Worship Prayers March 3

 CENTERING PRAYER

 

Gracious God, whose power is made perfect in weakness, whose wisdom appears as foolishness in this world, we thank you for the scandal of the cross. In Jesus Christ, you overturn all our usual ways of behaving and believing. You scatter our false notions of discipleship as easily as coins are spilled from a box. You correct our notions of piety and order with fierce passion. Do not let your church become content or contained as an institution. Raze to ruins what is distorted in us and raise us to new life as a community so we may be the body of Christ in and for the world. With fear and joy, we ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 19)

 

The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the decrees of the Lord are sure,

making wise the simple;

the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is clear,

enlightening the eyes;

the fear of the Lord is pure,

enduring forever;

the ordinances of the Lord are true

and righteous altogether.

They are more desirable than gold,

and sweeter than honey.

In keeping them is great reward.

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Merciful God, how fickle we are; we sin against you without even knowing it. Clear us, we pray, of any unknown sin, and save us from willfully ignoring your way. Let your commandments rule and guide us. Forgive us for worshipping anyone or anything except for you; keep us faithful. Forgive us for failing to honor all our relationships – with those closest to us and those who are distant neighbors. Help us to speak words of blessing and kindness, rather than words that belittle or destroy. Turn us away from violence, falsehood, and selfishness. Forgive us for thinking everything depends on our efforts and power, for you are the God who made us, led us out of slavery, and brought us into the community of faith. Help us to depend on you alone and to rest in your peace. (Silent Confession)

 

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

The house of God is not a marketplace for buying and selling. It is a house of prayer, a place of healing and restoration, a place where we bring before God our provisions to be used for present needs. Let us bring our tithes and offerings to God.

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray… O Lord our God, we want to follow all your commandments – to love only you, to love our neighbors freely, and to accept your unconditional love. Accept these offerings, we pray, and teach us to be generous in all circumstances. Amen.