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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 106)

L: Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD, or declare all his praise?
P: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
L: Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.
P: Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them;
All: That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage. Praise the LORD!

 

Call to Worship:

L: Good morning! God's morning!
C: Every morning is God's morning, followed by God's afternoon and God's evening.
L: All time is held in the arms of God.
C: We wake; we work; we rest and sleep; we live and learn; we share and die in the time God has made.
L: Come, let us worship our Creator on God's good morning.
C: Thanks be to God for this day, for this good morning, on which we worship the One through Whom all good things come. Amen.

 

A Jewish Prayer of Confession (use with Exodus 20)

Holy and awesome God, we stand in your presence filled with regret for our many sins and failings.
Though there is greatness in us, and a deep longing for goodness, we have often denied our better selves and refused to hear your voice calling us to rise to the full height of our humanity.

For there is weakness in us, as well as strength. At times we choose to walk in darkness, our vision obscured.  We do not care to look within, and we are unwilling to look beyond at those who need our help.
O God, we are too weak to walk unaided.
Be with us as a strong and wise friend,
and teach us to walk by the light of your truth.

Prayer for Joy (use with Philippians 4:1-9)

Thank You, Father, for Thy unspeakable Gift, The Lord Jesus. We know that all the unknown joys He gives were bought with agonies unknown.

How can we praise Thee enough Lord Jesus for becoming peerless in misery that we might partake in the fullness of joy.

O Father, our longing desire is that through the sanctifying ministry of Thy Blessed Holy Spirit, Thine inheritance, Thy precious communion of saints, might bring continual and unspeakable joy to Thy heart.

 

Prayer of Gregory Nazianzen (God and the Stranger--fits with Mt. 24:1-14)

Blessed be God the Word,
Who came to His own and His own received him not,
For in this way God glorified the stranger
O God, show us your image in all who come here today,
that we may welcome them, and you.  Amen. 

 

Benediction/Closing Prayer (Jude 24-25--NIV)

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.