Memorial Day Worship: Poem/prayer

Memorial

Silently,

I will remember the host
Of men and women
Who paid the cost
For the Freedom I enjoy.

Respectfully,

I will remind
The next generations
Of the sacrifice
That previous generations
Gave to preserve our Liberty.

Tearfully,

I will recall those still living,
Whose hopes and dreams,
Lives and loves
Were completely altered
By unavoidable war
And selective service.

Proudly,

I will stand with them
And embrace the Stars and Stripes
In my heart and soul,
Feeling strongly connected
To its past, present, and future.

Thankfully,

I will honor those
Who selflessly gave of their youth,
And those who are still giving of their lives,
So that I and all others
May have a Freedom worth living,
A Hope worth advancing,
And a Life secured by Liberty.

(c) John Stuart 2013

Trinity Sunday prayers - Pentecost 1 - May 26

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Almighty God, at this special time we remember Your blessings and powerful deeds.

People:                 You have sustained us in times of crisis; You have delivered us throughout the years.
Liturgist:               Let us worship the LORD with thankful hearts and grateful praise. Amen.

Hymn:

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting Majesty and Lord of all Creation, we lift our hearts and voices to praise Your Holy Name and cheerfully rejoice in Your sacred presence. Throughout the entire Earth, millions of people are blessing and glorifying Your power. Today, we gladly join them in the worship of Your ways and the praising of Your deeds.

People:                 Gracious Father, we know that our lives are imperfect and filled with moments of sinful mistakes. We have been selfish, proud, and faithless; stubborn, greedy, and indifferent; angry, bitter, and spiteful. Heavenly Lord, forgive us when temptation overcomes us and sin overwhelms our hearts. Pardon us for neglecting our responsibilities and casting aside our faith. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving God, without Christ’s sacrifice, we would have nothing to restore us to You. We would have no escape from Your wrath, as well as no hope of entering into Your everlasting Kingdom. Humbly and thankfully, we make these prayers in the Name of Jesus, our Only Savior, and in His precious words, we unite our hearts, saying,

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

Promise of the Gospel:

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

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy upon us, for in You our souls take refuge. We cry out to You as the Most High God, who fulfills the purposes of our lives. Loving Lord, send forth Your mercy from Heaven; release us from our fears through the power presence of Your faithful love.

People:                 In the midst of our anxieties and troubles, grant us peace. From the discomfort of our illnesses and the suffering we endure, heal us, O Lord. Let Your goodness and grace, Your greatness and glory be experienced in our lives and those of our loved ones, as we seek healing from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Hear us now as we silently pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

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

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, may we walk through the Scriptures and be led to a beautiful place. May we be filled with wonder and amazement through all that Christ has done in our lives. 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 all have special gifts and talents, and we each have different resources and treasures. As we combine and gather them before You, may we glorify Your work and continue to enhance Your Name. Take our tithes and gifts; bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church, which You ask us to undertake, support, and fulfill in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Hymn:

Benediction (in unison):               May Christ keep us united to His body, so that we may accomplish great things in His Name; may the Father sustain us as members of Christ’s church, so that we may honor His Kingdom; and may the Holy Spirit grant us a new vision, so that we may fulfill the purposes of the One, Triune, and Living God in this church and community, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Pentecost clip art by Stushie

Some of the best clip art for Pentecost can be found on my flickr page. It's unique and specially created by me. If you would like to use it for church bulletins, websites, worship screens or newsletters, please let me know and I'll be delighted to let you have my permission.

You can find most of my Pentecost drawings at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Pentecost&w=93141201%40N00&z=t&s=rec

Sunday Worship Prayers - Easter 7C - May 12

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements

Prelude

Gathering

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Praise be to the Lord, our Rock, who teaches us His holy ways and leads us in the world.
People:                 The Lord is our loving God and living strength. He is our shield and deliverer.
Liturgist:               Let us worship God, in whom we take refuge. Let us serve Him together as one people before His Holy throne. Amen.

First Hymn

Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Guide: Everlasting Father, in whose presence we exist, we come before You looking for peace and love, as well as for wholeness and strength. We seek security in this sanctuary and acceptance in Your arms. We aim to please You with our praises and delight You with our songs.

People: Almighty Lord, You fully know our hearts and completely understand our minds. You have seen the secrets that make us sick and the sins that cause us shame. When we have gone astray or deliberately defied Your purpose for us, please forgive us. When we have rebelled against Your words and selfishly chosen to make bad choices, please pardon us. Hear us now, as we inwardly confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Gracious God, we know that we can only find rest and redemption, as well as forgiveness and assurance in Christ Jesus our Lord. Without His mercy, we are lost. Without His grace, we are cast away from You forever. Grant His peace to our hearts and minds, as we unite our spirits with Him, through the praying of His precious words:

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

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Christ works within us each day to show us God’s ways in the world. By forgiving us of sin, He grants us a new opportunity to begin our lives and to faithfully serve His kingdom. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and we are completely assured of salvation, both now and always. Amen.

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

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

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 Let us approach the Lord with our prayers and petitions; let us look to Him to fulfill His promises. As we bring to the Lord our worries and burdens, He will listen to our cries and pleas for help.

People:                 We come before God with our requests, remembering His glorious deeds and powerful ways. The Lord graciously hears the prayers of our hearts. He knows and understands all of our anxieties, and all of our cares.

Pastor:                 O Lord, we cherish You and ask for Your mercy. Heal us and all our loved ones. Grant strength and recovery, rest and renewal to those who are weary, ill, and troubled. Listen to our silent prayers, O Lord. Hear the deep and personal petitions from our hearts and souls.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 Praise be to God, who has not rejected our prayers or withheld His love from us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.       (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 66)

Singing of '"Sanctuary" (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:                Holy Spirit, do not hold our sins against us, but rather open our hearts and minds to Christ’s message that will change us today. Prepare us to accept and apply His words at this holy time and throughout our lives. In Jesus’ Name, we ask. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and the Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor):  Lord Jesus, we live in a material world that is obsessed with possessions. Each week, You give us an opportunity to cast off the chains of greed and avarice, insecurity and selfishness by contributing tithes, gifts, and alms to this congregation. Allow us to be open handed and generous, so that Your work in this church will be supported, augmented, and fulfilled.  In Your Holy Name, we joyfully give and cheerfully pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ reveal to us His work every day of our lives; may the Father help us to recognize where we need to be in His Kingdom; and may the Holy Spirit remove all barriers from our hearts, so that we may fully serve the One, Triune, and Living God in this world, and the next. From this time forth and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Kindle devotions: Five Minutes with God by John Stuart

My latest devotional e-book is published today. It's called "Five Minutes with God" and contains 52 short devotions. The devotions can be used as personal daily meditations or opening devotions at church meetings. They can also be used as discussion starters for small study groups.

Each devotion is inspired by a Bible verse and includes a personal reflection, story, or description of the context of the verse. Questions for reflection/discussion are also part of the devotion, which finished with a community prayer.

Throughout the book, examples of my artwork can be found, all of which relate to the chosen devotion. I enjoyed writing this book and believe its my best work to date. Click on the boxed link below to check it out on amazon.com. At only $1.99, it's a great spiritual investment, especially for busy Christians!

The book is published for Kindle and Kindle fire, but I-Pad, PC users, and tablets owners can download the free Kindle app to read it on their own mobile devices too!