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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 146)

L: Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!
P: I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
L: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
P: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,
L: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
P: who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;
L: the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.
ALL: Praise the LORD!

 

Call to Worship

L: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
P: For the Lord, our God is coming to us!
L: Tell the poor, gather the lowly.
P: For the Lord, our God is coming to us!
L: The trees of the fields and all nature are awaiting eagerly the redemption of the earth.
P: For the Lord, our God is coming to us!  
L: Let us praise the God of our salvation.  Let us hail God's Anointed One with shouts of joy.  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. God, our maker and redeemer, you have made us a new company of priests to bear witness to the Gospel. Enable us to be faithful to our calling to make known your promises to all the world; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
 

 

Prayer based on all Lections:
by Rev. F. Schaefer

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.

Transform us, we pray, as you transformed Saul, from people who walk in darkness to children of light and vision.  LORD, let us taste and see and touch Jesus your Christ all over again.

Open the eyes of our hearts, LORD, allow us to see a glimpse of your heavenly realm; may we join into the praises of your heavenly host, saying: "worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

Reveal your resurrected Son to us, we pray, and empower us to a life of sharing with others your grace, love and peace. Through Christ, our resurrected Lord we pray. Amen.

 

Prayer for Faithfulness
by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

God Is Able
by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

L: Is someone here moving toward the twilight of life and fearful of that which we call death?
P: Why be afraid?  God is able.
L: Is someone here on the brink of despair because of the death of a loved one, the breaking of a marriage, or the waywardness of a child?
P: Why despair?  God is able to give us the power to endure that which cannot be changed.
L: Is someone here anxious because of bad health?
P: Why be anxious?  Come what may, God is able.
All: Surely God is able.

 

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wickedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
 

 

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.

Let us pray for the church, that God will empower all the church's members to be bold witnesses of the Christ who lives in them. God of grace,

let our prayer come before you.

Let us pray for the leaders of the world, that they will heed the prophetic voices in their midst speaking God's truth and justice. God of grace,

let our prayer come before you.

Let us pray for all those burdened with the weight of sin, that God will surround them with the assurance of forgiveness and give them upright hearts. God of grace,

let our prayer come before you.

Let us pray for the sick and dying (especially), that God will strengthen, heal, and comfort them in every need. God of grace,

let our prayer come before you.

Let us pray for this congregation, that God will enliven in us joy in the confidence of forgiveness and strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ. God of grace,

let our prayer come before you.

Let us give thanks for (names and) all the faithful departed who have died and yet who through faith in Jesus Christ live in you. God of grace,

let our prayer 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

 

Closing Prayer

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.

 

Sending Forth: (Unison) --by Rev. Rick Pittenger aka pulpitt in ND

Nurtured we go forth, filled we will better serve others; inspired we find solid footing to be your servants in the world. It can begin today when we leave this place, we can begin to reach out and understand those who are different, the marginalized, the weak, the disenfranchised and the faithful. We go seeking your peace. Amen