____________________________________________________

 

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 22)

L: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
P: O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
L: In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.  To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
P: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
L: Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.

 

Call to Worship
L: We come this morning to worship together.
P: Different people, different lives, different histories.
L: Yet we are children of the same Parent, created lovingly by the same Source of life.
P: different people, different lives, different histories.
L: Yet we have one teacher, Jesus Christ who is the living word that God spoke.
P: different people, different lives, different histories.
L: Yet we have one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
P: Let us open ourselves to the word and acceptance of God.
L: Let us worship God together!

 

Invocation

The rich presence of God, the beginning and end of all that is good, be with you now and always.

And also with you.

Let us pray. Almighty God, source of every blessing, your generous goodness comes to us anew every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

 

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we come to you in the name of Jesus, your Son and our High Priest. We confess that there are times when we go against your hopes for us as your people.   We confess that there are times when we go against your Word for us.  In silence, O LORD, hear us as we confess those things we have done, and those things we have neglected to do; times when we have failed you and each other. . .

(Time of silence)
Loving God, we ask you once again to receive us into your compassionate, forgiving arms that we might find favor with you for all the days of our lives, now and forevermore.   Amen.

Assurance of Pardon:
L: God loves us and forgives us.  God gives us the chance to begin again.
All: Thanks be to God.  Amen!

 

Prayer for Faith in God's Abiding Presence
by Rev. F. Schaefer

O great and loving God, we thank you for your abiding presence with us.  Even though we may not see you with our natural eyes nor hear you with our natural ears, you have promised never to leave us, nor forsake us.  You, o Lord, walk beside us like the Good Shepherd walks beside his sheep.  You gently guide our steps by day and watch over us by night.

Increase our faith so that we do not lose heart in times of trial, but rather live by the assurance of hope that you are near us;
that, even though we may walk throught the valley of the dark shadows, your rod and your staff comforts us;
that we shall dwell in your house, o Lord, forever. Amen.

 

Prayer for True Riches

Lord, hear our prayer for the salvation of all of us today, for we know it is hard for us to enter the kingdom of Heaven unless we are willing to lay down everything for you. Transform our greed into generosity, our self-absorbtion into concern for others, and our desire for worldy pleasures into a desire for you. Help us all to discover Your true riches, so that we may live a life worthy of Christ our Savior.  Amen.

Prayer Affirming the Word of God Among Us

Search the Scriptures, as Christ told us in the gospels.
We find him born in our midst.
In truth he has appeared in the world.
We find him born in our midst.  

O Lord, in Christ you have given us your Word
for a light to shine upon our path;
grant us so to meditate on that Word,
and to follow its teaching,
that we may find in it the light that shines brighter and brighter
until the day of Christ's return. Amen.

 

Prayer of Intercession

As we await the full harvest of the Spirit, let us offer our prayers to God who is abundant in every good gift.

Let us pray for the church, and especially for all mission congregations and their pastor-developers, that the gospel would be firmly planted in all communities. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Let us pray for a fruitful harvest of grain from the fields and for a healthy global economy, that a fair and just distribution of the world's goods would be accomplished. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Let us pray for justice to prevail in our community, that those in need would be cared for, the oppressed be freed from abuse, and the courts be governed with truth. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Let us pray for the healing of all who suffer with pain and illness (especially), that they may be restored to good health and well-being. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Let us pray for those who are on the fringes of this congregation and have many questions of faith. May they find a hospitable welcome and experience your presence in their inquiry. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Let us pray in thanksgiving for (names, and all) the faithful departed, that we might be inspired by their love and faithfulness, and remain united with them in God's eternal community. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Teach us to pray, O God, and grant us wisdom in our asking, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

 

Closing Prayer:

God of Love and God of Justice, lead us by your Spirit in the ways of generosity and hospitality toward our fellow human beings.  May we never forget where we came from and that what we have received from you is a gift.  Teach us to walk in the generous and loving way of Jesus, the Christ, so that your name may be magnified above all the earth. Amen.