Worship Prayers

 

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

Dear LORD, you are our only hope. Teach us to put our trust in you. God, you are our help. Teach us the path of righteousness and turn us from the ways of the wicked, for we know you love those who do justice. We will forever praise you for the glory of your righteous reign, now and forever. Amen.

 

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“Almighty God, as people go to the polls this day we pray first and foremost for peace. May the sense of community and connection be greater than any division or difference, no matter how entrenched. Knowing we will vote in schools, churches, synagogues, and other communal gathering places, may our commitment to care for one another grow as we stand in lines, talk to our neighbors and recognize we have more in common than we often realize. May we show one another kindness and respect, today and in the days to come.

We thank you for the freedom to vote our conscience, of which you alone are Lord. After this election, we are keenly aware that even if the political rhetoric fades the acrimony it highlighted will remain. Grant us the courage to step into the breaches and not shrink back into our enclaves of homogeneity. Send your Spirit to drive us to the places where you are already working to bring reconciliation. Remind us relentlessly that you are greater than every category we devise, more powerful than any estrangement we have created, eternal, ever present and always calling forth justice, peace and abundant life. Show us today and everyday how to live in the love of Jesus Christ, the perfect love that casts out fear. Amen.” – Rev. Dr. Jill Duffield

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 146)

 

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

I will praise the LORD as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God all my life long.

Do not put your trust in princes,

in mortals, in whom there is no help.

Happy are those whose hope is in the LORD their God.

The LORD sets the prisoners free;

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD watches over the strangers

and upholds the orphan and the widow,

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord reigns forever. Praise the LORD!

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

O God, you are ever-faithful, yet we do not love you with our whole hearts. You show us how to love our fellow human beings, yet we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Turn us back to you, O God, that we may follow your commandments; through Christ our LORD. (Silent Confession)

 

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – WCF SC Q1

 

 

OFFERING

 

Invitation to the Offering

 

Our God is ever-faithful and provides everything we need. Let us praise the LORD through our giving that our offerings may be acceptable to God.

 

Prayer after Offering

 

Let us pray… Dear God, we offer you these gifts hoping to build up the work of your kingdom. Make us living witnesses to the way of your righteous reign. Strengthened by your many blessings may we continue to move onward in faith for the glory of your son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.