PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
May 1, 2011
Greeting
Though unlike doubting Thomas,
we do not touch our Lord’s wounded palms,
We are, nonetheless, the Company of His Believers.
Though unlike doubting Thomas we do not place our hands into His side,
We are, nonetheless, in the Place of His
Risen Presence.
We are truly blessed,
for though we have not seen,
we have come in faith.
Penitential Prayer
Father, we live in a time of great confusion. Technology advances with frightening speed.
But for every problem solved, a new one emerges. We long for lost simplicity.
We ache for spiritual rejuvenation.
We long and we ache,
but few of us take any positive action
to redeem our times.
Therefore, Father,
we confess that we are often apathetic;
we are often indifferent;
we are often negligent;
we are often detached.
Father, we confess these deficiencies and resolve to reenergize ourselves; to give witness in the world to Your healing, reconciling, harmonizing power.
Blessing
Fear not the darkness
for the Lord is with you always.
Abide not in confusion
for the domain of the Spirit is harmonious.
Go in confidence
for the Risen Christ lights up the way.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
May 8, 2011
Greeting
We have entered the house of the Lord,
Let every voice sing out in praise;
Let every heart beat with love and adoration.
We have entered the house of the Lord,
the Kingdom of Grace,
the Place of His Resurrection Presence,
the Gateway to peace and blessed fulfillment.
Penitential Prayer
We admit that there have been times when we have approached the prayer of confession as a mere
perfunctory symbol.
Today, however, we resolve to make an earnest accounting of our shortcomings.
We acknowledge our greed, and pray that
we might grow more charitable;
We acknowledge our wrath, and pray that we might grow more merciful;
We acknowledge our biases, and pray that we might grow more open-minded;
We acknowledge our insensitivity, and pray that we might grow more empathetic;
We acknowledge our lusts, and pray the we might
grow more temperate;
We acknowledge our dogged skepticism, and pray that we might grow more receptive;
We acknowledge our self-centeredness, and pray that we might grow more expansive.
That we be made whole, Father, we pray.
That through Your infinite love we may
be cleansed, we pray.
Blessing
As we return, absolved of sin, to our families and to our neighborhoods and work communities, let us practice the Christian art of forgiveness.
Let us share in boundless measure the
Lord’s blessings which we have received.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
May 15, 2011
Greeting
“Come,” beckons the Good Shepherd to His flock!
“I am the Gateway to new life. Come!”
for refreshment …
for comfort …
for healing …
for peace of soul …
Come, and I will make you whole!
Penitential Prayer
So often, Father, we are appreciative and thankful only for those things we consider extraordinary.
We overlook so much of Your world’s simple beauty.
We overlook the sweetness of the birds and their songs;
We overlook the wonder of the seasons;
We overlook the passion of autumn, the majesty of winter; the freshness of spring, and the fruitfulness of summer;
We overlook the heart-warming joy in a child’s laughter;
We overlook the wonder of the sea, the sand, the wind, the planets, the stars.
Father we have overlooked so much for which we have to be thankful.
We ask forgiveness for our shortsightedness and pray that we might become more fully sensitized to the wonder and glory of Creation.
Blessing
Follow the Good Shepherd.
Answer His call.
Walk in His tracks.
Obey His commands.
Follow Him, hopefully, joyfully.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
MAY 22, 2011
Greeting
Today, we have come
to discover the way to wholeness of life,
to hear the truth about wholeness of life,
to enter into wholeness of life.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life,”
says the Lord Jesus.
Today, we have come
to follow his way
to listen to His Word,
to experience His life.
Penitential Prayer
We confess our barrenness. Father we have become
dry, withered, fruitless,
faithless, hopeless.
We who are divisive, we who are deceptive, we who sow hatred,
We who inflict the pain of betrayal, are the bearers of evil fruit.
We ask forgiveness Lord, for severing our union with You, our true Vine.
We want to reconnect with the one, true source of
Resurrection Power, without which we cannot bear good fruit.
PRAYERS FOR WORSHIP
May 29, 2011
Greeting
Do you feel abandoned?
Hear the Word of the Lord: “I will ask the
Father and He will give you another Advocate –
to be with you always” (John 14:16).
Are you fearful in your loneliness?
Hear the Word of the Lord: “I will not leave
you orphaned. I will come back to you …
And you will have life” (John 14:18,19).
Penitential Prayer
Lord, we confess our failure
to welcome strangers
to comfort the lonely ones
to visit prisoners
to help the downtrodden
Lord, we confess that by these failures we have sown bitterness and anger and resentment in others which we now pretend not to understand.
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 prisoners,
help the downtrodden,
love your neighbor.
Blessing
Go now in the knowledge that our works of love in the Lord’s service are a necessary and valuable contribution to the fulfillment of God’s Plan of Redemption.
