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Call to Worship

L: Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
P: Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
L: He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the LORD is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
P: The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
ALL: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

Opening Prayer:
by Rev Janet in CNY

O God, who alone is wise, let us learn wisdom. O God, who alone holds authority, let us learn obedience. O, God, who alone has power, let us learn to fear and reverence you. In the love of Jesus Christ, with the assistance of your Holy Spirit, we open our minds and hearts to your Word. Amen.
 

Call to Worship:
by Frank Schaefer

L: The God who created us, is calling us
P: Let us listen to God's voice
L: The God who loves us, wants to prepare us for his Kingdom
P: Let us enter God's gates with open hearts and open minds
L: The God who loves the Church is asking us to be one.
P: Let us stand together in unity and love to the praise of our God!

 

Prayer of Covenant with God's Word (use with Deuteronomy 18:15-20)

God of righteousness and God of grace, teach us always to live in agreement with your Holy Word which you have written in the laws of nature, in your holy word by your prophets, and on our hearts and minds through the power of your Holy Spirit.  While we journey through this temporal life, give us the strength to do your will and to keep your commandments.

Help us to avoid vanity, pettiness and unfruitful pursuits, but enable us to build our lives upon the rock of Christ, Jesus, your Son, who is your Living Word in this life and in eternity, in whose precious name we pray. Amen.
 

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, help us examine our hearts so that we may be convicted of our sins and shortcomings through the ministry of your Holy Spirit within us.

We come to you in the name of Jesus, your Son and our High Priest. We confess that there are times when we go against your hopes for us as your people.

We confess that there are times when we go against your Word for us.  In silence, O LORD, hear us as we confess those things we have done, and those things we have neglected to do; times when we have failed you and each other. . .

(Time of silence)

Loving God, we ask you once again to receive us into your compassionate, forgiving arms that we might find favor with you for all the days of our lives. Empower us to serve you fully, to share the Good News with others around us, to share resources we have with those who have less, to weep with those who weep, and to laugh with those who laugh.  Amen.

Assurance of Pardon:
L: God loves us and forgives us.  God gives us the chance to begin again.
All: Thanks be to God.  Amen!

 

Prayer for a Spirit of Unity (use with 1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

Dear Heavenly Parent, teach us, your children, to look on those who differ from us with grace and compassion. Grant us the strength to forgive, to love and to give. Teach us to hate sin, but not the sinner. Teach us to live in prayer. Give us the strength to be your witnesses to all, regardless of what distinguishes us and enable us recognize what unites us so that we may be one in fellowship as you are One in Triune and everlasting communion.   Amen.

The Power of God's Word (use with Mark 1:21-28)

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
     and return not but water the earth,
     making it bring forth and sprout,
     giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
     it shall not return to me empty,
     but it shall accomplish that which I intend,
     and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Prayer for Healing (use with Mark 1:21-28)

    Lord God, heavenly Father, we ask you to have mercy on all those among our community of faith who are afflicted with illness and pain. Preserve their life, o Lord, and, if a way can be found in your eternal purposes, grant them relief from pains and healing from this illness.   Comfort them with the assurance of your love and presence and with the forgiveness of all their sins through the grace of your dear Son and our  Savior, Jesus Christ.

    Keep us all in your great love. Grant us those gifts of body and soul that we can bear. Finally, bring as out of this life of trials to the heavenly mansions of our eternal house, which have been prepared for us through the Work of our Savior and which have been promised to us by the Word of your truth. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

 

Closing Prayer:
(by Dag Hammarskjold)

Thou who art over us,
Thou who art one of us,
Thou who art:
     Give me a pure heart, that I may see thee;
     a heart of love, that I may serve thee;
     a heart of faith, that I may abide in thee.
Amen.