Worship Prayers

 CENTERING PRAYER 

Gentle Jesus, you call us to live in your name with honor and respect, fully known to you and precious in your sight. Draw us near to you each day as you teach us how to feed on your gifts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

CALL TO WORSHIP T

he voice of God resounds upon the water. The Spirit of the Lord hovers over the stream. The Son of God is named, “Beloved.” And all who worship shout out, “Glory!” Ascribe to the Lord majesty and strength. Let us worship God in holy splendor.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Scripture for January 19

 John 2:1-11

Jesus Changes Water Into Wine

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.[b]

7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

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Illustration:  Marriage at Cana by Giotto di Bondone, 14th century

Worship Prayers January 12

 CENTERING PRAYER

 

Loving God, we begin this new day in the sure knowledge you have claimed us as your children. In all that we do, keep us mindful of actions that are pleasing in your sight. In all that we say, make us attentive to the witness we give to your love. Let our lives be an example to all whom we encounter, living as children of God who follow in the path of Jesus, our Lord and our brother. Amen.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

The voice of God resounds upon the water.

The Spirit of the Lord hovers over the stream.

The Son of God is named, “Beloved.”

And all who worship shout out, “Glory!”

Ascribe to the Lord majesty and strength.

Let us worship God in holy splendor.

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

We are precious in your sight, yet we often forget we are your beloved. We confess our love is fickle and inconstant. We follow selfish goals and deny our way of life harms others and hurts your world. We are sorry, and we want to change. Create in us a clean heart, strengthen our resolve, reconcile us one to another, and bless us with your peace. We continue to pray in Christ’s name. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

 

 

OFFERING

 

As people who have passed through the waters of baptism,

let us make our grateful offering to God our Redeemer.

 

Let us pray…O God, at his baptism, you acknowledged Jesus as your beloved Son,

and through him you opened to us a way

to become your children by grace.

May these gifts we return to you

be a sign of our dedication to live as your faithful children,

born anew in the waters of baptism by the power of the Holy Spirit;

through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Scripture for Jan. 12

 Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

By José Ferraz de Almeida Júnior - artsandculture.google.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=78290933

Worship Prayers January 5

 CENTERING PRAYER

 

God of glory, your WORD made a home with us so that we might be at home in you. Gather your children from the farthest places in the world and lead us to that home where the human race can become a human family; through Jesus Christ and in the Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

The WORD became flesh and lived among us

And we have seen his glory.

The true light that enlightens everyone

has come into the world.

Glory to God who has blessed us in Christ.

Glory to God forever.

 

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Holy God, we confess we are a distracted people and forgetful of your love. We make selfish choices, hurt each other, and perpetuate injustice in your world. We sin against you, and we repent of our many wrongdoings. By the power of your Spirit, forgive, restore, and strengthen us to live in your light and to walk in your truth. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, your WORD made flesh. (Silent Confession)

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

Christ lavishes upon us the riches of his grace. Therefore, let us offer our lives and the fruits of our labor to God.

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray… Lord Jesus Christ, your goodness to us is beyond the reaches of our imagination, a fullness of love that embraces all of life. From you, we receive grace upon grace. Accept our offering for the sake of the world. All that we have is yours, and all we return to you is but a reflection of your love for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Worship Scripture January 5

 John 1:1-18

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

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Photo by Jessica Mangano on Unsplash

Worship Prayers for Dec. 22

 

CENTERING PRAYER*  

My soul magnifies the LORD!

All is ready

Stable prepared

Shepherds working

Magi journeying

Gifts are chosen

My soul magnifies the LORD!

 

A city awaits

Crowded and bustling

Stars are shining

People expecting

A drama unfolding

My soul magnifies the LORD!

 

The LORD is coming

To save his people

Mary’s obedience

Jesus’ willingness

Your gracious gift to us

My soul magnifies the LORD!

 

 

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING

 

We light these candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love as a sign of the coming light of Christ. 

Christ is the reflection of God’s glory, the very imprint of God’s own being. 

Night and day we pray that God will strengthen us in holiness and love. 

God, who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! The Lord is near.

It is the will of God that we be made holy through the gift of Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God for this good news of great joy!

 

KINDLE ADVENT CANDLES

 

“Kindle Advent Candles”

 

Kindle Advent candles.

Love endures through all.

Hate brings fleeting power.

Love’s a real curve-ball.

Cherishing each other,

Heaven comes to earth.

Sacred transformation

Brings rebirth.

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

God our Savior, we ask for your mercy. Though we have heard Mary’s song, we still seek security in pride and power and possessions. Though we know your story, we resist the costs of following you. We pass by those considered lowly in this world. We turn away from hungry people who still wait to be filled. Forgive us, we pray. Help us to work for the justice you intend. Make us messengers of the peace you bring. As we wait for you, turn our apathy into acts of love and service. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel. (Silent Confession)

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

God does not desire us to bring burnt offerings and

sin offerings, Heb. 10:5–10

but instead asks that we do God’s will.

So we bring to God now the offerings of our lives

and our labors,

with the prayer that God’s will may be done

through them.

 

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray… You deliver us, O God,

from exile, separation, and despair

into communion with each other, with you, and with your good news.

We thank you for all that draws us close together,

astounding us with lives transformed by gratitude.

Accept our gifts as signs of our gratitude

for what you give us every day

and as honor to your presence in our world;

for the sake of those who stand in need

and Jesus Christ, who saves us. Amen.