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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 130)

L: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
P: Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!
L: I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
P: O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
L: Come, let us worship the LORD, our Redeemer!

 

Call to Worship

The steadfast love of God, the life of Jesus Christ, and the growth of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merit of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

 

Prayer of Confession:
by Rev. Moira Laidlaw, Liturgies Online, P+10

Lord Jesus Christ, as your followers we are called to be people shaped by your ethical and selfless life - one that is so much at odds with accepted  lifestyles of today. We confess how easy it is to be drawn into these worldly lifestyles and we need your constant help to make our behavior consistent with yours.
Forgive us when our words have been less than truthful -
inform us with your Spirit so that we speak the truth - your truth - at all times.
                                              (time of silence)
Forgive us for using anger to manipulate and to control -
direct us  with your Spirit that we might handle our anger responsibly.
                                               (time of silence)
Forgive us when our actions have lacked total integrity -
mould us with your Spirit so that all our dealings are carried out honestly and ethically.
                                              (time of silence)
Forgive us when our words have been thoughtless and offhand -
instruct us with your Spirit so that our words truly bring grace to  those who hear.
                                               (time of silence)
Renew us with your Spirit so that our words and actions bring you pleasure and not pain.
                                                (time of silence)
As conclusion of prayer sing Scripture in Song: 303 “Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me” singing a second time substituting “us” for “me”

Fall afresh on us, O Holy Spirit, and make our lives true reflections of  Jesus’ life, so that we live, love, and forgive as graciously and compassionately as he did. Amen

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS:
We are enabled to be kind to one another, to be tenderhearted, to forgive one another, and to be forgiven, because Jesus feeds us with his life. A life given to save us from sin. Hear, then, the good news: those who are in Christ are a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come
Thanks be to God!
 

 

Bread of Life Prayer

Thou art worthy, LORD God Almighty; thou art worthy of our praise for the mighty provision thou hast made: giving of Thyself, even Thy own begotten Son, so that we may partake of the Bread of Life once again.

Give us grace, we pray, never to take the gift of Thy salvation for granted whether it comes to us through Thy Word, Thy Sacraments, or through our sisters and brothers. Help us to appreciate the gifts thou hast imparted on each and every one of us, thy children. Help us in our ability to see beyond what meets the eye and toward the spiritual within the trivial. Give us open ears and open hearts so we may receive once again the Bread of Life. Amen

Intercessory Prayer

Growing in the soil of the Spirit, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who seek the richness of life in God.

O living Bread from heaven, nourish your church with the supper of the Lord and give it boldness to invite all people to your table. Gracious God,

Hear our prayer.

O God, you gave your Son to be bread for the life of the world. Watch over the fields of the earth now ripening, that many will be fed with the fruits of the harvest. Gracious God,

Hear our prayer.

O Bread of life, you satisfy our every hunger. Be with all in need, and draw near to the sick who hunger for health (especially). Gracious God,

Hear our prayer.

O Healer of all, you raise up servants to minister to those suffering from illness. Help all nurses and doctors, therapists and caregivers to see your blessing in their work. Gracious God,

Hear our prayer.

O God, you call us to imitate you as your beloved children. Bless the fruits of this congregation's ministries, that many may be drawn to you for nourishment. Gracious God,

Hear our prayer.

Bread of heaven, bring us all at length to your banquet table where, in the company of all the saints, we will dine with you for all eternity. Gracious God,

Hear our prayer.

Hear us as we pray, living God, and in your mercy give us all good things, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen

 

"Your Sacred Table" (for communion)
adapted from a prayer by St. Francis de Sales

Divine Savior,
we come to Your sacred table to nourish ourselves,
     not with bread but with Yourself, true Bread of eternal life.

Help us daily to make a good and perfect meal of your divine nourishment. Let us be continually refreshed by the perfume of Your kindness and goodness.

May the Holy Spirit fill us with His Love. Meanwhile, let us prepare a place for this holy food by emptying our hearts. Amen.

Prayer for all Families on Earth

O God, you are the hope of all the ends of the earth, the God of the spirits of all flesh.  Hear our humble intercession for all races and families on earth, that you will turn all hearts to yourself.
Remove from our minds hatred, prejudice, and contempt for those who are not of our own race or color, class or creed, that, departing from everything that estranges and divides, we may by you be brought into unity of spirit, in the bond of peace. Amen.

 

Prayer for Reconciliation (reflecting the first lesson)

Teach us on this day to follow the Way of Love which you revealed to us through your Son Jesus.  Help us to glorify your name on earth by diligently learning to show forgiveness, affection, and love to our brothers and sisters.

We confess that we have sinned against our neighbor.  We have entertained hateful thoughts and actions, we have excluded them and added to their hurt and shame. Forgive us we pray and show us the way of humility and reconciliation.  

Empower us to turn away from our anger, refrain from hurtful words, lay down our weapons, and embrace our brothers and sisters with love and compassion.  Strengthen our families and our Christian faith.  Through your Spirit, unite us to be one in Christ.  Amen.

 

Prayer for the Mind of Christ

God of compassion, grant us humility to seek what we need to bring us to fullness of life; to recognize in the stranger your spirit at work. Call us again to compassionate helping in the world you have created. We pray especially for small denominations inside and outside of ecumenical structures; for racial and cultural minorities; for individuals who feel they are not heard and tended to.  Enable us to follow the example of Jesus, to reach out without bias to those who are needy and searching.  Give us the mind of Christ, we pray. Amen.

 

Closing Prayer:

May almighty God fill you with the Bread of Heaven so you will grow in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
May you lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work.

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from God's glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to God in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.