Sunday Worship prayers : Ordinary 19A - Pentecost 8 - August 7

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Great is the LORD in the universe; He is exalted above all of Creation.

People:           We will praise His almighty and everlasting name; He is awesome and holy.

Pastor:             Let us worship and glorify our God. Let us magnify and bless the Lord! Amen.

First Hymn:

           

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:             Immortal Creator and Everlasting Father, whose power sustains the universe and whose will enables life to endure; we applaud Your wonderful deeds and adore Your gracious ways. You formed our planet and permitted us dominion over the Earth. We approach You with our prayers and now come to You, confessing our sins.

People:           Loving God, we often question Your words and sometimes doubt Your decisions about our lives. We cast aside Your counsel and decline to accept Your commands. We think too highly of ourselves and allow pride to diminish our humble faith. Forgive us for subverting Your kingdom and ignoring Your sovereignty over us. Hear us now as we express our regrets and repent of our sinful ways.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:              Merciful Lord, without Your Son Jesus Christ, there would be no opportunity for forgiveness or restoration, repentance or reconciliation. We thank You for His sacrifice and seek to pledge our lives to Him.

We have made our confessions in Christ's Name and so through His holy words, we further pray, saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)

           

Promise of the Gospel:

Guide: Every day we break God's Law and dishonor His commands. We put ourselves under severe and eternal punishment, from which only Jesus can save us.  He alone has the power to pardon and return us to God's Kingdom. Let us rejoice and be glad in His Name. 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)

Offertory anthem and Offering

Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You know the secrets of our hearts, and yet You still allow us to come to worship You. You have permitted Your holy presence to be experienced in this sacred place. We thank You for these blessings and bring before Your our tithes and gifts, our loyalty and lives. Bless them for the work of God's Kingdom and the praising of His Everlasting Name. Amen.

Children leave for Enrichment

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             O Lord, You have searched our spirits and You know us completely. You see all that we do and perceive our thoughts, our worries and concerns.

People:           You are familiar with all of our ways; You understand all that we experience.

Before we voice our prayers, You know what we are about to ask.

Pastor:             When we feel pressure or suffer from stress, You lay Your loving hand upon us. Your presence is wonderful; we appeal to You for healing and peace to come upon us and all our loved ones. Hear us now as we pray.

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

Pastor: We are never out of God's reach. We always belong to Him. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 139)

           

Singing of “Jesus, Draw me Close.”

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, spread God's Word into our hearts and souls, so that we may grow spiritually and become obedient to Christ Jesus in faith, hope, and love. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ embrace us each day and fill us with His love; may the Father send us into the world with His strength; and may the Holy Spirit guide us to worship the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

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

            

Sunday Worship prayers - Ordinary 15 A - July 10

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Pastor:                 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

People:                 We will come before Him with thanksgiving; we will praise Him with music and song.

Leader:                 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods Amen.

First Hymn:

               

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                 Almighty King and Everlasting Lord, whose dominion is unlimited and whose kingdom never ends, we offer You our hearts and souls, our prayers and praise, our love and adoration. Creator of the Universe and Maker of heaven and earth, we joyfully approach Your throne of grace to celebrate Your sovereignty and worship Your sacred ways.

People:                Benevolent God and Heavenly Father, Whose ways are recorded in the holiest of books and Whose will is always fulfilled, we confess to being unfaithful, unworthy, and, at times, unwilling servants of Your Kingdom. We have challenged Your choices; we have protested against Your purposes; we have rebelled against Your words. Forgive us for following our own ways and pandering to our selfish desires. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                  Gracious God, we seek Your favor through Jesus Christ our Lord. Only He can restore our lives and grant us mercy. In Him alone, we find salvation through His sanctification. Therefore, in the Name of Jesus, we make our pleas and through His precious words, we continue to pray, saying ,  "Our Father, Who art in heaven..." THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

               

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: We gather together in this holy place to seek Christ's Spirit and to learn from His ways. He has died to set us free from sin, so let us live in that liberty which Christ has purchased by His blood, for all of His people, 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.

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

Offering & Offertory anthem

Dedication (unison):      Lord Jesus, throughout the ages, You have talked to the hearts of our people, challenging us to change our ways and causing us to reflect upon God's will for our lives. Today we gather before You our tithes and offerings, asking that You will bless these gifts for the furtherance of Your mission and ministry in our church, community, and world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

(Children leave for Enrichment and Planet worship program)

Encountering God

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 As servants of the Living God, let us lift up and praise His holy name. In this house of holiness, we seek His blessings and favor, asking for the Lord to minister to our troubled souls. We know that the LORD is good, so we pray for strength and healing from Him.

People:                 We are His treasured possessions; our lives are compassionately held in His loving hands. We know that the LORD is great and His power surpasses all of creation.

Pastor:                 Merciful Lord, You do what pleases You best, yet we ask for mercy and peace, healing and wholeness for us and our loved ones. Free us and preserve us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

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

Pastor:                  The LORD oversees the entire Universe and sustains it with His word. May we be comforted, healed, and blessed from the riches of His infinite grace. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 134)

               

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close.’ (twice)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:                Holy Spirit, You have called us to be here in God's House, so that we may learn from Christ's teaching and grow in His wisdom. Grant us open hearts and minds, so that we may fully receive and embrace all that God graciously reveals to us through His sacred scriptures and Living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):    May Christ greet us with His grace and goodness each day; may the Father strengthen our church family to be a household of holiness, wholeness and healing; and may the Holy Spirit keep our faith, love and hope in the One, Triune and Everlasting God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

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

                

Sunday Worship Prayers - Ordinary 14 a - July 3

Approaching God

Prelude

Welcome & Announcements

Gathering

Call to Worship

               

Pastor:                 The LORD does not reject His people; He will never forsake His faithful ones.

People:                 He supports us in times of trouble; He consoles us when we are afraid.

Pastor: The LORD is our fortress and shelter; in God we find our rock and refuge. Amen.

First Hymn:

               

Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Guide:                 Mysterious Majesty and Loving Lord, whose awesome deeds are constantly displayed across the Universe, we gather in Your Holy House to praise Your Sacred Name. Your divine power sustains our lives and Your words bring strength to our hearts. We humbly bow before You in prayer, placing our souls into Your hands.

People:                Merciful Lord, we know that we have offended You with our sinful ways and selfish acts. We have annoyed You with our arrogance and conceit, our pride and vanity. We seek pardon for all our offences and forgiveness for every sin that we have committed. We look to You for the mercy that we don't deserve, and the grace that we can never earn. Hear us now as we silently confess our faults and failings to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Heavenly Lord, we thank You for the gift of Your amazing love in Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son and our Only Savior. Without His sacrifice, our lives would be doomed for death and destruction. With His grace, our hopes are restored and our eternal salvation secured. In Christ's Name, we make our confessions and continue to pray in His Holy Words, saying,  "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

               

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: When Christ comes among us and we sincerely confess our sins to Him, He forgives all of our faults and returns us to God's favor. For our sake, Jesus came into the world, to die for our sins and to grant us salvation. For the bounty of this blessing, we will praise and glorify His Name, both now and forevermore. Amen.

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

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

Encountering God

Offering & Offertory Anthem

Offering sung:  God, Whose giving knows no ending, from Your rich and endless store,

                                Nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom, Costly cross, grave’s shattered door:

Open wide our hands, in sharing, as we heed Christ’s ageless call,

Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, serving You by loving all.

Dedication(unison):       Lord Jesus, You enrich our lives with faith and expect us to deepen our commitment to You. As we spiritually mature, You teach us responsibilities of stewardship and support, of giving and tithing. Take our combined offering and bless it for the continuing work of Your ways in this church and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray.  Amen. 

Children leave for Enrichment & Planet Worship

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us praise the LORD and give the glory due to His Name. Let us faithfully serve God and honor Him with our love and lives.

People:                 We are His servants, so we seek His help and support in times of sickness and worry. May the Lord minister to us in the midst of our troubles and bring peace to our fearful minds.

Pastor:                  Let us lift up our prayers and petitions to One, True and Living God. Let us call upon Him to restore our strength and health. May He heal us and 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:                  May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless our prayers. In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 134)

               

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:                Holy Spirit, You have gathered us here to receive Christ's teaching and to welcome His word. Help us to apply these lessons in our daily lives, so that we may share His ministry through our church and community. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Sacrament of Holy Communion

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ test our faith each day and strengthen our devotion to Him; may the Father greet us each morning with His love and guide us by His words; and may the Holy Spirit keep us belonging and loyal to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology             Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & 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 - Pentecost - June 12

(please note the change of order during the summer months)

Approaching God

Prelude

Announcements & Welcome

Gathering

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Holy Spirit, You are our Promised Comforter and Advocate. We seek Your sacred and powerful presence as we worship today.

People:            You have protected our people and guided our ways. You are the source of our faith and the strength of the Lord in our lives.

Pastor:             Let us acclaim the Holy Spirit as God in our hearts and the Divine presence in our church! Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Almighty Creator, whose Spirit sustains the universe by a sacred word and who fills the cosmos with love, we call upon Your Sacred Name and glorify Your everlasting grace.

People:            Lord of Life and King of all Creation, You feed our souls with true faith and nurture our spirits with holiness. We worship Your wonderful deeds and praise Your unlimited power.

Guide:            Merciful Father, we hunger for Your favor and thirst for Your blessing. We shamefully confess our failings and humbly ask forgiveness for all our mistakes. We know that we have offended and disappointed You. We recognize that we have made the wrong decisions, taken the wrong paths, and disobeyed Your words. Have mercy upon us and hear us as we repent and pray.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Loving Lord, even though we have rebelled against You, You have given us Jesus, to save us from our sins and return us to Your kingdom. On this wonderful day, We gratefully receive Your Holy Spirit and pledge our lives to Your Only Son, our Savior and Lord, in whose words we continue to pray, saying, 

"Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Christ hears our prayers and releases us from God's condemnation. He reveals to us God's purpose for our lives and has promised us the coming of the Holy Spirit into our lives. Let us rejoice and be grateful for Christ’s mercy and grace. In Jesus' Name, we pray. 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)

Baptism 

Encountering God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, we give You thanks for the many ways we can express our faith. You bless us each day and we are deeply grateful for the salvation of our everlasting souls. Before Your throne, we gather our tithes and offerings, asking that You will take and bless them for the life, work and ministry of Your church at Erin and throughout the earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Children leave for Enrichment

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             Our hearts are not too proud to call upon You, O Lord, for healing and wholeness. We look to Your Spirit for strength and support, encouragement and restoration.

People:                        You know the concerns that we carry in our hearts; You understand the fears that trouble our spirits. O Spirit of the Living God, we pray that Your healing peace will quieten our anxious souls.

Pastor:             We come before You, Loving Spirit, as servants in need of compassion, comfort, and care. We call upon You to heal us and our loved ones of all that harms, hurts, and hinders 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.

Pastor:             We will put our hopes in the Lord, both now and forevermore. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 131)

Unison Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close’.

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, enable us to rejoice in Christ's teaching and leave this sacred place strengthened by His words and renewed to His cause. In Jesus' Name, we pray.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Closing Hymn:

Benediction (unison):             May Christ mold us and keep us strong as a family of faith; may the Father’s outstanding and amazing love sustain us each day; and may the Holy Spirit enhance our devotion and increase our service to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

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