PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP May 7, 2017
Greeting
Do not greet the Good Shepherd like a stranger —
Open your arms and embrace Him fully!
Open your hearts and love Him dearly!
Penitential Prayer
Forgive us Lord, for our failure to be clothed in sincere compassion, kindness and humility.
Forgive us Lord, for our failure to be clothed in gentleness and patience.
Forgive us, Lord for our failure to put on love.
Blessing
Do not try to bypass Christ. Follow Him.
Christ is the way in to the Heart of God;
Christ is the gate to eternal peace.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP May 14, 2017
Greeting
Come forth, you who are hungry
for in the House of the Lord
you will be fed.
Come forth, you who are weary
for in the House of the Lord
you will be comforted.
Penitential Prayer
Father, we ask Your forgiveness
if we have said, “We give up,”
rather than, “God, give us strength;”
if we have said, “It is impossible,”
rather then, “God makes all things possible;”
if we have said, “Death conquers all,”
rather than, “God offers eternal life;”
if we have said, “The world is damned,”
rather than, “God promises blessed salvation.”
Father, we ask Your forgiveness
if we have said, “We can make it alone,”
rather than, “God, show us the way.”
Blessing
May the wealth of a generous heart,
the light of a clear mind,
and the grace of a pure soul
be the eternal blessings of your faith.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP May 21, 2017
Greeting
Do you feel abandoned?
Hear the Word of the Lord:
“I shall ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.”
Are you fearful in your loneliness?
Hear the Word of the Lord:
“I will not leave you orphans. I will never abandon you.”
Penitential Prayer
Lord, we confess our failure …
to welcome strangers
to comfort the lonely ones
to visit the sick
to help the downtrodden
Lord, we confess that by these failures we have sown
bitterness and anger and resentment in others.
Forgive us, Lord, for abandoning those of our
brothers and sisters who need us most.
Forgive us for our failure to share with them the
Spirit of God.
Blessing
Jesus has given us another Advocate so that, in the Spirit of God, we might give ourselves to the world.
Go therefore, and,
welcome strangers,
comfort lonely ones,
visit the sick,
help the downtrodden,
love your neighbor.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP May 28, 2017
Greeting
All things derive from one Source.
All things emanate from one Divine Force.
We proclaim the Power of God.
We acknowledge our dependence on God
for life
for the meaning of life.
Penitential Prayer
Father, we confess that in many ways our lives have been less than Christian.
Although we have been enlightened, we have failed to give light.
Although we have known the Spirit of God’s love, we have failed to share it with others.
Although we have been prepared for discipleship, we have failed to practice it.
Forgive us, Lord, and set us straight.
Teach us to love others as Jesus has loved us,
unreservedly, unconditionally.
Blessing
Go in peace.
Pray for every living being.
And be gentle in all you say and do.
