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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 67)

L: Let the peoples praise almighty God;
P: Let all the peoples shout to the Lord!
L: Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
P: For God judges the peoples with equity.
L: The earth has yielded its increase;
P: The Lord has truly blessed us.
L: Come, let us worship God!

 

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, from who all good things come: Lead us by the inspiration of your Spirit to think those things which are right, and by your goodness help us to do them; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

 

Invocation

Lord,
Renew in us the gift of your Spirit
So that we may be purified in the waters of repentance
And with one heart we may glorify your name and proclaim your mercy.
Open our minds to the scriptures
That they may become for us living words
And illumine our hearts.
Let your Spirit fill us with love
To inspire our prayers today for our sisters and brothers, and for the perfect unity of your church.
In the name of Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and with the Holy Spirit, For ever and ever.
Amen.

 

Prayer of Confession:

L: God's love for the world has been revealed in Jesus Christ, who loved us to the uttermost and gave up everything, even his life, for you and me.  God calls us through the words of St Paul to exercise self-control in all things and to give our lives as a living sacrifice unto God. Today we confess that we have not kept our focus on God's promise, we confess that we have not run the race with all our strength. Let us confess our sin to God:

L: Merciful God, we confess that so often our discipleship has been weak . . .

• L When we have failed to serve as Jesus served;
  P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                        (silent prayer)
   
• L: When we have failed to love one another as Jesus loves us;
  P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                         (silent prayer)
   
• L: When we have been happy to proclaim our devotion to Jesus with our lips and then denied him by our actions;
• P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                          (silent prayer)
   
• L: Merciful God, empower us by your Spirit to be steady and true to you in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance and Pardon:

L: Jesus said: "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world "(John 12:47b) and "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end"( John 13: 1b)  The good news therefore is this: In Jesus Christ, we are loved and we are forgiven.

All: Thanks be to God!

 

Prayer of the Day:

O great and ever-present God, we thank you for your faithfulness toward us.  You have promised to send Christ's Spirit to comfort, strengthen and encourage us.  You have placed us into the fellowship of the saints through whom your Spirit works and ministers.

Fill us once again with the Holy Spirit.  Use us as instruments in your hands, so that we may be empowered to go forth in His name to minister to a dying world.

May we be found faithful, watching, praying and working for your kingdom until the day the trumpet sounds and Jesus comes back in glory to usher in your Kingdom of Justice and Peace--world without end.  Amen.

 

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 river and tree of life. Preserve your whole church, sending the promised advocate, your Holy Spirit, that we may faithfully keep your word. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you are the glory and honor of the nations. Grant peace and unity in our world and encourage all those who would be peacemakers. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you heal those who are ill. Restore wholeness to all who are in any need (especially). For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you were the hope of Lydia, your disciple. Inspire this congregation by her witness and make us, like her, willing servants of the gospel. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for the power of the resurrection extends through all of life. Bless and guide all merchants and those who work for them, that their dealings may be honest and profitable, and that they may find joy in service. For this we pray:

Hear us, living God.

Blessed are you, for you write our names in the Lamb's book of life. At the last, bring us and all the faithful departed into that heavenly Jerusalem where there will be no more night and where your presence is the light of all. 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 for Vision

Good and gracious Lord, you have created the universe and filled it with marvelous and wonderful things. You have showered us with gifts beyond our imagining, most especially the gift of your Son. We praise You and thank You for all these gifts. We ask that You walk with us and inspire us as we strive to make good use of Your gifts to hasten the coming of Your Kingdom.

Give us a vision for building communities and ministries. Give us a vision of building not only for ourselves, but for all your people in this world. Give us clarity to see with Your Eyes; give us humility to listen to Your will; and give us boldness to do it.  Amen.

 

Prayer of Hope and Promise

Father, may the eyes of our understanding be flooded with Your light that we might know the hope to which we have been called and how rich is Your glorious inheritance.

May we ever, O Lord, carry the glory of mighty hope into our common duty and into the cross-bearing of the dreary day.

Father, prepare us for the height of blessing to which You have called us. Help us to accept gratefully the arduous things necessary to fully receive Your highest good for us.

 

Closing prayer (based on Psalm 67)

O God, be gracious to us and bless us
And make your face to shine upon us,
That your way may be known upon earth;
your saving power among all nations.
Send us forth in the Power of the Spirit of Christ.
Amen.

Amen.