PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 5, 2006
Greeting
During this season of Lent
Let us follow our Lord Jesus Christ ñ
past the street corners of conflict,
up the mountain of glory,
through the garden of prayer,
beside the hill of agony,
through the darkness of the tomb,
to the life of triumph and joy.
During this season of Lent,
let us follow our Lord Jesus Christ.
Penitential Prayer
During this time of the year, in which we consider the sufferings of the Lord on our behalf, we become sensitive to how unworthy we are.
May this yearís observance of Lent make us very much aware of our helplessness and of our complete dependence upon Godís Love for our salvation.
Lord, forgive our stubborn unawareness.
Blessing
Go forth from this place in humility,
knowing it was for you Christ suffered,
knowing it was for you He died in hope,
knowing it was for you He lives.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 12, 2006
Greeting
We come together today,
spirits shrouded in purple,
To continue our pilgrimage,
down unfamiliar ways,
Toward the New Jerusalem.
Let us encourage one another
lovingly,
As we go.
Penitential Prayer
Pardon us Lord our doubtings,
our attachments to material allures,
our impatience with our brothers and sisters,
our laziness, indifference;
forgive our meanness, pride, and selfishness.
Blessing
Let us go forth together in pilgrimage,
confident that Godís Spirit
will guide us on the way.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 19, 2006
Greeting
We have gathered
not to hear the words of man,
not to sing the songs of man,
not to glorify the deeds of man ñ
Rather, we have gatheredto praise the Son of Man.
Penitential Prayer
Lord Jesus, we acknowledge our unworthiness.
Together we turn our voices to heaven,
Together in one spirit we shout:
Forgive us, Lord, for we are often selfish;
Forgive us, Lord, for we are often vain;
Forgive us, Lord, for we are often weak;
Forgive us, Lord, for we are often opinionated;
Forgive us, Lord, for we are often haughty;
Forgive us, Lord, for we are often insensitive;
Forgive us, Lord, for we are often cowardly;
Forgive us, Lord for we acknowledge our
unworthiness.
Blessing
Having sung praise,
Go in peace.
Having heard truth,
Spread the word.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 26, 2006
Greeting
The Lord is waiting ñ
Let our spirits rise,
Let our hearts be opened,
Let our turmoil be stilled,
Let our faith be deepened,
And let our love flow freely.
Penitential Prayer
Father, forgive us if, like the scribes of old,
ñwe pray from memory but not our hearts;
ñwe take but do not give;
ñwe judge others but judge not ourselves;
ñwe listen but hear only what we wish to hear;
ñwe feign love but harbor hate;
ñwe preach forgiveness but exercise vengeance;
ñwe help the needy but only when convenient.
Father, we ask Your forgiveness.
Blessing
When the Father speaks,
Let us listen.
When the Father signals,
Let us respond.
When the Father commands,
Let us obey.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP April 2, 2006
Greeting
Listen in the silence of your heart;
Christís message is spoken quietly.
Listen in the conscience of your mind;
Christís law is spoken justly.
Penitential Prayer
Father, forgive us if we accuse others but overlook our own guilt;
ñif we criticize the manners of others,
but are unaware of our own social faults;
ñif we are annoyed by the habits of others,
but do not analyze our own bad habits;
ñif we blame others for lack of control,
but do not control ourselves enough not to
blame others;
ñif we make excuses for the failures of others,
but have no excuses for our own failures.
Father, forgive us.
Blessing
The noise of the world has not subsided,
but the peace of your hearts has been enriched.
Spread your peace throughout the world.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP April 9, 2006
Greeting
The warmth of Christ is soothing,
the love of Christ is a blessing.
Rejoice in the warmth and blessing of Christ!
Penitential Prayer
Father, we seek Your help
by forgetting our anxieties and remembering
Your Love;
by forgetting our prejudices and remembering Your Grace;
by forgetting our limitations and remembering
Your Power;
by forgetting our woes and remembering
Your Peace;
by forgetting our opinions and remembering
Your Truth;
by forgetting our violations and remembering
Your Forgiveness.
Blessing
Love the Lord,
He is your Savior.
Praise the Lord,
He is your King.
Serve the Lord,
He is your Master.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP April 14, 2006
Greeting
Though Christ died at the hands of men,
He died for the love of men.
Let us celebrate the perfect love of Christ.
Penitential Prayer
We fall so short of Christís perfection,
but this is the way of the universe.
We are mere humans,
prone to falsity,
prone to conceit,
prone to power,
prone to vanity.
We are far from the perfection of Christ,
and we ask for His forgiveness.
Blessing
Our Father in Heaven,
we pray that You will not find our hearts offensive;
we pray that You will hold us near to Your plan.
we pray that our lives will be lived in harmony with Your plan for our fulfillment.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP April 16, 2006
Greeting
Let us acknowledge the wonder
in the birth of Christ.
Let us acknowledge the sorrow
in the death of Christ.
Let us acknowledge the mystery
in the risen Christ.
Penitential Prayer
Forgive us, God, when our actions fail to follow the examples set by Christ;
When our words fail to comfort the sorrowful
children of Christ;
When our thoughts fail to have the blessed purity
of Christ;
When our hearts fail to feel the anguished suffering
of Christ;
When our songs fail to sing the joyous lyrics
of Christ;
Forgive us, God, and cleanse our souls that we might rejoice in renewed grace.
Blessing
This service is over,
but your service must never end.
Serve the Lord
as He has served you.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP April 23, 2006
Greeting
Again, we return to praise the Father,
In praising God,
you will conquer fear;
In praising God,
you will conquer conflict;
In praising God,
you will conquer anxiety.
Penitential Prayer
Lord Jesus, we acknowledge our unworthiness.
Sometimes our faith grows thinner than paper;
Sometimes our prayers grow weaker than thread;
Sometimes our hearts grow harder than rock;
Sometimes our words grow hotter than fire;
Sometimes our hope grows darker than night;
Sometimes our egos grow greater than space;
Sometimes our compassion grows colder than ice.
Lord Jesus, we acknowledge our unworthiness,
and ask Your forgiveness in the Name of the Father.
Blessing
Go into the world singing the glory of God;
Go into the world,
making peace in the Name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP April 30, 2006
Greeting
God showers us with blessings;
He warms us in the sunshine of His Love.
Let us sing His praises and give Him thanks for all He has done for us.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Penitential Prayer
Because we have wasted so many good things we possess,
Lord teach us to be frugal;
Because we have neglected those who need our care and compassion,
Lord move us to be kind and generous.
Have mercy on us, Lord, for our lack of Christian virtue; strengthen our will to mend our ways while there is still time.
Blessing
By the power of the Father, who brings us from darkness into light,
By the power of the Son, who brings us
from death into life,
By the power of the Holy Spirit, who brings us from doubt into belief, may we
speak sincerely,
witness clearly,
love dearly.
