PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP January 1, 2016
Greeting
What is the meaning of life?
How can we find it?
When will we find it?
Where will it happen?
Just as the Shepherds found the answers
in the manger,
we shall find the answers
in this House.
Penitential Prayer
To be or not to be. Forgive us Father, when we
deliver the wrong answer.
We know You want us to be people oriented —
and each New Year we make resolutions which
are goal oriented.
We know You want us to be ministers of Your Good Works —
but instead we are Sunday spectators.
We know You want us to be an integral part of You —
but instead we are part of the “Me” generation.
Father, we are sorry we have not resolved to be
one with You.
Forgive us for our idle resolutions.
Blessing
Look not backward, lest you become fearful.
Look not sideways, lest you be tempted.
Look not downward, lest you become discouraged.
Look only upward, from which comes your help,
and forward, to the road which leads both to duty
and to glory.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP January 3, 2016
Greeting
On the first Epiphany
the three kings found Jesus in the manger
and paid Him homage with gifts of
frankincense
gold
and myrrh.
On this Epiphany Sunday,
let us find Jesus in this House
and give Him praise with gifts of
reverence
music
and prayer.
Penitential Prayer
Father, forgive us for travelling on life’s road
heading in the wrong direction.
We make our way towards
status
wealth, pride,
narrow-mindedness
and self-centeredness;
and move away from Your Kingdom of
service, truth,
peace, love
and brotherhood.
Forgive us, Lord, for our misguided journey.
Forgive us for being a wrong way people.
Blessing
Kneeling on crumpled straw
on a dirt floor
in a humble stable
three great kings became greater still — for they
had served the Lord.
Go now, wherever Christ’s ministry takes you
and you shall become great — in your service
to the Lord.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP January 10, 2016
Greeting
Dear baptized Christians,
women and men,
parents and children,
sons and daughters,
brothers and sisters,
sinners and potential saints,
Christ calls you to serve others. Can Christ count on you to be of service? Come, and give your answer!
Penitential Prayer
Lord, we who are Your baptized people,
have acted like turncoats;
have acted as though we knew all the answers;
have lost our taste for the Holy Spirit;
have lost our zeal for Christian mission;
have lost our spirit of loving service.
Nevertheless, Lord, we want to make a new effort. We
want You to know that You can count on us. We want
to accept Your forgiveness, because we want to
keep on trying!
Blessing
We came to hear the Lord’s Word
and reaffirm our baptismal vows in His Name.
We go now with His Word on our lips,
and His Name in our hearts.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP January 17, 2016
Greeting
Today is the day Jesus began His ministry
of hope
of healing
of life
of love
of miracles.
We gather this day to join the Lord in His ministry of Good Works!
Penitential Prayer
Lord, we confess we rationalize our behavior by
pessimistically proclaiming
the world’s problems are too big for my talents
the world’s realities are too grim for my hope
the world’s turmoil is too fierce for my peacemaking
the world’s persecuted are too maligned for my compassion
the world’s hunger is too vast for my resources
the world’s faithlessness is too great for my belief.
We too often protest that we cannot do
what Jesus has shown can be done.
Forgive us, Lord, for believing only You can
perform miracles of love when we have not even tried.
Blessing
Answer the Father’s Call!
Go now and start your ministry of
hope, healing
life, love
and work the miracles of the Lord!
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP January 24, 2016
Greeting
Let every tongue be still
and all ears open.
Let every eye be attentive
and all minds alert.
Jesus our Teacher will speak His Words of Truth;
heed them with all your being!
Penitential Prayer
We confess, Lord, despite Your Words of Wisdom and Truth, we listen to the modern day oracles of self-centeredness and self-justification.
We accept as “Gospel” …
Political leaders and their rhetoric;
business leaders and their predictions;
but not
Church leaders and their pleas for social and moral reform.
We accept as truth certain cliches of man:
“Every man for himself,”
“It’s OK, everyone else does it,”
“It’s only wrong if you get caught.”
But not the words You spoke:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Forgive us for drowning out Your clear Words of
Truth and Wisdom with the static of selfishness and excuses.
Forgive us, Lord, for tuning You out.
Blessing
We leave this House with the Lord’s Words of
guidance, strength, vision
and hope ringing in our ears.
Now go into the world with His Words of
service, purpose, humility
and compassion spilling from our hearts.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP January 31, 2016
Greeting
If your faith is
unsure, unsound
unsteady or unstable,
come into this House of spiritual support and be blessed with the conviction of the Gospels!
Penitential Prayer
“No prophet gains acceptance in His native place.”
We want to accept You at the very center of our being
but are embarrassed to admit it to our family.
We want to experience a new-found faith in You
but are embarrassed to tell our friends.
We discover a fresh perspective on life in Your Gospel
but are embarrassed to tell our co-workers
We begin to experience a transformation in our
spirit and soul
and then hide it from others — and lose it for ourselves.
We confess we have tried to seek Your Ways
while keeping it quiet.
Forgive us Lord for all of our misguided embarrassments.
Blessing
Go now to live by the Word of the Lord
and preach it to
family
friend
fellow worker
and fellow man.
Go now, as disciples and prophets of the Lord!
