Sunday Prayers - Ordinary 28B - October 11

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:                  As we are gathered, Jesus is here.

People:                 We acknowledge Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Pastor:                  Let us worship and glorify Him forever. Amen.

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, Maker of the Universe and Sustainer of Life, we come before You as servants seeking Your wisdom, as well as children cherishing Your love. We yield to Your authority and yearn for Your holiness. We freely submit to Your will and devote our lives to the application of Your Word.

People:                 Everlasting Majesty and Glorious Lord, You have the power to shake the foundations of our lives and to judge all of our sinful choices. You are totally aware of our selfish desires and foolish mistakes. We are guilty of greed and full of pride. We need to challenged and confronted by You each day, especially when we yield to temptation and fall into old sinful habits. Gracious God, hear us now, as we silently and personally confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving Father, without Jesus we would not experience salvation. Without Christ’s sacrifice, we would be bereft of any everlasting hope. We know that we are sinners and that He is the only Savior of our souls. In the Name of Jesus, we make these confessions and through His holy words we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:  Jesus is the Bread of Life, which means that He is the Only One who can sustain our spirits and nourish our souls. He has the authority to forgive our sins and the divine right to restore us to God. Let us celebrate and be glad, for Christ has come into our lives and we are fully forgiven of our sinful and selfish ways, 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.

Choir Anthem

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

Praise Song

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 We give thanks to You, O God, and glorify Your wonderful deeds. We pray that this sacred moment will become a special time of holiness and healing.

People:                 Heavenly Father, wherever we are, You are always with us. Whatever we face, You are there to support us. Examine our hearts and minds, as well as our bodies and souls. Pour out the blessing of Your healing power upon us and all our loved ones. Restore health and strength to all those for whom we now silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Let us declare the goodness of the Lord forever. May we sing and celebrate His wonderful ways. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.      (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 75)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, come among us and let us hear Jesus speak through these sacred scriptures. May His teaching and actions challenge our ways. May we cherish His words by applying them to our daily lives. In the Precious Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:

Dedication (unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, we bring before You our gifts and ask that You bless them to finance, aid, and support the many ministries and missions that You want us to support, through the lives, money, and resources of our congregation. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn:

Benediction (unison):  May we submit to Christ’s compassion and share His love throughout our lives; may we fully serve and obey our Father in Heaven each and every day; and may the Holy Spirit establish faithful hearts and devoted souls within all of us, as we serve the One, Triune God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology             Praise God, from whom all blessings flow & Postlude

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

Church Prayers for Ordinary 6 - Epiphany 6 - Feb 16

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               We wait for the LORD to come among us, as we place our hopes in His Word.

People:                 We trust in the LORD and His unfailing love. We are restored to His glory and kingdom.

Liturgist:               The LORD redeems us from our sins, so let us worship and glorify Him! Amen.

Hymn:  

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Lord, whose words have shaped our civilization and whose love sustains all our people, we humbly approach Your Holy presence and seek Your protection, providence, and peace. Each day, we are confronted with sinful and sorrowful distractions. We are tempted to give in to our sinful desires, and vain enough to justify our misdeeds.

People:                 Gracious Father, enter into our hearts and minds and fortify our Christian beliefs. Anoint our souls with Your Holy Spirit so that we may endure times of temptation. Forgive us for being weak and sinful people. Pardon our neglect of good works, charitable deeds, and sacrificial giving. Teach us Your ways and redirect our paths so that we may sincerely serve and honor You. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Lord, may we enter Your Presence with hope and thanksgiving. May we adore Jesus as our Savior, who gave of His Life so that we may be cleansed of the past, strengthened in the present, and restored to Your eternal Kingdom in the future. We make our confessions in Jesus’ Name and through His Own Words, we now pray, saying “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)”

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  When events go against us and we are fearful of what lies ahead, Jesus is there beside us, ready to calm the rough times in our lives with His mercy, grace, and never-ending love. So let us celebrate His wonderful deeds and glorious ways, both now and forever. Amen. 

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

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

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  We have heard what God has done in the past and we have each experienced His unfailing love in our lives. By His guidance, we have overcome our troubles, and through His mercy, we have flourished.

People:                 The Lord is our King and God forever. We seek His favor to forgive us. We look to Him for the hope of our healing. We pray that God will give us victory over our pain and sickness, over illness and disease, as well as discomfort and despair.

Pastor:                  Almighty LORD, hear our prayers and answer our heartfelt pleas. Touch us with Your Holy Spirit and enter into the hearts, minds, bodies, and souls of all our loved ones, so they may also be healed of all that harms them and restored to health, happiness, and wholeness.

               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May the LORD rise up and help us, restoring us through His unfailing love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                  (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 44)

Unison Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, possess our minds with Christ’s goodness and fill our spirits with the power of these sacred scriptures. Open our hearts to godly ways, and change our lives by challenging our ideas, opinions, and beliefs. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory     

Dedication Prayer (in unison – led by pastor):                   Lord Jesus, today You have given us a new hope and restored us to Your Father’s Kingdom. In return, we cheerfully give these tokens to You, praying that You will bless them for the ministries and missions that You have called our church to establish and accomplish. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.   

Hymn                                     

Benediction (unison):    May Christ bind us to His love, so that we may truly witness to Him; may our Heavenly Father keep us free from temptation, so that we may honor His ways; and may the Holy Spirit keep reminding us of God’s mercy and grace, so that we may remain truly thankful for all that we have been eternally promised and given. Both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Prayers for Ordinary 5 and Epiphany 5 - Feb 9

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               May God’s everlasting love be shared with us; may we each know of His grace and salvation.

People:                 We will live together in His Kingdom; we will seek God's wisdom and teaching in His House.

Liturgist:               Let us lift up our hearts and voices as we praise the Lord, whom we worship forever. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty God, whose power sustains all that lives and exists, and whose promises remain unbroken, as well as undiminished across the centuries; we worship You with our hearts and serve You with our lives. Your ways are infinitely beyond our own, and Your works are gloriously displayed throughout the universe; therefore, we pledge our loyalty and allegiance to You alone.

People:                Gracious Father, there are moments when we pursue our sinful desires and selfishly make bad choices; there are also times when we cast aside Your holy words and choose to follow our own understanding. Forgive us for being unfaithful, ungrateful, and unworthy of Your grace. Pardon us for separating ourselves from You, and forgive us for allowing pride, as well as greed, to dictate our self-centered decisions. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Loving God, we look to You for our salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. In Him, we find peace and pardon, faith and forgiveness, as well as restoration and redemption. We are thankful for His sacrifice and in His Holy Name, we continue to pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD'S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus shows mercy to us and restores us to God's kingdom forever. We rely upon His love and grace. We do not deserve these wonderful gifts, but we are truly thankful and eternally grateful for these blessings. With Christ, we are reunited to God's everlasting favor. To Him be the glory and power, forever and ever. 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:                 O Lord, in all of our hearts we know that You are with us. In each of our lives, we experience Your love. Look upon us, O Lord, and grant our prayers. Have mercy upon us as we seek Your favor and compassion.

People:                 We turn to You for help to diminish our fears. We call on You for healing, and to release us from pain. When our strength is at its lowest, grant us Your power. When our health is weak and fragile, be our support and shield. Hear us now as we silently pray.

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

Pastor:                  May the Lord restore us physically and mentally, as well as emotionally and spiritually. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.                 (Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 14)

Singing of 'Sanctuary.’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, You have called us to be here today. You want us to receive Christ’s message, and to apply His teachings in our daily lives. Open our hearts and minds to all that God gives us through His sacred words. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor)

Lord Jesus, You have called us to be Your followers, even though we are sometimes the least faithful among Your people. With this offering, we express our desire to re-dedicate our lives to You, and pledge our service to God’s Kingdom on Earth. Take our tithes and gifts, and use them for the continuing work of Your Church throughout the world. In Your Sacred Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (in unison):               May Christ make each of our lives a living testimony of faith; may the Father's love keep us focused on His ways; and may the Holy Spirit grant us wisdom and shower us with grace. To the glory and honor of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.     

Doxology & Postlude

Sunday prayers for Ordinary 27c -October 6th

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to worship

Liturgist:               Your word, O LORD, brightens our lives and guides our paths.

People:                 May our praises be acceptable to You, O God, as You teach us from the scriptures.

Liturgist:               Your ways are our gift forever; they are the joy of our hearts, so we will worship and glorify You, O Living God.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Lord God and King of the Universe, whose gracious words sustain the nations and whose power is almighty, we gather in Your Holy Name and offer our simple praises to Your Everlasting Majesty. Your divine ways cross over into our human lives and affect our decisions each day. All of our thoughts and deeds are known to You. All of our personal mistakes and secret sins are not hidden from You.

People:                 Eternal God, we are guilty of being selfish and proud, stubborn and bitter, as well foolish and sinful. We regret the self-centered choices that we have made, and the times when we have neglected our faith. We are ashamed of those occasions when we have disappointed You, and of those careless moments when we have dishonored the Name of Jesus. Forgive us, Father God, and hear us now as we personally confess our faults and sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Compassionate Lord, we praise You for hearing our prayers and accepting our pleas for forgiveness. We thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ and for His Sacrifice upon the Cross of Shame, which has given us hope, as well as the unequaled opportunity of being restored to Your favor and grace forevermore. In the Precious Name of Jesus, we pray together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide:                  Jesus knew that He had to die on the Cross for us. He also knows that we are severely tested by temptation and troubled by weaknesses throughout our lives. He is willing to forgive our sins when we come to Him freely, honestly, and sincerely. So let us exalt His Holy Name and rejoice in His favor forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri

Children’s sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Heal us, O LORD, and enable us to lead faithful lives; help us to trust in You without wavering. Look kindly upon us, LORD; pacify our troubled hearts and ease our anxious minds.

People:                 Your love is always with us; we gain strength from Your Saving Power and Eternal Truth. Heal us from all that harms us so that we may proclaim aloud your praise  and tell of all your wonderful deeds. Hear us now, as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May we lead faithful lives and be grateful for the mercy and compassion of the One, True and Living God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 26)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader :               Holy Spirit, do not forsake us or cause our faith to diminish. Encourage us through Christ’s words and build up our beliefs with His teaching. Open our hearts to His precious ways, and our lives to His Will. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison – led by pastor):       Lord Jesus, You are the Head of our church and at the center of our lives. All of the ministries and missions, programs and projects, as well as the experiences and events that we share, are sustained by Your Will and fulfilled through Your Love. Bless this offering so that these tokens may be used to enhance Your Kingdom in this community, and to glorify Your Holy Name.  Amen.

Communion

Hymn :                 

Benediction (unison):    May Jesus continually encourage and embrace us; may the Father forgive us and reconcile us to His ways; and may the Holy Spirit make us acceptable in the sight of the One, Triune, and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.

Postlude