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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 96)

L: Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
P: Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.
L: Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.
P: Say among the nations, "The LORD is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity."
ALL; Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it.

 

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God, we thank you that despite our brokenness and sins,
You forgive us and continue to love us unconditionally.

We confess that, although we are grateful to you for forgiving our sins, we find it very difficult to forgive others.

We confess that we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves and granted them the same grace we have received.

Forgive us, o Lord, and empower us to break forth from the fetters self-righteousness.  Help us to view the offender as your child…

May we care for others as you have cared for us.
We pray this through the Christ who told us to forgive seven times seventy. Amen.

 

Prayer for Healing

    Lord God, heavenly Father, we ask you to have mercy on all those among our community of faith who are afflicted with illness and pain. Preserve their life, o Lord, and, if a way can be found in your eternal purposes, grant them relief from pains and healing from this illness.   Comfort them with the assurance of your love and presence and with the forgiveness of all their sins through the grace of your dear Son and our  Savior, Jesus Christ.

    Keep us all in your great love. Grant us those gifts of body and soul that we can bear. Finally, bring as out of this life of trials to the heavenly mansions of our eternal house, which have been prepared for us through the Work of our Savior and which have been promised to us by the Word of your truth. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Prayers for Use with Laying-On-of-Hands

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who gave authority to His disciples that they should lay hands upon the sick that they might recover, have mercy upon you and strengthen you in body, soul and spirit; and give you faith in His power to heal. By His authority committed unto me, I lay my hands upon you in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

I lay my hands upon your head (an anoint you with oil) in the Name of God the Father, who made you, and in the Name of Jesus Christ, who died for you, and in the Name of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies you. O Triune God, fill this Your servant with Your healing love. Lift every burden, throw light upon every problem, wash away all guilt, forgive every sin, reconcile every strained relationship, heal every disease, re-energize his entire being, anoint him with Your joy, and fill him with Your peace. Bless and heal the ones for whom he is interceding through Jesus Christ, Whom with You, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, we worship and praise as one God, world without end. Amen.

 

Closing Prayer

For a New Heart:

Thou who art over us,
Thou who art one of us,
Thou who art:
     Give me a pure heart, that I may see thee;
     a heart of love, that I may serve thee;
     a heart of faith, that I may abide in thee.
Amen.