PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
September 2, 2018
Greeting
God is present to us now. There is
no evil situation,
no illness,
no broken relationship,
no feeling of despair,
no catastrophe
which escapes God’s compassionate notice.
Come, draw near, and allow the healing power of God to take over in your life!
Penitential Prayer
Father, we are honorable persons.
We sing praises to Your Name — one day a week:
for we are honorable persons.
We follow Your Commandments and abide by the
Scripture — when it is reasonable to do so:
for we are honorable persons.
We are quick to forgive and show mercy to others —
once we receive an apology:
for we are honorable persons.
Forgive us, Father,
for heaping honor on ourselves
and not upon You.
Blessing
O Lord, may our
songs of joy
prayers of praise
words of exaltation
and deeds of love
break out from our innermost being,
and give You all honor and glory.
Amen.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
September 9, 2018
Greeting
Listen in the silence of your heart;
Christ’s message is spoken quietly.
Listen in the conscience of your mind;
Christ’s law is spoken justly.
Penitential Prayer
Father, forgive us if we accuse others
but overlook our own guilt;
– if we criticize the manners of others,
but are unaware of our own social faults;
– if we attack the religions of others,
but do not understand the complications
of our own doctrines;
– if we are annoyed by the habits of others,
but do not analyze our own bad habits;
– if we blame others for lack of control,
but do not control ourselves enough not
to blame others.
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
September 16, 2018
Greeting
Since we are the Lord’s followers,
it is fitting that we should be here today —
singing His songs,
seeking His guidance,
supporting His cause,
being friends with His people,
and hearing His Word.
Penitential Prayer
We confess that we have sometimes rebelled
against the idea of a divine law.
We have preferred to make up our own rules
along the way.
We have adopted the standards of our modern society.
We have regarded our own convictions as infallible.
We have tried to rationalize our behavior.
We have said,“I am free to do as I please.”
We have excused ourselves by saying, “I’m only human,” and “Nobody’s perfect.”
We have, in various ways, rebelled against
the idea of a divine law.
For this, Lord, forgive us,
And turn us again to follow Your perfect will.
Blessing
You have heard God’s Word.
You have believed God’s Word.
Now become God’s Word.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
September 23, 2018
Greeting
May all people
great and small
young and old
peaceful and restless
somber and carefree
come together and worship the God
Who is all things to all people.
Penitential Prayer
Talk is cheap, Lord, and we realize that the people “out there” are turned off by words. They have heard all the cliches and pious platitudes. It is not what we say but who we are and what we do that matters to them:
they see us living in their midst
they see us making decisions
they see us reacting to pressures
they see us relating to one another in
family situations
they see us relating to one another at
work and at leisure.
For talking too much and doing too little,
Father, forgive us.
Blessing
God sends us out into the world as the medium by which His message of hope and joy and love is communicated to the world.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
September 30, 2018
Greeting
We gather here in this House of Healing.
For all of you who are
paralyzed by grief,
crippled by self-doubt,
blinded by prejudice,
made deaf by insensitivity.
Come in and be touched by the Lord.
Penitential Prayer
Forgive us, Father, for not remembering
— that we followers of Christ are supposed to make a difference in the dark and troubled world;
— that we followers of Christ are supposed to equip ourselves to go out to serve others,
in a ministry of love;
— that we followers of Christ are supposed to set the world on fire in a manner far out of proportion to our numbers.
Forgive us, Father, for not remembering.
Blessing
Will there be a time this coming week when the presence of God’s Grace in your life convinces someone else that a Gracious God is in control?
Go, and reflect God’s Presence in all you do and say.
