Sunday Worship prayers - Epiphany 2C - Jan 20

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   Let us joyfully come and freely worship the Lord our God.

People:                We praise His loving ways and glorify His wonderful deeds.

Youth:                   Let us honor God from our hearts and praise Him from our lips. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty and Eternal God, in whose holy presence we live, and for whose predestined purposes we are sustained, accept the prayers and praises that we express from our lips and hearts. To You alone, we dedicate this time of worship and exaltation. In You alone, we place all our faith, hope, and love.

People:                 Gracious Lord, we confess that there are times when we make bad choices, which separate us from You. There are moments in our lives when we are stubborn and disobedient, proud and resentful, as well as prejudiced and bitter. Forgive our self-centered and faithless ways. Hear us now as we silently make our confessions.

SILENCE –

Guide: Loving Father, You have given Jesus to us as the Way to forgiveness, the Truth of salvation, and the Life which leads us to restoration. In Him, through Him, and by Him, we are saved and renewed, pardoned and reunited to You forever. In Christ’s words, we lift up our prayers, saying: “Our Father…” (The Lord’s Prayer – debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                                  Christ obeyed God completely throughout His life. As God’s Perfect and Holy Son, He made the supreme and sacred sacrifice that paid for all of our sins. In Jesus, we have the One, True, and Living Savior, who sets us free from our past mistakes and restores us to God forevermore. 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:                  O Lord, when we are afraid or if our faith is weak, help us to look to Your promises. You are our refuge and our shield; we place our confidence in Your Word alone.

People:                 Cast out our doubts and fears. Help us to remain focused on Your power. Sustain us with Your almighty strength; do not let our hopes be dashed.

Pastor:                  Keep our thoughts from being distracted by our fears. Help us to follow You in faith. Heal us, and all our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we quietly and sincerely pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Lord, we abide in Your loving presence. We remain in awe of Your amazing love and healing power. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.    (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Samekh)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, enable us to receive the message and purpose of these scriptures. Keep us from trivializing the truth. Open our hearts and minds to all that Christ gives us through His actions and words. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison, led by pastor):    Lord Jesus, through the power of the Gospel, we are brought closer to You. By the gracious presence of the Holy Spirit, we are given the priceless gift of salvation. Gladly and cheerfully, we bring to You our tithes and gifts as a thanksgiving offering. Take and receive them for Your continuing work in this church and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn:

Benediction (in unison):  May the Father’s amazing love fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him; may the Son open up opportunities of service and devotion to Him each day;  and may we  overflow with hope by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship prayers - Ordinary 24B - Sept 16

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   O Lord, our God, we take our refuge in You; save and deliver us from all our fears.
People:                O Righteous God, who searches our minds and hearts, receive our worship and praises today.
Youth:                   We will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness; let us sing and give praise to His Name.                     Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide: Everlasting Lord, whose infinite mind conceived the universe and whose powerful word brought it into existence, we applaud Your Holy power and we worship Your Sacred Name. You have given us life and sustained us through mercy and grace, therefore we proclaim Your sovereignty over us and seek to please You with our deeds.

People: Loving God, we know that we have often failed to meet Your standards. We confess to breaking our promises and not fulfilling our words. We admit to being foolish and we regret being selfish. Merciful Majesty, pardon our mistakes and cleanse us of our sinful ways. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Living Lord, we appeal to Your Son Jesus Christ for mercy. We look to Him alone for pardon and redemption. He has the power to forgive our sins and the right to restore us to Your favor. In Christ alone, we place our lives and souls. Under His authority, we express our faith.  In His sacred words, we continue to pray, saying:

“Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: We want to be Christ’s disciples, so we need to listen to His words. Jesus has the power to make our lives new. When we come to Him seeking forgiveness, He is merciful. When we pray to Him looking for pardon, He gives us grace. Let us glorify Him 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:                 How long, O LORD, must we suffer and experience discomfort? How long will our ailments continue? Do not leave us without hope. May Your mercy come quickly to us, for we are in desperate need.

People:                 Help us, O God, our Savior, for the glory of Your Name; deliver us from harm and restore us to health. Why should those around us mock our faith? Send forth Your Holy Spirit to touch us and all our loved ones with Your healing power, Your bountiful blessing, and Your compassionate love.

Pastor:                 May the cries of our hearts and the prayers of all our loved ones come before You; may You strengthen and preserve them, delivering them from despair and healing them from all that harms them in body, mind , heart and soul. May our faith in You be realized through the healing of our lives. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Holy Lord, we are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. We will praise You forever. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                       (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 79)

Singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, let the scriptures speak to our heart and minds, as if Christ was preaching to us at this time in our lives. Open our spirits to His sacred presence and grant us a new beginning today. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, we have come into Your presence to be taught by Your word, and to be reconnected to God. With cheerful and thankful hearts, we bring before You our tithes and gifts. We pray that You will accept and bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Jesus live within us and shape our daily lives; may the Father reveal His works to us each day; and may the Holy Spirit keep us worshipping the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Trinity Sunday - June 19

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Call to Worship

Pastor:             It is good to praise the LORD and to worship His Holy Name.

People:            We proclaim Your love for us and Your faithfulness, O God, to all Your people.

Pastor:             You make us glad, Almighty God, with Your wonderful deeds. We sing for joy and glorify Your powerful works.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Heavenly Father, we are constantly amazed by Your wondrous works in the world, and Your almighty ways that are displayed throughout the Universe. We are delighted with Your glorious deeds, and seek to dedicate our lives in the service of Your Kingdom.

People:                       Loving God, we struggle throughout our lives with the forces of temptation and are sometimes overcome by the burdens of sin. We fail to follow Your ways, and have often faltered in the keeping of Your words. We have been blinded by greed, power, and ambition. We have damaged our souls and diminished our faith through pride, bitterness, and prejudice. Graciously forgive us as we confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Almighty Father, we place our lives into Your Son's gracious hands. In Christ, we can find forgiveness. In Jesus, we are totally absolved of our past mistakes. We make these prayers and petitions in the Holy Name of Jesus and with His precious words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)”

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Christ was not fully accepted by all of His people, even when He walked and talked among them. His Spirit moves among us today and when we come to Jesus with our confessions, He receives our prayers and forgives us of all our sins. He is the One, True, and Only Savior who makes us acceptable and holy to God. 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)

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we are all given different gifts to honor and glorify Your Name. We are called to church to build up our faith and enhance our talents. Before You, we gather our tithes and offerings, as pledges of our service and dedication to You. Bless them for the work of God's kingdom, both here in this place, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.  

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Leader:            O LORD, remember us, and all the worries that we carry, and all the troubles we endure. As we gather in Your sacred house, come into our hearts. As we make our prayers, grant us Your peace.

People:                        Sometimes, Lord, we lose sleep because we are worried, and grow weary of our fears. Help us to find a place of quietness and strength, of harmony and unity with You, O Lord.

Leader:            We have heard of Your mighty deeds; we have read of Your powerful ways. Come among us even now, Lord, and touch us with Your Spirit. Arise, O Lord, and claim us as Your own. Heal our loved ones and ourselves from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we silently and sincerely pray.

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

Leader:            For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, and the renown of His Holy Name, receive our prayers. Amen.

Singing of “Jesus, Draw Me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, teach us Christ's ways, so that we may proclaim His Good News. Day after day, inspire our lives, so that we may follow and serve Him. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Nicene Creed

Serving God

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):                        May Christ happily greet us each day with love; may the Father greatly increase our hope; and may the Holy Spirit joyfully enhance our faith in the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday Worship prayers for Ordinary 7/ Epiphany 7 - February 20

Approaching God

Welcome & Church Announcements

Prelude

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Almighty and Infinite God, Majestic and All-Powerful Creator, we approach You with awe and reverence; we gather in humility and service. Your Hands have formed our universe; Your Will sustains our lives. What are we that You are mindful of us? Who are we to receive Your compassion and care?

People:  Gracious Lord, nothing is hidden from Your gaze; no secrets can be kept from Your heart. We have shamefully sinned and selfishly centered our lives upon greed, power, desire and deceit. We have neglected our faith; spoken harsh words; passed by people in need and have put You to the back of our minds. We are guilty of many sins, so we seek Your compassion and ask for mercy. Hear us now as we solemnly pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving Father, we are unworthy to receive grace and yet You have given us Your Son Jesus. He died for our mistakes. He took the punishment due for our sins and sacrificed Himself for all the wrong things that we have ever said and done. Without Jesus as our Savior, we remain unforgiven. Without Christ’s obedience, we are unrestored. Hear us now as we unite our hearts with His, through Christ’s own words, saying “Our Father…(THE LORD’S PRAYER – debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Christ knows all of our secrets and everything that goes on in our minds, hearts and lives. Only He can fully offer us salvation. Only He can restore us to the One, True and Living God. When we honestly believe in Him and sincerely confess our sins, He will forgive us and bring us back to God. So let us rejoice and be glad for Jesus has pardoned our foolish ways and re-established our everlasting relationship with the LORD, both now and always. 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:             Lord, You have been our dwelling place and healing source throughout all generations. Before the Earth was made with its seas and mountains, You existed.

People:            O LORD, how long shall we suffer from our sicknesses? Have compassion upon us and heal all Your servants. Satisfy our prayers with Your unfailing love, so that we may praise and glorify You every day.

Pastor:             Lord God, make us glad by restoring our health; bring peace, hope and healing to all our loved ones. May Your compassionate deeds be shown to us; may the splendor of Your strength be experienced by all, for whom we now pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:             May the favor of the LORD rest upon us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 90)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader:             Holy Spirit, open our hearts to Christ’s teaching, and enable us to spread His message amongst the people that we know and love, through applying these sacred words in our everyday lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, in all that we do, we witness to Your ministry. Today, we gather this offering as a true token of our faith and loving response to Your sacred words. Take these gifts and tithes and bless them for Your continuing work and ways amongst us. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen. 

Hymn:

Benediction(unison):  May Christ feed us with faith, hope and love; may the Father look down upon us with compassion and care; and may the Holy Spirit perfectly lead us into the presence of the One, Triune and Living God, where we shall live and be accepted forevermore. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time February 15

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Gathering and Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Gracious and Merciful God, Compassionate and Holy King, we humbly turn to You, seeking refuge and hope, healing and renewal. From You alone we learn the ways of righteousness; from Your Holy words and almighty works, we recognize and cherish Your authority over our lives.
People: Eternal Father, we know that we have sinned again this week; we understand that we have allowed desire and deceit, neglect and ignorance, pride and prejudice to diminish our faith and damage our relationship with You. Forgive our foolish and selfish ways. Forgive our failures and unholy mistakes. Pardon our pride and redeem us from our reckless ways and heedless words. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving God, restore us to Your Kingdom through the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant us Your favor and mercy through His obedience and sacrifice. For we make these prayers in Christ’s name and through His own words, we are united to You by saying; “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ grants us life by the giving of His life. Christ grants us mercy by making Himself our sacrifice. He speaks to our spirits and we are promised eternal life. So let us praise and adore Him, for Christ is our Loving Lord and our Sacred Savior, both now and always. 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.

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

Welcome & Church Announcements

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Let us think upon the LORD’s great love forever; let us prayerfully proclaim His faithfulness to every generation. We will declare that His Love stands forever; we will keep faith in all that He establishes.
People: The LORD has made a covenant with us; He has sworn to help us in times of trouble and distress. When we are weak, He will become our strength. When we have doubts, He will defeat them.
Pastor: Heavenly LORD, reveal Your wonders to us. Heal us and all our loved ones by Your mighty power. For there is no other power to heal than Yours alone; in all of creation, there is no other source of sustenance and health, holiness and salvation. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The LORD is more awesome than all that we know. We are all safe in His hands In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 89)

Choir Anthem

The Message Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, show us what to do with these sacred words. Enable us to apply Christ’s teaching in our everyday lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, take these tithes and gifts, and bless them for Your holy work. May they be used to strengthen the weak, encourage the fearful, and comfort the lost. May we also dedicate our lives in the service of Your ways in this world and the next. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.


Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ nourish our souls with His love and grace; may the Father strengthen and protect us each day; and may the Holy Spirit enhance our faith so that we may truly serve the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers; 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 9 Nov

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty God, whose ways are mysterious and whose works are marvelous, place Your Hand upon us that we may have rest and peace in our lives. We gather beneath Your heavenly throne in this holy place. We seek to please You with our praises and delight You with our devotion.

People: Everlasting Father, whose justice brings joy to the oppressed and despair to the wicked, we confess our mistakes and misdeeds, our falsehoods and failures, our selfish and stubborn ways. We seek Your forgiveness and pardon for our foolish deeds. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Immortal Majesty, You could trample over our all hopes and shatter each of our dreams. You could banish us to oblivion and exile us to a lonely eternity. Instead, through Your love and grace, in Your Holy Son Jesus Christ, You cleanse us of the past and restore us to Your Kingdom.
People: Humbly, we bow before Your Sacred Presence and unite our spirits with Christ our Lord by praying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Christ is our living bread and He promises us eternal life. If we accept His ways and apply His words; if we receive Him as Savior and know Him as our Lord, then His Sacrifice at Calvary pays the full price for our sins and completely pardons us of our past mistakes. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our King, both now and always. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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 are called to be God’s people, to listen to His words and to apply His teaching. For generations, our people have known the bounty of hope and the blessing of healing from the LORD.

People: O LORD, we seek to experience Your Holy touch; we pray for recovery, renewal and restoration. We call upon You, O Living God, to show us Your wonders by healing our hearts, mending our minds, and strengthening our spirits

Pastor: Eternal Lord, let miracles of hope and health, of blessing and healing be granted to us now and all whom we pray for on this holy day. May all our loved ones and neighbors, our friends and colleagues trust in Your word and experience deliverance from pain, discomfort, suffering and disease. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: May the Lord shepherd us to salvation and lead us towards an abundance of health, wholeness and healing. In Jesus’ Name, we ask and pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 78)

Anthem

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, as we read and hear this sacred message, may we fully believe and receive its teaching. Open our hearts and fill our minds with Christ’s ways so that our faith may be enhanced and our trust in God increased. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, in response to Your loving ways, we freely give to You our tithes and offerings. We seek to please You with these gifts and pray that You will bless them for the continuous ministry of this church. We ask that You will help us to patiently grow our faith and grant us the confidence to truly place our time, talents and resources into Your Hands. In Your Holy Name, give and we pray Amen.

Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ keep us focused on serving God’s Kingdom; may the Father prevent us from diminishing our faith; and may the Holy Spirit steer us from all wrong and guide us to do good, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Nov 2

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: God of our people and Lord of our lives, on this day, we praise You. In this place, we honor You. We trust You completely and dedicate ourselves to Your Kingdom.

People: Lord of Salvation, You have rescued us from sin and despair, selfishness and deception. We rejoice in Your Holy ways and we regret our past mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins and faults to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Gracious God, You have restored us to Your favor and love through the blood and sacrifice of Your Son. We are forever indebted to Jesus and we will always glorify and worship Him forever.

People: Joyfully, we unite our hearts with our Lord and we are glad to pray in His own words, saying, “Our Father, …THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Christ is the Bread of Heaven and as we feed upon His life and words, we are renewed in our spirits and completely forgiven of all our past mistakes. We will rejoice and be glad, for this is the day that the Lord has made and we are restored to His favor and love, both now and always. 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.

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

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: We cry out to God for help; we call upon Him to hear us and help us. In the midst of our distress, we seek the Lord; when we experience anxiety and discomfort, we look for the Lord to heal us.

People: O God, we remember You and recall Your great works. When we are weak and faint, be our strength and salvation. When we are too troubled to speak, let us hear Your peaceful voice; when we are tired and exhausted, bring rest to our bodies and comfort for our souls.

Pastor: Almighty Father, fill us with Your love and heal us by Your grace. Rescue and restore our loved ones from all that harms them in body, mind, heart and spirit. May Your healing mercy and loving compassion touch all those in need of freedom from pain and recovery from illness. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 77)

Anthem

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, seize our souls and captivate our hearts with today’s Gospel message. Keep us focused on Christ’s words and reveal to us ways in which we can apply His teaching, actions and ministry in our own lives. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You are patient and loving towards us, so we cheerfully and thankfully offer You these gifts. May our tithes and offerings be used to enhance faith, inspire kindness and enable this church to fulfill the missions and ministries of encouragement, support and charity that we seek to complete in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Communion

Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ take away our fear of doing what is right; may the Father free our spirits with His Powerful Love; and may the Holy Spirit commend our Christian witness each day, to the glory of the One, True and Triune God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday Prayers: Ordinary 24 - Sept 14

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering Song

First Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Creator God, whose Spirit hovered above the waters of chaos and whose almighty word brought this universe into being, we come before You as Your servants and children, seeking to please You with our praise and serve You with our lives. Throughout the years You have sustained our people and delivered us from our enemies. You have grown Your church through the seeds of faith which Your Son Jesus Christ has sown in our hearts and minds.

People: Gracious Lord, the harvest of holiness which You desire from us is not always fulfilled or abundantly clear in our lives. We allow ourselves to cheat our faith by falling prey to temptation; by sustaining our pride; by making selfish choices, and doing sinful acts. Precious God, be patient with us and have mercy on our souls. Forgive our faults and pardon our foolish ways. Challenge our choices and change our lives. Hear us now as we come to You individually with our prayers of confession.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful Father, without Your compassion, we would not have any everlasting hope. Without Your redeeming love, we would have no opportunity to escape eternal punishment. You have given us Jesus, Your Only Son and He has laid down His life for us. We know that we are unworthy to receive such a wonderful and amazing love, yet we are truly grateful for all that we have been given.

People: In Jesus’ Name, we praise You forever and through His words of prayer, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Jesus comes into our world and dwells with us. He seeks to influence our spirits with God’s everlasting love. We are blessed through Him because He sacrificed His life for us. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ, our Messiah and Redeemer reigns. Amen.

Gloria Patri

Family Sermon: Children and parents come up to the front of the Church

Encountering God


Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: The LORD is our shepherd; He knows all of our needs. He allows us to rest in His presence; He gives us peace in the midst of our troubles.
People: He heals our wounded souls and guides us through our fears. Throughout all that deeply troubles us and in the face of all that harms us, we will not be afraid, for the LORD is with us; His strength and power can restore us to health.
Pastor: Lord, spread out the bounty of Your Love before us and anoint us with healing. May your goodness and love be granted to our families and friends. May Your peace be restored to their lives and may You heal them of all that harms them. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: May we dwell in the Holy Presence of God from this time forth and forevermore. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words from Psalm 23)

Anthem

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Reader : Holy Spirit, may the words of our Lord Jesus Christ always go before us and be at the front of our minds. May His teaching be our strength and may His gospel equip us to overcome our troubles and fears. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

Scripture Readings, Sermon and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication : Lord Jesus, by bringing this offering before You, we hope to please You with our giving. We do this to glorify Your Holy Name and to bring faith, hope and love into the lives of other people through Your message, ministry and mission so that many of them may be saved. Amen.

Hymn :

Benediction: May Jesus keep us from being influenced by the pleasures and riches of the world; may the Father protect us from sin and loss; and may the Holy Spirit enrich our lives with faith to overcome fear, hope to bring us health, and love to defeat all loneliness, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Sunday Prayers: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - 24 Aug

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty God, whose kingdom never ends and whose sovereignty is limitless, we praise Your wonderful works and glorify Your godly ways. When our spirits are downcast and we are weary, You refresh our souls and grant us strength. When our hopes diminish and our beliefs falter, restore us to Your love and favor.
People: Gracious Father, sometimes we lack understanding of our faith and the responsibilities You expect us to fulfill. Sometimes we focus too much on ourselves and forget the needs of other people. We are sorry for those moments and seek Your mercy. Enable us now to turn to You, to silently confess our sins and wait upon Your grace.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Everlasting God, without Jesus, we are nothing. Without His Death, we have no life. Without His forgiveness, we have no future. In Him, we are shielded from Your wrath and through Him, we are restored to Your blessed love.
People: Our confessions are made in the precious and Holy Name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, in whose words we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus comes amongst us to teach us His truth, to win us with His words, and to liberate us through His glorious life. We have sincerely confessed our mistakes to Him, so we are now wonderfully and completely forgiven. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our King and Everlasting Savior. 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.

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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Let us revere the LORD and delight in His healing power. God is mighty throughout the earth and we are blessed by His compassion.
People: The LORD enriches our lives with His resources; His righteousness endures forever. In the midst of our troubles, God is gracious and supportive. In our time of fear, He is faithful.
Pastor: May the goodness of the Lord come to us; may He free us from all that harms our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. May God strengthen our loved ones and heal them. May the Holy Spirit bring them peace of mind, renew their hopes and restore their health.

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

Pastor: May our hearts be steadfast, as we trust in the Lord and make our prayers in Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 112)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, You enrich our lives so that we may share our faith with other people. Bless us with these sacred words and enable us to apply them in a practical, effective and positive way. In the glorious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, by Your words, we are shown how to live our lives. Through our deeds, we express to the world how much we believe in You. You call upon us to give of our time, talents and treasures to the ministries and missions that our church is expected to fulfill. Bless our tithes and offerings, which are symbols of our dedication and devotion to You. Enable us to be faithful servants and Christian witnesses in our congregation and community. In Your Holy name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ enable us to please our neighbors with faith and love; may the Father continually call us to be kind and good to the people we encounter each day; and may the Holy Spirit grant us the resources and strength to enhance and build up the faith in all whom we love and all whom we know. To the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers - 20th in ordinary Time - 17 Aug 2008

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Eternal Lord of Heaven and Earth, whose power fortifies our spirits and whose love sustains our lives; we come before You as chosen children and elected worshippers, as humble servants and blessed heirs. You have never abandoned Your faithful people nor forsaken Your sacred promises. You have allowed us to abide in Your Presence and to seek refuge in Your sanctuary.
People: Merciful God, we have sinfully taken You for granted. We have placed our own wants above Your will. We have selfishly made our own foolish choices, opposing Your perfect counsel. Have mercy upon us and forgive our reckless acts of disobedience, disinterest and disdain. Pardon us for being uncaring, unfaithful and unholy. Hear us now as we silently seek Your forgiveness for all our faults and fallen ways.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Gracious Father, we seek salvation from Your Holy Jesus Christ, our Lord. By His supreme sacrifice, our mistakes are pardoned and our sins are absolved. Through His Grace, we are restored to Your Favor and set free from the past.
People: We make these confessions in Christ’s Name and place our lives into His Hands. In His holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: We are not afraid to worship Jesus and broadcast His Name in the world, for He alone has the power on earth to grant us God’s everlasting peace He is the High Priest of our hearts and the sacred Savior of our souls. So let us rejoice and express our faith in the praising and glorifying of His Name forever. 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.

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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Let us extol the Lord with all our hearts in this place of holiness and healing. Great are the works of the LORD; we will recall His words and delight in them.
People: Glorious and majestic are the deeds of God; His righteousness endures forever. We remember His wonderful ways, for the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
Pastor: May He provide strength and sustenance for those who need Him; may He remember the prayers of our people for health, hope and healing. May the Lord show us the power of His works to us and our loved ones; may he set us free from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Hear us now, Gracious God, as we silently pray.

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

Pastor: The works of God’s hands are faithful and just; we will trust all of His merciful ways. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 111)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, You know us by name and call us into Christ’s service. Let His words and teaching challenge our lives, so that we may better honor and glorify His sacred Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings, Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication: (unison)

Lord Jesus, You speak to us everyday in our lives and grant us many blessings. From the fruits of our work and the plenty of our resources, we place our tithes and offerings before You. Take these gifts and consecrate them for the ministries You want to accomplish by our church, in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give our lives and seek Your blessing. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: (unison) May Christ be all the strength that we need each day; may the Father support us in times of weakness and failure; and may the Holy Spirit teach us to delight in the Lord by pleasing the One, triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers 19th in Ordinary Time 08-10-08

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude & Gathering Song

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty Creator and Immortal Lord, whose holiness purifies the universe, and whose sacred words sustain all life; we humbly gather before You as servants seeking to honor You and as sinners needing salvation. Your ways are beyond our imagining and Your noble works have been glorified for centuries. We reverently approach Your Throne of grace, looking for mercy, favor and love.

People: Heavenly Father, we have built barriers of pride and prejudice, insolence and ignorance, faithlessness and fear around our souls. We have damaged our spirits by our greedy ways; we have diminished our faith by our selfish sins. Remove the sinful fruits of our fallen lives. Pardon our guilt and forgive our foolish choices. Enable us to seek Your Son Jesus Christ to crush the rocks of rebellion in our hearts and restore the foundations of His peace in our minds. Hear us now as we confess and pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Loving Father, Your forgiveness restores us to Your divine favor and godly grace. The blood of Jesus Christ our Lord has atoned for our guilt. Without His sacrifice, we would have no salvation. Without His perfect obedience, we would have no everlasting hope.

People: Our prayers are given in the Name of Jesus Christ and through His words, we unite our hearts, saying, “Our Father…” THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus lived among us to show us God's love. His goodness and grace established in the hearts and minds of many people a new faith, a new understanding, and a new hope. We have received His blessings and are called to be His disciples. He forgives all our faults and releases us from the wrath of God. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our Savior and we are restored to God's everlasting favor. 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.

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

Encountering God

Anthem Glenfinnan

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: O Lord, come amongst us and let Your Spirit abide in our presence. Loving Father, extend Your power and favor upon us as we pray.
People: In the midst of all that troubles us, be our strength. Throughout our times of worry and fear, be our shield. You are our constant hope and the solid foundation of our faith, so we present our prayers for healing to You alone.
Pastor: Gracious Lord, hold us in Your precious hand. Heal us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul. Let Your sovereign and sacred power touch all our loved ones in the midst of their pain, sickness and distress. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor: Lord, refresh our spirits with Your love that heals. Lift up our hearts, so that we may praise You alone. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 110)

Singing of ‘Jesus Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, sow seeds of salvation within our hearts and minds. Let the scriptures enrich our lives so that we may serve Christ all of our days. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication:
Lord Jesus, across the centuries You have spoken to our people in the language of hope, faith and love. Today, we willingly give of ourselves and our resources to continue Your sacred work on earth. Bless our tithes and offerings. May they be used for the praising of God and the glorifying of His kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ diminish our doubts by enhancing our faith each day; may the Father sustain us by supplying our daily needs; and may the Holy Spirit keep us from sin with good guidance and constant counsel; to the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers: 13th in Ordinary Time June 29

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty God, who knows all our secrets and who sees all that we do, we humbly approach You, with awe and reverence, seeking to please You with our worship and hoping to delight You with our love. We have sinned against You and fought against Your ways. We have put You to the back of our minds and diminished Your influence over our decisions.

People: Gracious Father, we have fled from Your presence and sought refuge in our own understanding. We have fallen into temptation and become ensnared with our own sinful works, words and ways. Forgive our foolish faults and selfish stupidity. Pardon us for being distracted by our own desires and deceived by our own delusions. Help us to turn to Jesus, to receive His joy and experience His mercy, to be restored by His grace and reclaimed by His blood. Hear us now as we sincerely confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving Lord, You have opened the floodgates of forgiveness to us and granted us the opportunity to be restored to Your Favor and Kingdom through our Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him alone, we are indebted. By Him alone, are we pardoned of our sins and protected from Your justified wrath.

People: We are humbled by Your mercy and truly thankful for our Savior, in whose precious words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus invites us to come to Him, to receive His blessings of forgiveness and redemption, peace and eternal life with God. He is our bread of life which sustains us and our fountain of faith which refreshes us. Let us rejoice and be thankful, for Jesus is our Savior and Healer, both now and forever. 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.

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

Anthem

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Our souls find rest in God alone; our salvation and healing comes from Him. God alone is our rock and salvation; He is our strength and we will never be shaken.

People: At times, fears and illness, sickness and despair assault our hearts, minds and bodies. We are weak and vulnerable, unsteady and unsure, anxious and afraid. We find rest and peace, healing and harmony in God alone; our hope comes from Him.

Pastor: God alone is our rock and salvation; He is our strength and we will never be shaken. May healing and dignity be restored to us and all our loved ones in distress. May You, O God, become their mighty rock and refuge, their healing source and perfect help. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

All: Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 62)

Singing of Jesus, Draw Me Close

Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, may we gladly receive Jesus Christ as the Holy and Righteous One in our lives; may we accept His teaching in our hearts and apply His words each and everyday. In His Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication : Lord Jesus, each one of us is very important to You and to Your continuing ministry through this church. We have different talents and gifts, different resources and treasures, different commitments and pursuits. By Your wisdom and grace, You enable us to blend all of these blessings into one body; You permit us to share our offering so that Your work may be accomplished by this church, to this community and throughout the world. Take these tokens and also our lives. May all be used in the service of God’s Kingdom and to the glory of Your Sacred Name. Amen.

Hymn :

Benediction: May Christ encourage us to encourage other people to faith; may the Father enable us to generously give of our lives to the needs of others; and may the Holy Spirit empower us to be diligent, merciful and cheerful in our Christian witness to the world; to the glory of the One, Triune and Living God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Most Righteous and Everlasting God, who is worshipped by Your people in every land, we humbly approach You in prayer and, with our praises, we seek to honor Your deeds and rejoice in Your love. You have guided us to this sacred place. You have called us by name and brought us into Your Holy Presence. We are honored by Your favor and blessed by Your grace.

People: Gracious Lord, we have wasted parts of our lives on foolish notions, wayward acts and sinful deeds. We have neglected Your ways and followed our selfish aims. We have disregarded Your perfect counsel and made our own sinful decisions. We have pleased ourselves and disappointed You. We are guilty of neglect, indifference, pride and stubbornness. We are sorry for our personal sins and we regret the mistakes that we have made. Hear us now, Loving Father, as we confess our faults to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Eternal God, thank You for hearing our prayers and forgiving our sins. Through the precious blood of Jesus, Your Holy Son, we have been reclaimed to Your Kingdom and restored to Your Blessing. We make our prayers in Jesus’ Name and through His precious words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father, … THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus, the Bread of God, came down from heaven to give us life. He has the divine right to forgive our sins and the authority to reclaim us for God. In Christ, we have our perfect Savior, so let us glorify and exult His powerful Name, forever and always. 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.

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

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: O God, do not reject our prayers or afflict us with pain. Make peace with us and restore us to Your love. Our lives have been afflicted with weakness and plagued with illness. Heal our broken bodies and mend our crushed spirits.
People: In times like these, we need Your blessing. Throughout our troubles, we need Your peace. In the midst of our fears, be our strength. Help us and all our loved ones to recover our strength, to regain our health, and to renew our hope.
Pastor: Save us from sickness and heal us through Your infinite power. Deliver us from distress and despair through Your gracious love. Speak softly to our souls as we bring You our prayers for healing on behalf of ourselves and all our loved ones..

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

All: With God, we will regain our strength. He will vanquish our fears and uplift our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 60)

Anthem

Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, surprise our souls with the sacred words of Jesus. Enable us to look to Christ for inspiration, hope and strength. Empower us through the riches of His grace and the glory of His works. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication : Lord Jesus, God has arranged our lives so that we may serve You at this time, in this place of power and prayer. He wants us to continue Your ministry through the dedication of our lives and the giving of our resources. Bless our tithes and gifts, so that we may honor You through the preaching of the Word and the glorifying of God’s Name, both now and always. Amen.

Hymn :

Benediction: May Christ enhance our spiritual gifts through His infinite grace; may the Father increase our faith by allowing us to share it with others; and may the Holy Spirit cause us to faithfully interpret these times, so that we may live glorifying and praising the One, True and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 9th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 June

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty LORD, Your Kingdom is everlasting, and Your power shapes the history of this planet. We exalt Your Holy Name and praise Your wonderful deeds. You are Father of the nations and Lord of all the islands, therefore we give glory to You alone and seek to serve You with our prayers, praises, hearts, and souls.

People: Merciful Father, we have succumbed to sin and have been deeply troubled with our regrets. Pride has damaged our spirits and greed has tested our faith. Instead of honoring You in Christian service, we have glorified ourselves and hindered Your work through our faithless ways. Our paths have strayed from Your Presence, nor have our ways been Your own. Forgive our foolish mistakes and pardon all our selfish deeds. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Compassionate God, we place our lives into Your hands by giving our hearts to Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. His death on the Cross has purchased our salvation. His sacrifice has allowed us to seek Your favor and grace. We make our prayers in Jesus’ Name, uniting 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 the Bread of Heaven. By Christ’s wounded body, our broken ways are healed; by His perfect obedience, we are reclaimed by God. Let us cheerfully rejoice, for our sins are completely forgiven, both now and forever. 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.

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

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Deliver us from our fears, O God; protect us from those things which deeply trouble us. We are frail, O Lord, and vulnerable to attacks upon our bodies, in our minds, and within our hearts. Arise and help us; look upon our plight!
People: O LORD God Almighty, defend us from illness and disease; deliver us from sickness and pain. Become our Strength, O Lord, and as we seek Your favor and blessing, be our Great Healer.
Pastor: Go before us, O God, heal us and all our loved ones; restore our health and enable our loved ones to recover. May we know of Your strength and praise You for all of Your love, for You are our fortress, and our refuge in times of trouble. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

All: O God, You are our Strength, and we sing praises to You. O Lord, You are our stronghold, and our loving God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 59)

Anthem

Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, may we dearly hold the words of Christ to be true in our minds, and still be astonished by His deeds. May our hearts move quickly towards Him, and may our spirits be filled with His Holy Peace. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication : Lord Jesus, Your Holy work is undertaken, supported and accomplished in this church. We have heard Your challenges through the preaching of the gospel. Take these simple gifts and sacred tithes as true tokens of our gratitude. Bless them for the purposes of Your Kingdom through ministry, mission, service and stewardship, to glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.

Communion

Hymn :

Benediction: May Christ enable us to form one body of faithful believers in this holy place; may the Father give strength to our spiritual body and nurture our church; and may the Holy Spirit help us to see that we all belong to God in the service of His Everlasting Kingdom. Amen.

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

Sunday prayers - 8th in ordinary Time - 25 May 2008

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements
Prelude & Gathering
Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Everlasting Majesty and Lord of all Creation, we lift our voices to praise Your Holy Name; we lift up our hearts to cheerfully rejoice in Your sacred presence. Throughout the whole earth, millions of people are blessing and glorifying Your power. 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 filled with moments of sinful mistakes. We have been selfish, proud and faithless; stubborn, greedy and indifferent; angry, bitter and spiteful. Heavenly Lord, forgive us when temptation overcomes us and sin overwhelms our hearts. Pardon us for neglecting our responsibilities and casting aside our faith. To You alone, we offer these 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; we would have no escape from Your wrath; and no hope of entering into Your everlasting Kingdom. Humbly and thankfully, we make these prayers in the Name of Jesus, our Only Savior and True Lord, and 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 love of His Father, gives us the Bread of Heaven. By Christ’s wounded body, our broken ways are healed; by His perfect obedience, we are reclaimed by God. Let us cheerfully rejoice, for our sins are completely forgiven, both now and forever. 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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy upon us, for in You our souls take refuge. We cry out to the One Most High God, who fulfills the purposes of our lives. Loving Lord, send forth Your mercy from heaven; release us from our fears through the power of Your faithful love.
People: 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. Let Your goodness and grace, greatness and glory be experienced in our lives and our loved ones, as we seek healing from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit.
Pastor: Deliver us and all whom we pray for, from distress, disease and despair. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

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

Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, may we walk through the Scriptures and be led to a beautiful place. May we be filled with wonder and amazement through all that Christ has done for our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & offertory

Dedication : Lord Jesus, we all have special gifts and talents, and we all have different resources and treasures. When we combine them and gather them before You, we glorify Your work and continue to enhance Your Name. Take our tithes and gifts; bless them for the life, work and ministry of Erin Church, which You ask us to undertake, support and fulfill in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Hymn :

Benediction: May Christ keep us united to His body so that we may accomplish great things 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 fulfill the purposes of the One, Triune and Living God in this church and community, both now and always. Amen.

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

Sunday Prayers : Pentecost May 11, 2008

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering

Hymn:

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

People: Merciful Father, we know that our lives are not perfect, nor are we fully faithful or thoroughly devoted to You. We have gone astray and fallen into temptation, letting sin overtake our souls and permitting greed to damage our spirits. Gracious God, forgive the mistakes we have made, the disappointments we have caused, the responsibilities we have neglected, and the blessings we have wasted. Help us to yield our hearts and humble our pride through the pledging of our lives to Your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Compassionate Lord, thank You for hearing our prayers and petitions. Thank You for bringing Jesus into our lives. We know that His Sacrifice has canceled all our sins and created clean hearts, new lives, and faithful spirits within all of us. We make our prayers in Jesus’ Name and unite our hearts with Him, saying, “Our Father...THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus is the Bread of Life that we need to nourish our souls and strengthen our spirits. He alone has the power and authority to forgive our sins and restore us to God’s favor and grace. So let us celebrate His goodness and glory in His love, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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 – Kids & parents come down to front of the church

Baptism

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Be merciful to us, O God, for our worries burden us, especially when we are under pressure. O Lord, when we are anxious and afraid, help us to trust in You.
People: O God, whose words we praise, take away our fears and grant us peace of mind. We place our lives, and our loved ones into Your Holy hands.
Pastor: We pledge ourselves to Your Kingdom and humbly ask that You will heal us, and all whom we pray for, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. Hear us now as we personally pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

All: May we walk before the Lord in the light of His love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 56)

Anthem

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 & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication : Lord Jesus, we all belong to Your body of believers and we are called to support Your continuing ministry in our community and throughout the earth. Sanctify our tithes and gifts, so that they may be used for the life, work and mission of Your church. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn :

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

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 7th Sunday of Easter May 4, 2008

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude & Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty God and Most Powerful Lord, whose kingdom is boundless and whose authority can never be diminished, we come before Your Holy Throne to worship and adore Your ways, to honor and glorify Your deeds, to revere and esteem Your sacred words. You have called us to this place of peace and prayer. You have brought us to this sanctuary of strength and salvation, so that we may praise Your Holy Name and become renewed through Your wonderful love.

People: Gracious Lord, at times we ruin our faith through selfish and dishonest ways. There are moments in our lives when, through our pride, our greed, our longings and acts of defiance, we scorn Your sacred guidance and reject Your Holy commands. Forgive our foolish sins and redeem us from our random acts of unkindness, bitterness, indifference and intolerance. Pardon our neglect of caring for others, of forgetting to forgive our debtors, of ignoring those who need our help. Hear us now as we silently and sincerely confess our sins, our faults, our everyday mistakes.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful Father, tear down the walls of sin and pride which have separated our hearts from You. Lead us to Jesus Christ Your Holy Son and help us to follow His faithful ways. For we ask this in Jesus’ Sacred Name and through His own words we pray, saying, “Our Father, …THE LORD’S PRAYER…debts/debtors

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus performed many wonders and miraculous signs during His ministry on earth. Today, we each experience the miracle of absolute forgiveness and the wonder of being completely restored to God’s Holy Kingdom. So let us be thankful and rejoice, for Jesus is the One True and Only Savior that we will ever need. 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

Minute for Mission: Pentecost Offering

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Listen to our prayers, O God, do not ignore our pleas; hear us and answer us. We are troubled by our worries and made weary through our concerns.
People: Sickness and suffering has come into our lives by accident, injury, distress and disease. Our hearts are deeply troubled, and at times our minds find no peace; we are afraid of the future, so we need Your healing mercies.
Pastor: Almighty Father, enable us to face our fears, to overcome our anxieties and to vanquish all that harms us in body, mind, soul and spirit. Embrace us and help to rest; enable us to look to You for health and healing, for ourselves, our loved ones, and all whom we know. Hear us as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

All: Let us cast your cares upon the Lord, for He will sustain us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen..
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 55)

Singing of Jesus Draw me Close

Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, strengthen us through these sacred scriptures and help us to walk in Christ’s ways. Fill us with joy and gladness, so that we may rejoice in the Lord and praise all His wonderful words. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication : Lord Jesus, we bring these gifts from the many different fruits of our lives, and of the diverse blessings that You have given to each of us. Take this offering and bless it for the work of God’s Kingdom here on earth, through the ministries and missions that You have called Your people to continue and fulfill. In Your Holy Name. Amen.

Communion

Hymn :

Benediction: May Christ transform our lives by renewing our minds; may we discern what the Father’s will is for us and fulfill it each day; and may the Holy Spirit guide us towards all that is good, pleasing and perfect in God’s eyes, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 3rd Sunday in Easter 6 April 2008

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements
Prelude & Gathering

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: LORD God Almighty, Creator of the Universe and Sustainer of our lives, we come to You with our prayers and petitions, our cares and concerns. You have called us by name to come into Your House. You have welcomed us to this sanctuary of praise and peace, holiness and healing.

People: Loving God, in the midst of our troubles, we call upon Your Name. We look for Your help and inspiration; Your patience and forgiveness; Your mercy and grace. We have sinned against You and have allowed ourselves to be overcome by temptation. We have neglected our faith and cast aside Your words. Forgive our foolish and arrogant ways; pardon our selfish and faithless choices. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful Father, You could discipline and punish us, reject and ignore us. Instead, You lovingly allow us to approach Your Holy Son Jesus to seek forgiveness, absolution and acquittal for our sins. We praise You for sending Him to us and for His perfect and passionate sacrifice, which wipes out our wicked and wayward choices.

People: From our hearts and by our lips, we make these whispered prayers. We unite ourselves with Jesus, in whose words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father, …THE LORD’S PRAYER (DEBTS/DEBTORS)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: We believe and know that Christ is the Holy One of God. His Passion and obedience, His Crucifixion and sacrifice, have given us the glorious opportunity of remitting our sins, renewing our lives and restoring us 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.

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

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Come, let us pray for healing from the LORD; let us voice our concerns to the Rock of our salvation. We come before God with our personal pleas; we pray to Him sincerely and faithfully.
People: The LORD is the great God, the great King above all. He will hear our prayers and answer our needs. From His hands comes the power of healing. Have mercy upon us O Lord, for we belong to You.
Pastor: We are His, for He made us; He shapes our lives and has the power to save our souls. Almighty God, we bow down before You; heal us and all our loved ones from sickness and despair; pain and anxiety; suffering and depression. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

All: The LORD is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 95)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, let the words and ways of Jesus touch our hearts today. May His miracles and messages challenge our lives so that we may change our church, community and country. To the glory of God forever. Amen.

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication: Lord Jesus, we express our faith and thanksgiving through these tithes and offerings. Bless them for the life, work and ministry of Your church and the preaching, teaching and proclaiming of Your Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction :( in unison) May Christ be the Lord of our lives throughout our days on earth; may the Father enhance our faith and life through His loving ways; and may the Holy Spirit keep us serving the One, Triune and Living God, in this world and the next. Amen.

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