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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 30)
L: I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my
foes rejoice over me.
P: O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
L: Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his
holy name.
P: For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
L: You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and
clothed me with joy.
P: My soul will praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give
thanks to you forever.
Call to Worship
L: Come, let us worship the the risen Christ. Let us behold the beauty of
his Majesty.
P: In the Name of Jesus we have the ultimate victory. In the Name of
Jesus all things will be restored.
L: May the LORD remove the veil from our spiritual eyes, so we may worship Him
in Spirit and in truth.
Call to Worship
Alleluia! Alleluia! Let us praise the LORD! How can we find worthy praise
to the LORD for His mighty creation, His mighty works? Let us praise the LORD
from the tops of the mountains and the depths of the valleys! Let us praise
the LORD with our hearts, with our words, with our lives! Let us praise the
LORD by living in response to His mighty love, with acts of love to all our
brothers and sisters, with songs of praise throughout each day! Let us praise
the LORD! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Invocation
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The grace and peace of Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead to bring
everlasting hope, be with you all.
And also with you.
Let us pray. O God, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this
fallen world, rescuing us from the hopelessness of death. Grant your faithful
people a share in the joys that are eternal; through your Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever. Amen.
PRAYER
OF CONFESSION
by Rev. Laidlaw, used by permission;
http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/
VOICE 1: Risen Lord Jesus, what is it that keeps us from recognizing you?
VOICE 2: Often we are so full of ourselves that it's easy to block you right
out of our lives.
VOICE 1: Maybe it's the way we interpret Scripture that obscures the signs
pointing to you.
VOICE 2: Perhaps we are guilty of being slow of heart when we don't
recognize you in our neighbor, or in the guise of the poor or the dispossessed.
VOICE 1: Our eyes and ears have become so crammed with the sights and
sounds of living that we simply fail to see you or to recognize your voice.
Risen Lord Jesus, help
us to empty ourselves of all that hinders our
awareness of your presence with us. Fill us with the joy of knowing
your continuing presence, so that, like those travelers on the road to Emmaus,
we too, hasten to share this great good news with others
Amen.
Help us to empty ourselves of all that hinders our
awareness of your presence with us. Fill us with the joy of knowing
your continuing presence, so that, like those travelers on the road to Emmaus,
we too, hasten to share this great good news with others
Amen.
Prayer of the Day:
LORD, you have revealed yourself to your disciples as you
appeared in their midst and allowed them to see Jesus for who He is. Illumine
us also so that we may find Jesus in our midst and that we may understand the
mystery of your work of salvation.
Open the eyes of our hearts, LORD, allow us to see a glimpse
of your heavenly realm. Reveal your resurrected Son to us, we pray, and
empower us to a life of sharing your grace, love and peace with others. Amen.
A Prayerful Declaration of Love to God (Gospel)
You, who alone is worthy of all love and adoration, cause me
to not only know your precious word, but let it become a medium through which
I might encounter you in the depth of my heart. You ever surround me with a
sense of boundless love and infinite wisdom. Through your Spirit, strengthen
the bond of love between us every day. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and
declare your great love for Him in all the earth!
Prayer of Intercession
Rejoicing in the resurrection, let us remember in prayer the church, the
world, and all those in need.
Blessed are you, for you are the source of every gift for ministry. Bless the
work of leaders in your church and all who respond to your call. Give them
confidence that with your call comes every necessary tool and talent. For this
we pray:
Hear us, living God.
Blessed are you, for you are the joy of every creature of your making.
Preserve your creation from all harm and guide our stewardship of the earth. For
this we pray:
Hear us, living God.
Blessed are you, for you promise to be always with us. Deliver those in any
need (especially), and those who suffer alone, who are homebound, lonely, or
depressed. Encourage them by the ministry and consolation of this community. For
this we pray:
Hear us, living God.
Blessed are you, for you inspire angel choirs in glory. Bless the work of
those who make music and art in this congregation that through their witness
your name may be glorified. For this we pray:
Hear us, living God.
Blessed are you, for you always richly feed your followers. Give this
congregation both the will and the gifts to extend that nourishment to many in
our community. For this we pray:
Hear us, living God.
Blessed are you, for you sent Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life.
Deliver us from every adversity and at the last bring us, together all your
saints, to your feast of victory. For this we pray:
Hear us, living God.
With alleluias in our hearts and on our lips we commend to your care all for
whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Prayer of Devotion / Re-Dedication
by St. Augustine
Lord,
let my whole heart
be inflamed with love for you;
let nothing in me belong to me
and let me have no thought for myself;
let me burn
and be wholly consumed in you;
let me love you with my whole being
as one set on fire by you.
