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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 26)

L: Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.
P: For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
L: I go around your altar, O LORD, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.
P: O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.

 

Responsive Call to Worship

L: We worship the God who inhabits our world and who dwells in our lives.
P: We need not look up to find God, we need only look around, within ourselves, beyond ourselves, and in the eyes of another.
L: We need not listen for distant thunder to find God, we need only listen to the music of life, the words of children, the rhythm of a heart beat.
P: We worship the God who inhabits our world and who faithfully dwells in our lives.

 

A Responsive Call to Worship

L: As we gather around the table of the LORD today,
P: we remember the peoples of the world divided into many nations and tongues.
L: We gather in the name of the Almighty, Creator of every man and woman, every plant and animal.
P: We join in the chorus of praise with sisters and brothers around the world to celebrate our LORD.
L: May Christ's church be strengthened and united through the sacrament of Holy Communion.

 

World Communion Prayer of Confession

Lord, on this world communion Sunday, help us examine our hearts so that we may pay proper respect to Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  Thank you for offering reconciliation to all of humankind, the forgiveness of sins through Christ, our high priest.

Almighty and ever-present God, we confess our sins to you. We are truly sorry for our wrongdoings and shortcomings, for sins of commission and sins of omission.     Forgive us, we pray, in Christ's name.

Empower us to serve you fully, to share the resources we have with those who have less, to weep with those who weep, and to laugh with those who laugh. Help us to be good stewards over the earth you have placed in our care; help us to unite in love and concern for one another, not just in our local community, but with brothers and sisters in all the    world.

As we draw near to your holy table we thank you, Lord, for providing the Bread of Life for us.  As we partake, impart on us your grace and mercy, unite us with Christ, our Lord, and with one another.  May your kingdom be established in all the earth.    Amen.

 

"Your Sacred Table"
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 a Spirit of Unity

Dear Heavenly Parent, teach us, your children, to look on those who differ from us with grace and compassion. Grant us the strength to forgive, to love and to give. Teach us to hate sin, but not the sinner. Teach us to live in prayer. Give us the strength to be your witnesses to all, regardless of what distinguishes us and enable us recognize what unites us so that we may be one in fellowship as you are One in Triune and everlasting communion.   Amen.

 

Prayer of Christological Affirmation

Almighty God, who gave your Son Jesus Christ a realm,
where all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;
make us loyal followers of our living Lord,
that we may always hear his word
follow his teachings, and live in his Spirit.

Almighty and everlasting God,
it is your will to restore all things to Christ,
whom you have anoinited priest for ever and ruler of creation.

Lord, hasten the day when every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess that he is Lord
to your eternal glory.

Grant that all the people of the earth,
now divided by the power of sin,
may be united under the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever.  Amen.

 

A Prayer for Endurance Through Change
by F. Schaefer

God of Life, God of Love, in this month of changes, we can feel the cooler air, notice the leaves change, and watch the harvest in the fields. We are leaving summer behind and ask you to empower us to meet the changes and help to make them good. We thank you, LORD, for your faithfulness, for your provisions in years past and we trust in your grace to bring us through no matter what may come our way. LORD, watch over us, remain our steadfast friend, and help us to remain faithful to you in the certain knowledge that our life is in your caring hands. Amen.

 

Prayer for Faith

     O Heavenly Father, the precious faith You give is the root of all our graces, the channel of communion, the weapon of prevalence, the shield of safety, the evidence of eternity and the passport of glory. Grant us O Lord, more of this inestimably precious faith.
     Lord Jesus, grant us that faith which draws energy from splendid ideals and incorporates it in our present and immediate life.
     Blessed Spirit of God, cause our faith to increase in fullness, constancy, and simplicity. Amen.

 

Prayer for Faithfulness Amid Hardship
by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Closing Prayer:

Blessings Upon You
adapted from a prayer by Margaret A. Davidson

Blessings upon you, upon those you love
and those you shall never know.

Blessings upon your steps
and upon the vision of your eyes.

Blessings upon you in all circumstances;
joy and sorrow, for wisdom rests in them,
twin experiences with different faces.

Blessings be upon what lies before you,
the challenges and decisions,
the pain and the relief.

Blessings upon you, my friends in Christ.