Trinity Sunday Prayers - May 31st

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

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

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

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

Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

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

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

- SILENCE -

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

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  We cannot command Christ to pardon us for our sins. We can only confess our faults and then put our lives into His hands.  Our hope of absolution and salvation comes from Christ alone, so let us anticipate this great miracle in each of our lives - the miracle of Christ’s complete forgiveness and eternal restoration.  Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

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

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us humbly come before the Living Lord of all the Earth. Let us bring before God with our personal prayers and Individual pleas. We know that the Lord has made us and that He can grant us peace and strength, help and healing. We remain in this holy place and wait for hope. We seek the Lord's favor for ourselves and all our loved ones.

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

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

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

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

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

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

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

Hymn

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

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers: Trinity Sunday - Trinity B - June 03

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:              We will glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; we will praise Your Name forever and ever.
People:           You are almighty, O God, and most worthy of our praise; Your greatness no one can fathom.
Youth:             Let us cheerfully commend the works of the Lord to one another; let us worship the One,                        Triune, and Living God. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Guide:              Almighty God, who sustains the seasons and commands the weather, whose power upholds the forces of nature and the climate of our world, we glorify Your mighty deeds and honor Your eternal words. Your promises are always fulfilled, therefore we covenant this time to praise You; we set aside this hour to glorify Your Holy Name.

People:           Loving Father, we confess to being unfaithful and disloyal to Your ways. We admit to allowing temptations to overcome our resolve and letting our troubles weaken our faith. We know that we have disappointed You on numerous occasions this week and we have harbored grudges, made selfish choices, or have allowed pride to overrule our hearts. We have failed to attain Your standards, so we are guilty of offending You with our sins. Hear us now as we make our personal confessions to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:              Heavenly Father, we thank You for Jesus Christ, our Savior and Your Son. He covers us from all our sins and shields us from Your wrath. His perfect sacrifice has obtained forgiveness and restoration to us. His resurrection has given us hope and salvation. May we now be united to His Spirit and remain in His enduring love. With Christ’s own words, we conclude our prayers, saying, ‘Our Father...’ THE LORD'S PRAYER (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:              Jesus is the Holy Son of God, who challenges our ways and confronts our sins. He alone has the power to reclaim us for God and to return us to His Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our everlasting Savior and glorious Lord, both now and always. 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.

Minute for Mission

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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             May God be gracious to us and bless us with health and healing. May His holy ways be made known among us; may His salvation be experienced by all of His people.

People:           May we praise the Lord at all times; may we know of His abundant love and abiding strength. May our loved ones know of the Spirit’s healing presence; may they be glad of His compassion and care.

Pastor:             O Lord, we pray that You will heal our hearts and spirits, as well as our bodies and minds. Bless us with Your grace and bestow Your mercy upon all our loved ones. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:             God will bless us and all the Earth will know of His love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. 

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 67)

Singing of “Sanctuary.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, we seek Your approval over all that we do; grant us Your guiding presence. Open our hearts and minds to the message of these scriptures and grant us ways to apply them in our church.  In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison - led by pastor):            Lord Jesus, we offer to You our tithes and gifts. We take them from the resources and finances that You have already given to us. Therefore, we return the fruits of our lives to You and ask that You will bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church. Amen.

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):            May Christ help us turn to Him each day for guidance, approval, and love; may the Father be pleased with our faith and protect us from our fears; and may the Holy Spirit bless our souls, so that we may continue to worship, honor and glorify the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Prayers for Pentecost - 27 May

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:             Lord, You have been our safe haven and dwelling place for many generations.

People:           Even before the mountains were born, or the Earth was ever created, You ruled the universe,

Youth:             From people to people, and from nation to nation, You are praised throughout this world. We                             will worship and glorify Your Spirit forever!

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:              Everlasting God, whose kingdom is above all the nations, and whose dominion extends throughout all of creation, we come to worship Your ways and praise Your sacred Name. Your words are constantly being fulfilled and You ways can never be diminished. We approach You humbly and reverently, seeking to please You with our songs and to petition You with our prayers.

People:           Gracious Lord, we are sometimes troubled by temptation and besieged by sin; we are continually fighting against faithless ways and selfish choices. In the midst of all our restless and misguided ways, forgive us for failing You, for neglecting the needs of others, and for imposing our sinful demands on those around us.  Hear us now as we make our sincere confessions.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Compassionate Lord, You have given us Your Son Jesus to save us from our mistakes and faults. He alone can cleanse us of the past. By His merciful promises, we can prevail; through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can be restored. In Christ, we place our lives and souls, seeking mercy and absolution, forgiveness and salvation. In His Name, we pray, saying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus came into the lives of many people and brought them God’s goodness. His words were full of healing and holiness, as well as challenge and change. We have come to Him this day with our confessions and He has received our prayers. Let us give thanks and rejoice, for Christ is our everlasting Savior and merciful King. 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.

Minute for Mission

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

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Memorial Day:            List of the dearly departed in the last year and a time of respectful silence

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             We cry to the Lord in the midst of our troubles; we come to Him with our worries and fears. The Lord listens to our voices and is attentive to our prayers for health and strength, peace and healing. Through the Holy Spirit, we find forgiveness and compassion, grace and love. He is the source of our strength and the center of our existence.

People:           We wait for the Lord to be merciful. We call upon His Holy Name and seek salvation through Him alone. We place our hopes for healing in Him; we offer our family and friends into His unfailing love. May we each be healed of all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

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

Pastor:             God Himself will answer our prayers and set us free from all our fears. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 130)

Singing of 'Sanctuary’.

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:           Holy Spirit, persuade us by the power of these sacred words to apply Christ's teaching in our lives. Enable us to grasp the meaning of today's message and to seek ways with which to practice its importance. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):              Lord Jesus, we give You thanks for all that You have done on our behalf and especially for granting us salvation. We place before You our tithes and offerings, humbly asking that You bless them for the growth of Your church, the advance of faith in our community, and the expressing of the Gospel throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):            May we remain in Christ and continue to honor Him each day; may the Father captivate our hearts and minds, so that we may serve Him with our gifts and talents; and may the Holy Spirit keep us true to our faith in the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology         Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & 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 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 - Christmas 2A - Second Sunday in Christmas - January 02

Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Gathering & Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Everlasting God, whose goodness knows no bounds and whose greatness is unsurpassed, we worship Your ways and adore Your almighty power. Your will sustains the universe and Your word brings purpose to our lives; we praise You for Your faithful promises and enduring love.
People:            Merciful Father, we confess that there are times in our lives when we are mistaken, selfish, and sinful. There are moments in our days when we allow temptation, pride, and foolishness to overrule our hearts and minds. When we damage our souls with false words and faithless ways, forgive us. When we waste our talents and squander Your blessings, pardon us. Hear us now as we admit our sins to You.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide:                         Loving God, who hears our contrite pleas and listens to our confessional prayers, we place our lives and souls into the precious hands of Christ Jesus, our Savior and Your Holy Son. In Him, we seek forgiveness and pardon, redemption and restoration. Through His sacred words, we continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide:                         Jesus seeks to display God’s work in each of our lives. Through His sacrifice, we are reclaimed as God’s children. By His authority, we are reborn into God’s Kingdom. Let rejoice and praise Him 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.
Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Encountering God
Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor:             Let us look to the Lord for help and healing; let us rejoice in His power and grace. May God become our stronghold of salvation and fortify our faith with His goodness and mercy.
People:            May we flourish in God’s house, earnestly desiring deliverance and expecting great things from His Holy Spirit. We will trust in God’s unfailing love and hold on to His promises forever and ever.
Pastor:             Heavenly Father, send forth Your Holy Spirit to heal our broken bodies, weary souls, anxious minds, and heavy hearts. Graciously answer our prayers and bless the lives of all our loved ones with Your healing touch this day. Hear us now as we silently bring our healing prayers to You.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor:             May we praise God for the deeds He has done, the hopes He has fulfilled, and the goodness He has given. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 52)

Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close."

Prayer of Illumination: 
Reader:            Holy Spirit, we live in God’s presence and seek Christ’s wisdom each day. Open our hearts and minds to receive the holy lessons of faith that You would bestow upon us through these scriptures now. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication Prayer (unison)

Lord Jesus, as we embark upon this New Year, help us to recommit our lives and resources to You. Raise our spirits and cheer our souls. Grant us the blessings of cheerful giving and loving hearts. Take our tithes and gifts for Your work in this church, and the ministries that You ask us to fulfill in Your Holy Name. Amen. 
Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):            May Christ write His compassion across our hearts; may the Father keep us as servants of His Kingdom; and may the Holy Spirit empower and enable us to witness to the glory of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Trinity Sunday - June 7

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering Song and Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty LORD God of Hosts, whose Kingdom is everlasting and whose will shapes the history of humankind, we praise Your Holy Name and exalt on high Your wonderful deeds. You are the Father of the nations on Earth and Lord of the islands in the sea; we give glory to You alone. We seek to worship You with our prayers and praises, and to serve You our hearts and minds.

People: Merciful God, we have succumbed to sin and have been deeply troubled by temptation. Pride has painfully damaged our spirits and greed has diminished our faith. Instead of honoring You with Christian service, we have hindered Your work through our faithless love. Sometimes our paths have strayed from Your Presence and our ways have not been Your own. Forgive our mistakes and pardon our sinful deeds. Hear us now as we silently confess our wrongdoing and errors to You alone.

- SILENCE -

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

Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus, through the love of His Father, gives us the Bread of Heaven. By Christ’s wounded body, our broken ways are healed; by His perfect obedience, we are reclaimed by God. Therefore let us cheerfully rejoice, for our sins are completely forgiven, both now and forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri(sung): 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 on our bodies, in our minds, and within our hearts. Arise to help us; look upon our plight!

People: O LORD God Almighty, You are the God of our people; please defend us from illness and disease; deliver us from sickness and pain. Loving Lord, become our Strength; 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, our refuge in times of trouble.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

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

Anthem

The Message: Part 1

Singing of Jesus, Draw Me Close

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

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part 2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we have seen Your work being undertaken, supported, and accomplished in this church. We have heard Your challenges to us through the preaching of the gospel. Take these simple gifts, the tokens of our gratitude, and bless them for the purposes of Your Kingdom in ministry, mission, service and stewardship to glory of Your Holy Name. Amen.

Communion

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

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

Sunday prayers: Trinity Sunday 18 May 5-18-08

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Prelude & Gathering

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession

Guide: Almighty Father, whose sacred Word brought this universe into being, and whose divine Will sustains all life, we approach You as humble servants and children, as disciples and followers of Christ. Everlasting God, Your ways are never thwarted, and Your works signify Your immortal greatness; we applaud Your plan of salvation, and we exalt You above all others.
People: Gracious Father, before we knew You, we were enemies of Your kingdom, and even rebelled against Your Son. We have been reckless with our faith, and wasteful with our lives. We constantly surrender to temptation and give way to our fears. Merciful Lord, save us from our sinful and selfish ways. Keep us from damaging our souls and blemishing our spirits. We ask for forgiveness and seek Your grace. Hear us now as we silently confess to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Heavenly Father, without Jesus as our Savior, we would be cast away from Your loving presence forever. Without His sacrifice, we would have no opportunity to be forgiven, nor would we ever be restored to Your everlasting kingdom. Thank You for giving Jesus to us, in whose words we continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, …:THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)


Promise of the Gospel

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

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

Minute for Mission; VBS

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: We revere the Lord and seek His blessings; we come into His presence and abide in Him. May the Lord grant us health and healing, strength and support. May the fruits of our prayers enhance our faith and increase our devotion to Him.
People: May our loved ones and siblings, our families and friends receive help and power, energy and determination to overcome their illnesses and anxieties, their troubles and worries. O Lord, we seek peace for our souls, health for our hearts, and strength for our minds.
Pastor: Gracious God, have mercy upon us as we ask for healing. May we experience Your Holy Spirit within us and let us be restored physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Hear us now as we silently pray, for our loved ones and neighbors, our families and ourselves.

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

All: May the LORD favor us with His blessings of health and strength. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 128)

Singing of “Jesus Draw me Close”

Prayer of Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, You inspired Christ’s first to spread the Good News and to proclaim the victory of God's Kingdom over all the earth. Lift up our spirits in the same ways, and rekindle our faith through the lessons that we read, hear, and accept. In Christ's Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings, Sermon, & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication: (unison)

Lord Jesus, we have sang Your praises and received Your message. We have been empowered by Your Spirit and embraced by God. Take these gifts and tokens, tithes and offerings as our cheerful response to Your Word and our grateful thanks for Your Love. Bless them for the continuing work of the Gospel, the glorifying of God's kingdom, and the praising of Your Holy Name. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

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

Doxology & Postlude