____________________________________________________

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 85)

L: The Lord has shown favor to our land, He restored the fortunes to Jacob.
P: The Lord forgave the iniquity of our people and pardoned all our sin.
L: Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us!
P: Show us your steadfast love, o Lord, and grant us your salvation.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord.

 

Call to Worship:
L: God does not hold the past against us.
P: His compassions are new every morning.
L: Give praise to God, for he is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
P: His faithfulness extends to all generations.
L: Come, let us worship God!

 

Invocation

Sisters and brothers, called to freedom in Christ: Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all.

And also with you.

Let us pray. O God, your ears are open always to the prayers of your servants. Open our hearts and minds to you, that we may live in harmony with your will and receive the gifts of your Spirit; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

 

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, help us examine our hearts so that we may be convicted of our sins and shortcomings through the ministry of your Holy Spirit within us.

We come to you in the name of Jesus, your Son and our High Priest. We confess that there are times when we go against your hopes for us as your people.

We confess that there are times when we go against your Word for us.  In silence, O LORD, hear us as we confess those things we have done, and those things we have neglected to do; times when we have failed you and each other. . .

(Time of silence)

Loving God, we ask you once again to receive us into your compassionate, forgiving arms that we might find favor with you for all the days of our lives. Empower us to serve you fully, to share the resources we have with those who have less, to weep with those who weep, and to laugh with those who laugh.  Amen.

Assurance of Pardon:
L: God loves us and forgives us.  God gives us the chance to begin again.
All: Thanks be to God.  Amen!

 

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty God, we stand amazed of your love and care for us.  We thank you that you always lend an ear to our prayers and supplications. Teach us, Lord, to pray aright.

We confess that we do not take enough time for prayer and spiritual reflection in our lives.  Our words often feel inadequate, our intercessions impassive, and our thanksgivings shallow.

Guide our very thoughts, words, and deeds; empower us to stand firmly with and for you and for the coming of Your kingdom on earth. In everything and everywhere, we stand on the promises of your holy Word and on Christ, the rock of our salvation in Whose glorious name we pray. Amen.

 

WESLEYAN COVENANT PRAYER (A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS)

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt,
rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low by thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

 

Prayer for Illumination
 

O Lord our God, your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Give us grace to hear and receive Your prophetic word.

Through the guidance of your Holy Spirit, let us rightly divide Your Holy Word, so that the seeds of your truth will fall on fruitful soil in our hearts.

May we grow strong in faith and reach out to the world which you loved so much that you gave your only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.
 

Lord Teach Us How To Pray Aright
(consider using the words of this hymn--or parts of it-- as a unison prayer)

Lord, teach us how to pray aright,
with reverence and with fear;
though dust and ashes in thy sight,
we may, we must draw near.

We perish if we cease from prayer,
O grant us power to pray!
And when to meet thee we prepare,
Lord, meet us by the way.

God of all grace, we bring to thee
a broken, contrite heart;
give, what thine eye delights to see,
truth in the inward part.

Faith in the only sacrifice
that can for sin atone;
to build our hopes, to fix our eyes,
on Christ, on Christ alone;

Patience to watch and wait and weep,
though mercy long delay;
courage our fainting souls to keep,
and trust thee though thou slay.

Give these, and then thy will be done;
thus strengthened with all might,
we through thy Spirit and thy Son,
shall pray, and pray aright.

 

Prayer of Intercession

Confident in God's steadfast love through Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, let us pray for the church, the world, and all people according to their needs.

God of enduring love, give to your church the boldness and persistence of Abraham to intercede on behalf of those whose hearts are turned away from you. God of grace,

let our prayer come before you.

God of enduring love, raise up among the nations of the world leaders who desire justice and seek peace for all people. God of grace,

let our prayer come before you.

God of enduring love, make known your presence among the lowly: the poor, the immigrant, those suffering from depression, those without hope, and the sick (especially), that they might be uplifted and strengthened by your hand. God of grace,

let our prayers come before you.

God of enduring love, empower your servants in this congregation to pray with persistence on behalf of our members and for the needs of the world. God of grace,

let our prayers come before you.

God of enduring love, we thank you for all the saints and martyrs who were buried with Christ in baptism and have come to fullness in Christ. Give to us perseverance in faith that we too may share in that fullness with Christ and all the faithful. God of grace,

let our prayers come before you.

Teach us to pray, O God, and grant to all for whom we pray the good gifts that you have promised, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

 

Sending Forth:

Most gracious God, as we go forth from this sanctuary, we ask you to surround us with your presence and guidance.  Through your Holy Spirit empower us to seek communion with you in prayer and in reading your Holy Word, so that we may be ambassadors of Christ offering hope, peace and love to a hopeless generation. Amen.