our souls. His obedience and sacrifice has won our salvation. We thank You for restoring us to Your everlasting love, and in the words of Christ, we continue praying, “Our Father….The Lord’s Prayer (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:              Jesus is the Christ of our lives, the Anointed Messiah, and Holy One of God. He alone has the authority to forgive our sins. By His grace, we are cleansed of our sinful past and returned to God's favor. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (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:             We call upon the Lord, in the midst of all our troubles, and He answers us. Save us, O Lord, from false ways and self-deception. Help us to cling to Your truth.

People:           O Lord, You are the source of all our hope; You are the One who brings us healing. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we are frail and fearful. Grant us strength and renewal.

Pastor:             In Your Holy Presence, Lord, we live our lives. We need Your help and long for deliverance from sickness and suffering; pain and discomfort; anxiety and stress. We seek Your peace and pray that You will heal us, as well as each of our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor:             Loving Lord, speak Your peace to us this day and fill our hearts with hope. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 120)

Singing of 'Sanctuary’.

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, may Christ speak to our hearts and may God resurrect our hopes through these scriptures. May we receive and share the blessings of faith, strength, and love that we encounter throughout these biblical texts.  In Jesus' Name we ask.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):

Guide:              Lord Jesus, all that we are has been fulfilled and accomplished by Your grace. Take these                             tithes and gifts that we freely offer to You, and use them for the preaching of Your Word, the                                     enhancement of Your Church, and the glorifying of Your Name Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                        May Christ urge and inspire us to fulfill His ministry in our lives; may the Father's great and everlasting love be treasured in our hearts and explicit in our deeds; and may the Holy Spirit keep us loving and serving the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and evermore.  Amen.

Doxology         Praise God, from whom all blessings flow  & Postlude

Sunday Worship prayer - Lent 4A - 4th Sunday in Lent - April 3

Approaching God


Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession


Guide: Lord of hope and blessing, God of peace and joy, we gather in Your sacred house to offer our praises, our prayers and petitions, knowing that You gladly hear and receive them. In the midst of our anxieties and concerns, You embrace and care for us in many mysterious and personal ways.

People: Gracious God, sometimes we struggle to overcome temptation; sometimes we fail to respect and honor You with our thoughts, words, and deeds. Forgive us when we forget to heed Your Guiding Spirit, or when we neglect to follow Your commands. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You.


- Silent Confessions -


Guide: Heavenly Father, we start each day with the best of intentions, but always seem to fall short of Your expectations. Today, we seek forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son, whose sacrifice purchased our salvation, and whose blood cleansed our guilty past. In His Sacred Name, we make these prayers and continue with His words, saying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)


Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus confronted the people of His time with a truth that they did not always want to embrace or understand. Today, we are given the same message, which seeks to challenge and change our ways. He forgives us of all our sins, but He also expects us forgive one another. Let us rejoice in His grace and apply the same gifts in our daily lives. 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: Let us rejoice in God's sacred house; let us receive His strength and blessing. This is where we come, as people of God, to praise His Name and glorify His greatness.

People: We pray for His peace to come into our lives; we await His holy presence. For the sake of our family and friends, we appeal to God for their healing.

Pastor: O Lord, we seek Your mercy and grace; hear us as we pray. We need Your compassion and care; heal us, and all for whom we pray, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor: May there be peace and hope, strength and recovery for each of our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 122)


Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader: Holy Spirit, You have been given to us for guidance and encouragement, for comfort and counsel. Open our hearts and minds to the message of the scriptures and enable us to apply this lesson in our daily lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):


Lord Jesus, You have risen from the dead to show us the way to eternal life. You have given us everything and we know that we can never repay our debt to You. With grateful spirits and cheerful hearts, we bring before You our tithes, treasures, talents, and time. Take each of them for the work of Your ministry and the glorifying of Your Name. Amen.


Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ come into our hearts to challenge our ways and change our lives; may the Father bless us with joy and love; and may the Holy Spirit continue to refresh our souls and renew our commitment to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.



Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - 4th Sunday in Lent - Lent 4 - March 14

Approaching God

Welcome & Church Announcements

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Lord of Life and Creator of the Universe, we proclaim You as our One, True and Holy God. We serve You as Your called and chosen people. We adore Your wonderful ways and are constantly amazed by Your powerful deeds.

People:  Heavenly Father, we seek to please Your heart and to follow Your will, however we allow pride and bitterness, prejudice and anger to hurt other people, in order to get our own selfish and sinful ways.

When we fall into temptation, we separate ourselves from Your Love and deaden our spirits to Your commands. Forgive us for rejecting Your words. Hear us now as we humbly confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful God, You have the power to judge our faults and punish our sins. Instead, You graciously gave us Your Son Jesus to die for our failures, faults, and fallen ways. By His wounds, we are healed. By His sacrifice, we are forgiven and restored. We bring our confessions in Christ’s Name and through His own words, we unite our hearts with Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Jesus saves us from sinful destruction and the eternal wrath of God. He wants us to choose life over death, faith over fear, and obedience over defiance. When we sincerely come to Him for forgiveness, He grants us mercy and grace. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus our Savior rescues us 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)

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: The LORD reigns, He is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. He establishes our world and sustains our lives.

People:                        Eternal God, we are finite and frail, in need of help, healing, and wholeness. We lift up our voices of prayer to You, from within our fearful hearts and troubled minds.

Pastor:              Mighty Redeemer, have mercy upon us and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. We also bring to You our families and friends, colleagues and neighbors who need Your Loving touch and holy healing. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The LORD is merciful and holy; just and faithful. He hears our prayers in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 93)

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close.’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:             Holy Spirit, help us to see what Christ is doing amongst us. Enable us to hear His words from these holy passages. Teach us His ways so that we may tell others of His ministry, mission, and kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication: Lord Jesus, we have worshipped You in song and praised You with our music. We have gathered our tithes and offerings and placed them before Your throne. Take these lifeless tokens and bless them, so that we may bring life to Your words by ministering in our congregation, across our community, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn:

Benediction:  May Christ remind us that our lives are not our own, but chiefly belong to Him; may the Father bestow His favor upon all that we do; and may the Holy Spirit reside in our hearts so that we may die to sin and live for faith in the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology         Praise God, from whom all blessings flow & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 4th Sunday in Lent - Lent 4 - 3/22

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Gathering Song & prelude


First Hymn:

Guide: Loving Lord, whose mighty acts and wondrous deeds reveal to us Your power, creativity and sovereignty over the entire universe, we praise and adore You as our Creator and King. Your ways have been known to our people across the centuries and throughout all nations; we approach You with awe and reverence, dedication and devotion.

People: Gracious God, each day of our lives, You seek to instruct us and guide us by Your holy counsel. Sometimes we rebelliously ignore Your advice and seek to do our own sinful and selfish things.
Forgive our foolish and faithless ways. Pardon us for making wrong choices and self-centered mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Merciful Father, You have given us Jesus, Your Holy Son, to reclaim our lives, to teach us Your ways, and to save our souls. His obedience and sacrifice has won our salvation. We thank You for restoring us to Your everlasting love, and in the words of Christ, we continue praying, "Our Father, …THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)


Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus is the Christ of our lives, the Anointed and Holy One of God. He alone has the authority to forgive our sins and by His grace, we are cleansed of our sinful past and returned to God's favor. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, now and forever. Amen. (John 7: 41)

Gloria Patri: 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

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: We call upon the Lord, in the midst of all our troubles, and He answers us. Save us, O Lord, from false ways and self-deception. Help us to cling to Your truth.

People: O Lord, You are the source of all our hope; You are the One who brings us healing. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we are frail and fearful. Grant us strength and renewal.

Pastor: In Your Holy Presence, Lord, we live our lives. We need Your help and long for deliverance from sickness and suffering; pain and discomfort; anxiety and stress. We seek Your peace and pray that You will heal us, and each of our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor: Loving Lord, speak Your peace to us this day and fill our hearts with hope. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 120)

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Reader: Holy Spirit, may Christ speak to our hearts and may God resurrect our hopes through these scriptures. May we receive and share the blessings of faith, strength and love that we encounter throughout these biblical texts. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2 & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, all that we are has been fulfilled and accomplished by Your grace. Take these tithes and gifts that we freely offer to You, and use them for the preaching of Your Word, the enhancement of Your Church, and the glorifying of Your Name Amen.


Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ urge and inspire us to fulfill His ministry in our lives; may the Father's great and everlasting love be treasured in our hearts and explicit in our deeds; and may the Holy Spirit keep us loving and serving the One, Triune and Living God, both now and evermore. Amen.

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

Sunday Prayers: Lent 4 March 2, 2008

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude and Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Sovereign Lord of the Universe, we praise Your glorious ways and bless Your wonderful Name. We are honored at being called into Your Holy Presence. We feel favored when You summon us to Your Holy House of praise and prayer.
People: Loving Lord of Life, You rule over the earth and see all of its ways. You know that we are sinful and selfish, foolish and faithless, proud and pitiless at times. Merciful God, forgive our faults and pardon our past mistakes. We have neglected to do good deeds, and have inflicted hurt on other people. We have followed our own foolhardy ways and allowed temptation to contaminate our souls. Hear us now as we inwardly confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Heavenly Father, help us to honor You by placing Christ at the center of our lives. May His Passion free us from our sins. May His sacrifice restore us to Your Favor. In Christ’s Name, we pray and through His own words, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’s PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus wants us to turn away from sinful ways and return to Him. He calls us to follow Him and be witnesses of His mercy. Our past sins are forgiven because He loves us. We honor Christ’s authority over our lives by asking for His redeeming grace. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our Savior and we are eternally restored to God’s favor and blessing. Amen.

Gloria Patri : 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

Anthem

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Lord, we proclaim Your love this morning and thank You for Your faithfulness to us.
You make us glad through Your wonderful deeds; we rejoice in the work of Your healing hands.
People: Loving Lord, we know that You understand us perfectly, and that You think about us constantly. May we flourish by Your grace; may we be healed through Your mercy.
Pastor: In the midst of our illnesses, be our salvation. During times of depression or despair, be our defender and deliverer. Loving Lord, look after our loved ones and heal them of all that harms them in body, mind, heart and soul. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

All: The Lord is our righteousness, our peace and strength. He loves and restores us in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 92)


Prayer for Illumination :
Reader: Holy Spirit, enable us to judge between right and wrong through the guidance of these scriptures. Open our hearts and minds to Christ’s teaching, so that we may please and obey God every day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings :

Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:


Dedication: Lord Jesus, You have revealed Your ways through the Living Word of the scriptures. In response, we gather together our tithes and offerings, placing them into Your keeping. We ask that You will bless these tokens and enable us to use them for the many ministries and missions You have called us to pursue and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn :

Benediction (in unison): May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude