Worship Prayers April 28

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

Time is
Too slow for those who Wait,
Too swift for those who Fear,
Too long for those who Grieve,
Too short for those who Rejoice,
But for those who Love,
Time is not.

 

- Henry van Dyke Jr.

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 1)

 

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

Come, let us worship our Lord together.

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Almighty God, you brought forth the world for the love of Christ., ye we live in rebellion and turn away from your created purpose. We acknowledge the Lordship of Christ with our lips, but we do not honor you with our lives. We prefer the wide path of destruction over the narrow way to life. Therefore, we pray:

 

Break our rebellious will.

Instruct our hearts in the way of peace.

Expose our insincere thoughts.

Give us integrity in our quest for truth.

Release us from the fear of death.

Grant us courage in the face of evil.

Free us for joyful service in Christ our Lord.

Empower us to live as citizens of your kingdom.

We pray this for the sake of the world, in the name of Christ. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Heidelberg Catechism Question One 

 

Q.1. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

 

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

With gratitude, let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God.

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray…Almighty God, receive our offering for the sake of Christ our Lord. Make us worthy stewards of your gifts and generous citizens of the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we pray. Amen.