PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP July 1, 2007
Greeting
Come, Christ leads
let us follow
Come, Christ proclaims
let us listen
Come, Christ requires
let us perform
Penitential Prayer
Father, we confess that we allow many things to stunt our dedication.
Sometimes we allow greed to stifle our generosity,
and social pressure to paralyze our witness,
and busyness to snuff out our prayers,
and laziness to hinder our worship,
and love of ease to discourage our service,
and pride to paralyze our confession,
and self-centeredness to freeze our compassion.
Whatever it is, Lord, that is keeping us from making progress, may we leave it behind and follow You.
Blessing
Where God leads, let us follow.
Where He proclaims, let us believe.
Where he requires, let us perform.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP July 8, 2007
Greeting
Lord, we come here to rest awhile . . .
to replenish our lagging faith,
to rejuvenate our sagging spirit,
to revive our lethargic love.
Penitential Prayer
Lord, we confess that we have been running hard in the race . . .
for respectability,
for power over others,
for material wealth,
for passing pleasure.
Lord, we confess that we have been dragging our heels in the pursuit . . .
of responsibility,
of service to others,
of spiritual treasure,
of the joy of Your new life.
Lord, forgive us for running hard in the wrong race.
Lord forgive us for not hastening to follow You on the road
to brotherhood,
to peace,
to the Kingdom of Love.
Blessing
Though our burdens are many
and heavy,
we are a light-hearted people.
We have the Lord’s Love!
That is our strength!
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP July 15, 2007
Greeting
“Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
That is the cry on our lips, as we come to worship.
We want a compassionate Savior, a Miracle-worker,
who will
listen to our troubles and make them disappear.
But, deep in our hearts we know we want even more.
We want to identify with the Master, in this act of worship.
We want to become His compassionate people,
His miracle-workers who will listen to the troubles of others and make them disappear.
Penitential Prayer
Lord, because of our lack of compassion for other persons, forgive us:
forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have heard
but have not listened;
forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have looked,
but have not seen;
forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have helped,
but have not cared;
forgive us, Lord, for the times when we have served,
but have not loved.
Lord, because we have not identified with Your compassionate sensitivity toward others, we are truly sorry, and we ask forgiveness.
Blessing
The lonely people …
they are all around us.
The love-starved people …
they are all around us.
The hopeless people …
they are all around us.
We must reach out to them now,
offer them compassion,
show them Christ,
and they will bless us.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP July 22, 2007
Greeting
Gather round, People of God,
and listen to the Lord and His Words of . . .
justice and mercy,
sacrifice and joy,
responsibility and freedom,
spirit and life.
Gather round, and take heed!
Penitential Prayer
Lord, You tell us, “Humble yourself before all others,”
but we are too obsessed with our own importance
to understand.
You tell us, “Whoever strikes you, turn to him the
other cheek,”
but we are so intent on keeping our guard up
that Your Words go right by us.
You tell us, “Sell everything you have and donate it
to the poor,”
but we are too busy applying for credit cards to
take much notice.
You tell us, “In everything you do, keep in mind
the Father,”
but the only time we can afford Him is an hour
or two on Sunday morning.
Lord, You tell us,
but we ignore Your saving Word.
Lord, forgive us for our arrogance.
Blessing
May the Father’s Power and Might,
the Son’s Love and Mercy,
and the Spirit’s Wisdom and Strength
inspire us to carry out our Christian responsibilities,
to partake now of the Kingdom’s rewards and to
hare them with others.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP July 29, 2007
Greeting
Together in prayer,
let us proclaim our faith.
Together in prayer,
let us proclaim our love.
Together in prayer,
let us proclaim our hope.
Together in prayer,
let us praise the Lord.
Penitential Prayer
Father, we confess that our Christian lives are not what they should be. We confess that many things weaken our dedication and conviction:
When the going gets rough, we are quick to despair;
When the pressure is great, we are quick to attack;
When the budget is unbalanced, we are quick to worry;
When the temptation is great, we are quick to yield;
When the job is overwhelming we are quick to succumb.
Blessing
Protect your heart from defilement;
stand in the Light of Christ.
Protect your mind from negativity;
stand in the Light of Christ.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP August 5, 2007
Greeting
Glory to God on high!
Glory to the Lord of all ages!
Glory to the Prince of Peace!
Glory! Glory! Glory!
Penitential Prayer
Father, we confess that we are often taken by
fads and fancy;
we accept the words of self-proclaimed prophets;
we escape into the realm of mass media;
we are dazzled by plasticity and glitter;
we praise the trite wisdom of shallow philosophers;
we labor and save to serve our materialist needs;
we ignore our spiritual voice;
we listen to the super-hyped voice of advertising;
we search and search, but, alas we fail to find satisfaction.
Father, it is only through Your Wisdom and Love that we shall know peace. Father, please hear our prayer.
Blessing
Go into the world . . .
with new energy,
with restored faith,
with positive vibrations,
with abundant love.
You are the flock of Christ,
Go in peace and security.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP August 12, 2007
Greeting
We turn toward God,
We listen to His Word,
We bow before His Majesty,
We strive to do His Will,
We thank Him for His gifts
and,
We worship Him!
Penitential Prayer
For our lack of hope in God’s promise …
turning toward self instead of turning toward God;
listening to the world instead of listening to God;
bowing before the glitter of material things instead of bowing before the majesty of God;
striving to do the will of the devil instead of striving
to do the Will of God;
we earnestly beg God’s mercy and we humbly thank God for still another chance.
Blessing
We go into the world as faithful servants of the Lord who have willingly accepted the gift of hope in the unforeseen.
Let us try to convince our brothers and sisters everywhere that they can expect the unexpected from a God who keeps His promises.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP August 19, 2007
Greeting
Together, we form the community of Christ.
Together, we form the community of love.
Together, we form the community of peace.
Penitential Prayer
Blessing
Frequently, the people and events of the world are
alienating. It seems that walls are built within the family.
Given the complexities and problems of our world,
it is our duty as Christians to remove these walls,
but we are often remiss in this duty:
We manifest hostilities,
We harbor suspicions,
We exercise anger,
We foster hate,
and we promote iniquities.
Father, we are sorry for contributing to the world’s problems.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP August 26, 2007
Greeting
We are gathered to share in the
acraments of eternal salvation;
Let our hearts be made worthy.
Penitential Prayer
Father, we are guilty of envy,
guilty of greed,
guilty of jealousy,
guilty of hate,
and guilty of selfishness.
Father, we acknowledge our sins, and pray
for corrective grace.
Blessing
Not one wish, one hope, one prayer goes
unfulfilled or unanswered.
Turn your needs to Christ.
