Worship Prayers for Nov. 12

CENTERING PRAYER - I give thanks for the gift of life this day and for the privilege of loving you by serving others.  Give me an opportunity to grow in right relationship with you by promoting justice in the world today though my life, my choices, and my witness.  Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Rejoice and be glad!

        For God is our salvation.

Rejoice and be glad!

        For God is great.

Let us worship the Lord!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy and gracious God, you are all light and wonder and glory.  You are our strength and our delight; you give us all we need to live.  Yet we are distracted by all that glitters, continually grasping for more.  Rather than trust in your provision, we chase after our own happiness. Forgive us, Lord, and turn us back to you.  Overwhelm us with your goodness and cover us with grace, for we know you are the source of life, the fount of all that is good.  We continue to pray in Jesus’ name.  (Silent Confession)

  

† 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.

  

   SCRIPTURE                                                                       Matthew 25:1-13

  

                                                                         

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Let us give praise to the Lord, who is good. God’s love is everlasting.

        Let us come to God with thanksgiving, let us complete our promises to the Lord.

We praise you God, for the many gifts of this church.

        We celebrate the wonders and signs of grace in our midst;

        we dedicate ourselves as Christ’s faithful disciples.

Make us instruments of your truth, O God, enable us to proclaim your kingdom.

        Where there is injury, let us be healers.  Where there is hatred, let us share love.

Encourage us in the tasks before us, for talking and moving and thinking together,

for enacting of the gospel.

        Where there is darkness, let us bring light.  Where there is sadness, let us bring joy.

Bless these gifts, gracious God, and bless all those who are served by them.

        We bring these gifts and offerings and our promise of giving in a new year

        because we hope for more in the days ahead.

We hope for a stronger church, and a more compassionate world.

        Shape us, through our giving, make us a people of true discipleship.  Amen.

Click here for the sermon "Renewed: Treasure"