Worship Prayers July 29

CENTERING PRAYER  Praise to you, O God most holy, Uncreated Light.  I am thankful that in you there is no night.  Let my morning prayer rise to you as blooming flowers turn to meet the sun. May I meet the adventure of this day open to the opportunities you give me to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ.  May I be so filled with the Holy Spirit that peace and compassion radiate from me to bless others so that they are touched by your glory.  Enrich my senses with the beauty of your world, my mind with wonder at your ways, and my spirit with gratitude for all that you prepare for the redemption of creation through Jesus Christ the Son.  Pierce my heart with love, especially for those in any kind of need, so that I am moved to help where I can and moved to cry out for help if the need is greater than I can answer.  Spare others the consequences of my sin, and help me to be reconciled with those I have harmed in the past.  Make me slow to anger, quick to forgive, and quicker still to confess my faults.  In all things, let me trust in you.  Let me finish the day as I begin it, in your care—in your gentle, merciful, loving hands, beloved and blessed triune God, whom I would worship and adore now and forever.  Amen.

       

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 14)

Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God."

         They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.

The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.

         They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one.

         O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!

When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.

         Come!  Let us worship our God together!

   PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of wonder, Lord of King David and of the Son, the Messiah, David’s greater son, we confess our sins and pray for your help so that we can truly repent and turn from evil. Deliver us from the temptation to hide from you, to lie to you, or to excuse ourselves because of the harm we have done to others.  Forgive us for the curse we have brought upon the earth.

Restore your creation to full health and feed the multitudes from the abundance of your merciful power.  Grow in us a deeper desire to love Christ with the fullness of your love, and to glorify him, along with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. (Silent Confession)

SCRIPTURE READING                                                                       Samuel 11:1-15

  

† 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.

For the sermon by Rev. Miriam Foltz, click here.