Sunday Worship prayers - Lent 5C - March 17

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:                   O Lord of Life, whose presence is all around in the beauty of Creation, we come to worship You alone.

People:                 Open our hearts to Your loving ways and fill our souls with Your sacred power.

Youth:                   Bless us this day, Lord God, and make us one in faith, hope, and love forever. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord of all Creation, we proclaim You as our One, True, and Holy God. We seek to serve You as Your people and hope to please You with our praises. We thank You for bringing us to this special place of peace and prayer.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we want to honor You with our lives and completely follow Your ways.

Sometimes we fall into temptation and separate ourselves from Your Love, as well as closing our spirits to Your commands. Forgive us for rejecting Your words and damaging our faith by our unloving, unholy, and un-Christian actions. Hear us now as we humbly confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, You could condemn us for being sinful, but instead You graciously give us Your Son Jesus to die for our failures, faults, and fallen ways. By His wounds, we are healed. By His sacrifice, we are forgiven and restored to You forever. We bring these prayers in Christ’s Name and through His own words, we unite our hearts with Him, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                                  Jesus saves us from being eternally separated from God. He wants us to choose life over death, faith over fear, and obedience over defiance. When we sincerely come to Him for forgiveness, He grants us mercy and grace. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus our Savior rescues us 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

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  The LORD reigns, He is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. God establishes our world and sustains our lives. We are finite and frail, in need of help, healing and wholeness. We lift up our voices of prayer to God, from our anxious hearts and troubled minds.

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

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

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

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

Unison Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination

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

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

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

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May the God of everlasting hope fill us with joy and peace as we trust in Him this day, so that we may joyfully witness to the continuing mission of His Son Jesus Christ, and remain faithful to Him by the power of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Worship Prayers - Baptism of Jesus - 13 Jan

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Sacred God, whose power formed the universe and whose creativity made our world, we gather in this place of peace and praise to honor and glorify Your wonderful Name. For generations our people have been blessed by Your loving deeds and mighty acts. Your words and works continue to amaze and inspire us throughout the ages and across the nations.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we are humbled by Your blessings, for we know that we are unworthy of Your grace. You are righteous and we are sinful. You are mighty and truthful; we are weak and deceitful. Forgive us, Lord, for allowing pride, greed, and anger to blemish our hearts and souls. We are often shallow and selfish, faithless and false, hurtful and unholy. Hear us now as we personally ask forgiveness of You.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Loving Lord, we thank You for Jesus who cleanses our past mistakes and restores us to Your favor. By His mercy our sins are forgiven and He restores us to become trusted servants of Your Kingdom. We are eternally indebted to Christ, so we unite our spirits with Him through the saying of His words:

Our Father, who art in heaven…(The Lord’s Prayer – debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Jesus never said that believing in Him would be easy. He asks us to follow His ways and apply His words to our daily lives. When we fail to live up to His teaching, He is willing to forgive us if we choose to sincerely confess our faults to Him. So let us rejoice and be thankful that Christ is Our Savior, Lord, and God, both now and evermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung in unison): Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Hear, O LORD, and graciously answer us, for we are poor in spirit and in need of Your care. Guard our lives and protect us from illness, for we are devoted to You and Your ways.

People:                 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we call upon You this day for health and healing. Bring comfort to us, for to You alone we lift up our prayers and make our healing petitions.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

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

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination:

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

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we can never repay You for the eternal blessings of salvation. We gather before You our gifts and tithes as a thanksgiving offering for the faith we share.  Bless these tokens and give us guidance to use these gifts for the preaching of the gospel, the sharing of Your love, and the praising of our God. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (in unison):  May the God of hope fill us with His joy and grant us peace as we trust in Jesus Christ His Son; may we overflow with hope by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One God forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 26B - Sept 30

Approaching God

Welcome and announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Youth:   We will praise You, O Lord, with all of our hearts.
People: We will tell of Your wonders and rejoice in Your ways.

Youth:   We will be glad and sing praise to Your Name, O Lord Most High. Amen!

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, throughout our lives we have heard of the great things that You have done. You have watched over our people for generations. You have delivered us from evil and blessed us with Your good. As we gather in this sacred and special place, receive us as Your servants and children. Accept the praises we bring and allow us to acknowledge Your power, presence, and wisdom over our lives.
People:                 Gracious God, we understand our human frailties and limitations. We confess to being sinful and selfish, proud and impassive, stubborn and defensive. We have failed You many times and we often regret our past failures. Hear us now as we silently bring to You our confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, we thank You for Christ’s grace and mercy. In Him, we are forgiven and restored. By Him, our lives are given meaning and purpose, strength and hope. We make these prayers in Christ’s Name and through His everlasting words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)    

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: God speaks to us through the life, words, and ministry of Jesus Christ. He allows us to be forgiven of all our mistakes when we sincerely seek His forgiveness and pardon. Let us rejoice in our King, for Jesus is our Savior and everlasting Lord. 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

Minute for Mission – Outreach – Peacemaking

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us declare our joy to God, who is our strength; let us proclaim His great and mighty works! Gracious Lord, remove our burdens from us; release us from our deepest worries and concerns.

People:                 In the midst of our sickness and illnesses when we are weak and helpless, we look to You, O Living God to answer our prayers. Give us patience to wait for You; grant us mercy for all of our requests.

Pastor:                  Subdue our fears and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. Mend us and all our loved ones with Your healing Hands. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  The Lord will feed us with hope and strength; with His goodness and grace, we shall experience healing, hope and salvation. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 81)

Singing of Sanctuary

Prayer of Illumination

Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to receive these scriptures in ways that will challenge and change our lives. Let God’s words be acceptable to our hearts and minds, so that we may be transformed into becoming better servants for His Kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering and offertory

Dedication (unison, led by pastor):         Lord Jesus, in the giving 0f these gifts, we open doors for effective ministries and missions to be accomplished by our church. Our tithes and offering reflect our devotion to You and the work of Your Gospel throughout the world. Accept our treasures and our lives; our time, as well as our talents. May they be used for the glory of God’s Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we freely give and faithfully pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May the death of Christ make us realize how precious we are to Him; may the Father’s words and ways strongly influence our spirits and guide our lives; and may the Holy Spirit keep us faithful serving the One, Triune, and Living God, from this day forth and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

At Home Christmas Day Family Worship

At Home Family Worship Service for Christmas Day

With Christmas taking place on Sunday this year, some families are choosing to stay at home to be with their loved ones. The following is a short worship service that can be conducted at home during the traditional worship hour.

(Make copies for all of your family members to follow the worship and also have a candle to light at the beginning. You will need a Guide and a Reader from your family group to lead the service. Gather as a group around a small decorated table, possibly with a nativity scene, as well as a candle to light).

Call to Worship

Guide:                  Today we remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and that He became the Light of the World and the Savior of our souls.

All:                         We ask Christ to bless us this day and we praise Him for His Love which brightens the whole world.

(A candle is lit)

All:                         O Lord, May Your Light shine among us and Your Love bless our hearts. Amen.

Adoration and Confession Prayer

Guide:                  Heavenly Father, we thank You for the wonderful promises that were fulfilled when Jesus came to the Earth. We praise You for His amazing Life and sacred teaching that has given everlasting hope and joy to the whole world.

All:                         We know that we are unworthy to receive such blessings because we are selfish and sinful. We thank You that by Your Grace, we are forgiven of the past and restored to Your Love forever. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

Reading:              Luke 2: 4-15

Reader:                (4-5)      So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

All: (6-7)              While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Reader: (8-9)     And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 

All: (10-11)                          But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 

Reader: (12-14)                 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

All: (15)                                                When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." 

Amen and thanks be to God for His Holy Word.

Carol: First verse of ‘Away in a Manger.’

Away in a manger, no crib for His bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

Prayer for the World

Guide:                  Lord Jesus, we ask that You continue to be the Light of our world and that Your Church on Earth continues to fulfill Your work around the globe.

All:                         We pray for those who are hungry and homeless at this time. We ask that You enable Your people like us to help them whenever, wherever, and however we can.

Guide:                  We pray for those who are ill and weak, lonely and lost, grieving and sad. Comfort them and heal them. Embrace them and encourage them.

All:                         We pray for Your Peace to be known in our hearts and homes, in our country and throughout the nations. May Your Love direct our decisions and Your Light guide our ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Share the Peace of Christ with one another.

Carol:    2nd verse of  ‘O Come All Ye Faithful.’

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, Born this happy morning,

Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

O come, let us adore Him

O come, let us adore Him,

O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!

Benediction

All:         May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Presence of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forevermore. Amen.

End the service by extinguishing the candle