PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 3, 2013
Greeting
Come, at Christ’s invitation,
all you who have sinned and need to be forgiven;
all you who hunger for New Life and need to be nourished;
all you who accept God’s abundance and need to give thanks;
all you who experience God’s Love and need to give praise.
Penitential Prayer
In many ways, Lord, we have been like the people of Israel, wandering in the wilderness.
Even though our diet is far more opulent than the manna and quail of the people of Israel, we too have grumbled.
Even though our homes are far more elaborate than their tattered tents, we too have complained.
Even though we have received the inner power of the Holy Spirit, we too are filled with fear.
So we offer no excuses. We can only lay hold on Your Grace, repent, and ask forgiveness for our sins.
Blessing
Return now to your homes
with a firm will to repent,
and a warm heart,
and a pure mind,
and with a joyful spirit.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 10, 2013
Greeting
If you are lost in
a bewildering world
an impersonal society
or in your own self-importance;
Come, find your true self
in this House of God.
Penitential Prayer
Father, we know You have not abandoned us. We know that we are a Lost People only because we do not follow Your Way.
You say “north” — and we head south.
You say “right” — and we turn left.
You say “forgive” — we harbor grudges.
You say “compassion” — we stay indifference.
You say “justice” — we maintain the “status quo.”
You say “peace” — we argue war.
You say “ministry” — we point to others.
You say “commitment” — we reply “no risk — no obligation.”
You say “Follow Me” — but we foolishly chart our own course.
Forgive us, Lord, for turning away from Your Guiding Light, and losing ourselves in the darkness of sin.
Blessing
May you follow
the Beacon of Light
which will illuminate
the Path of Christ
which will lead you to a life of
meaning
service
and love.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 17, 2013
Greeting
Leave behind the moral wreckage of your life
and enter this House of Divine Restoration. Behold God’s Love among the ruins of your life and experience His Resurrection Power in your soul.
Penitential Prayer
Forgive our impatience, Lord. You know we take out our frustrations on others because of our own inadequacies. We are sorry we have criticized
parents who are not perfect
children who are not angels
teachers who are not supportive
students who are not attentive
workers who are not cooperative
husbands who are not patient
wives who are not understanding
lovers who are not respectful.
Forgive us for damning others for the same sins
we have committed.
Forgive us, Lord, for being quick to cast
the stone of intolerance.
Blessing
Go now, not to
judge,
criticize,
nor condemn
our brothers and sisters, but to work with them so that together we may
redeem our past
reform our present
transform our future.
Go now, not as
accuser,
nor sinner,
but disciple.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 24, 2013
Greeting
Come, let us worship the King —
the King who made His triumphal entry upon a humble beast of burden;
the King who established His Kingdom upon a cross;
the King who gained His victory in apparent defeat.
Penitential Prayer
Lord, as we meditate today on how much it cost You to love the world, we become aware of how superficial our own love is by comparison.
We find that our love is quickly cooled by a cold shoulder or an angry glance.
We are reluctant to commit ourselves, lest we be rejected and hurt.
We find it far easier to love in word than to love in deed.
We are so quick to take offense at an unkind remark.
We find it so difficult to keep on loving when the other person is irritable and unreasonable.
We ask forgiveness in the name of Him whose love knew none of these limitations, and who can even accept us just the way we are.
Blessing
Leave now,
with a new appreciation of Christ’s sacrifice,
with a new confidence in His love,
with a new joy in His salvation,
and with a new dedication to His cause.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 27, 2013
Greeting
People, why do you weep?
This is not a day of
mourning
or anguish
or senseless tragedy.
Rejoice!
This is a day of
celebration
and holiness
and sacred fulfillment.
This is the day the Lord seals His Covenant with us. This is the day of our salvation.
Penitential Prayer
On the first Good Friday, Jesus took the necessary step for the fulfillment of His Father’s Will. Yet, on this Good Friday, we are standing still.
Father, even as we gather in memory of Jesus’ sacrifice, we admit that we have made none.
Forgive our arrogance for praying on this Holy Day, when we have done nothing to make it Holy.
Blessing
Remembering the Lord’s
Cross
pain
and His death for us;
Go now, sacrificing your
time
energy
and life
For your brother and sister.
Go now, not in the spirit of helpless mourning,
but in the spirit of active ministry.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP March 31, 2013
Greeting
This is a new day!
A day which the Lord has made.
We join our voices
to the choirs of angels:
to the legions of Christian believers,
past and present,
in the ancient salutation;
“Christ is risen, Alleluia!”
Penitential Prayer
For straying from the course
which You set for us,
Lord, have mercy.
For our failures to carry our share
of the communal burden,
Christ, have mercy.
For our indifference to the needs
of our pilgrim brothers and sisters,
Lord, have mercy.
Show us Your mercy, Lord;
for, despite our weaknesses,
we love You, and we earnestly wish
to re-unite ourselves to You.
Blessing
We are an Easter People
and alleluia is our song!
Sing thankfully for His Sacrifice!
Sing joyfully for His Resurrection!
Sing triumphantly for His Victory!
We are an Easter People,
may we sing our Easter Song!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
