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Submit Your Own! Call to Confession By Rev. Tamara V. EnTin, RCA/PCUSA If you are lost in the valley of the shadow of sin, come. Confess your sins and allow God to transport you to the mountaintop of grace to be bathed in the light of forgiveness. February 3, 2008 By David von Schlichten Prayers for Worship – February 3, 2008 Transfiguration of Our Lord – Year A Call to Worship Leader: Alleluia! As we walk across the bridge away from the creche and toward the cross, People: the glory of God transfigures us. Leader: We whom God has made theo-luminescent now worship in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People: Lord, it is good for us to be here and then to go and share, your light emanating from us. Alleluia! Prayer of Invocation Spirit of Moses, Elijah and Peter, just as God transfigured Christ, thereby revealing the glory which makes possible our glory, transform us through this worship service, that we may serve you on the mountaintop and deep in the shadowy valley. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Alleluia. Prayer of Confession Leader: Everest-Adonai, you have saved us through Christ on Mount Calvary. Through baptism into Christ you have declared us to be your sons and daughters. We often react by rebelling against you. We try to stay on the mountaintop, to hide in the glory, instead of climbing down so we can better serve people in need. We seek out the supernatural thrill at the expense of doing the less exciting work of every day care for the neighbor. We fixate on your dazzling beauty, minimizing the ugly brutality of the cross. We seek you only in the bright, pretty places, assuming that you are absent in the dingy, smelly, dreary places. For the sake of the Transforming One, forgive us our sins. People: Help us to take refuge in you and to see you anew. Amen. Words of Assurance Leader: Alleluia. People: Alleluia! Leader: Alleluia, Jesus the Anointed, the Begotten One, died on the hilltop so we can wear the white robes of redemption. Christ has forgiven us all our sins. People: God's glory is a fire that devours our transgressions. Leader: Christ has washed us. Alleluia! People: Alleluia! Prayer of Inspiration Spirit of Sinai, Moriah and Golgotha, you have taught us that no prophecy ever came by human will but by men and women who spoke because you had moved them to do so. Move us to hear and speak the Good News, that we may see better and share better the lamp shining in the dark places. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Prayers of the People Lord of every season, we praise you for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, and we exalt you for Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Lead us on today, on Mardi Gras, on Ash Wednesday, and beyond to look back and ahead, full of faith that you are before us and behind us, above us and within us. God of mountain and valley, (we praise you for leading us. Alleluia.). Giver of the Ten Commandments, you have blessed us with the luminous Church. We lift up special thanks for missionaries such as Ansgar and martyrs such as the Martyrs of Japan. Teach us over and over that we are of the baptized. Whether we are standing up high or lying face-down on the ground, help us to remember that Christ's light has transfigured us. God of mountain and valley . . . Coronation Ruler, we thank you for earthly leaders and for the many nations. Bless each of these nations, including every leader. Elucidate for us the truth that the Anointed King of all is none other than Jesus Christ. Grant us the wisdom and courage as citizens of the kingdom to end war and help those in distress, even people we do not know or like. God of mountain and valley . . . Playful Lord, you know the value of fun and encourage us to enjoy ourselves. As we celebrate Mardi Gras, help us to do so responsibly and with our eyes on the holy significance of this season. God of mountain and valley . . . Sovereign of every season, we thank you for snow and sun, groundhog and robin. Keep us safe through the rest of winter. Compel us to care for one another. We praise you for the promise that spring will return. God of mountain and valley . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. We thank you without ceasing for answering these and all our prayers. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. Alleluia. Offertory Prayer We offer you our gold, frankincense, and myrrh, following your star, listening to your Son, the Beloved, walking with him to Jerusalem, loving one another as he has loved us. Amen. Benediction Leader: Alleluia. “How good, Lord, to be here! People: “Yet we may not remain; Leader: “but since you bid us leave the mount, People: “come with us to the plain.” Alleluia! (The text in quotes in the Benediction is the last verse of the hymn “How Good, Lord, to Be Here!” as printed in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Augsburg, 2006). The text is by Joseph A Robinson.) David von Schlichten, poedifier January 27, 2008 By David von Schlichten Prayers for Worship – January 27, 2008 Third Sunday after the Epiphany – Year A Call to Worship Leader: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? People: The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Leader: The God of Zebulun and Naphtali has shined light upon us, People: so we worship in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, All: answering Christ's call to follow him. Alleluia! Prayer of Invocation Rabbi Jesus, you are the great, life-giving fisher of humanity. You are standing at the shore, calling out to us. Embolden us with your Spirit to drop everything and follow you. Amen. Prayer of Confession Lord of oneness, although you draw us together with the liberating net of your love, every day we struggle to break away from you. We declare through words and actions that we belong to people, places, and things instead of belonging first to Christ. We think human weakness is strength and human foolishness is wisdom. We ignore the true wisdom, trivializing the cross by regarding it merely as jewelry or a decoration. We doubt the power of your wisdom, thinking we know better. We cower in the Devil's darkness instead of standing in your light. You call us, and we make excuses not to follow. Forgive us our sins, for the sake of Christ, who embraced the cross so we could walk in the light. Amen. Words of Assurance Alleluia! Through Christ's “foolish” wisdom, the LORD has broken the rod of the oppressor as on the day of Midian. God has forgiven us all our sins. The Almighty has given us shelter, has answered our call, has revealed his face to us. Christ has caught us free from our sins so we can follow him anew. Alleluia! Prayer of Inspiration Holy Spirit, just as you compelled the disciples to leave their nets and fish for people, compel us through the proclamation of the Word to follow Jesus wherever he goes. Amen. Prayers of the People Dazzling Lord, we encounter you at times of darkest fear. We praise you for being a light to the Church and for using us, the baptized, as a light to the nations. We offer emphatic gratitude for your servant Thomas Aquinas, that brilliant Christian of long ago whose work still teaches us today. Bless each of us, that we may be unified as the Church, declaring as one, “We belong to Christ.” Lord of discipleship, (congregational response: shine on us.). Wisest Sovereign, we thank you for the United States, including President Bush, and for the spectrum of people around the world. Teach us to find courage, not through violence and injustice, but through Spirit-directed compassion. Care for soldiers everywhere. Guide us to respond to our enemies by regarding them as people in need. Lord of discipleship . . . Papa Adonai, you have blessed us with good family and good friends. Teach us to care better for one another. Bless all those in need, including [Add names.]. Remind us that we are your apprentices, learning from you that part of fishing for people is tending to the needy. Lord of discipleship . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. These prayers we expose to your light, knowing that, through a holy photosynthesis, you will generate blessing. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Offertory Prayer Like the wisemen who followed the star, we bow our hearts before you to offer these gifts as part of our discipleship to you, Christ our Teacher. Benediction Leader: The LORD, our light and salvation, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, blazes before you and within you, guiding you to fish for people People: to the glory of God and the good of all creation. Amen. Alleluia! David von Schlichten, poedifier January 20, 2008 By David von Schlichten Prayers for Worship – January 20, 2008 Second Sunday after the Epiphany – Year A Call to Worship Leader: Come and see. Because the Messiah has found us, we have found the Messiah. People: We drop everything to follow the Shepherd-Lamb. Leader: We come and see in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. People: We come and see the light to the nations, the salvation for all the earth. Prayer of Invocation Lighting Spirit, we are your temple. Many things compete for our attention. Clear our minds, that we, the baptized, may follow the Rabbi, in whose name we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession God who baptizes and calls us, the disciples, we are often as confused and dysfunctional as the congregation in Corinth. You shine the light, and we scurry to hide in dark cracks. We toss sacrifices into the plate without righteousness in the heart. You bid us to come and see, but we mutter, “Can anything worthwhile really come from God?” We sing about unity but then insist on divisive out-doing of one another. For the sake of the Lamb, take away our sins. Lift us out of the desolate pit. Amen. Words of Assurance The LORD has stooped to us and heard our cry. God sets our feet upon a high cliff, making our footing sure. The Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world. The Sovereign strengthens us to be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God cleanses Corinth; the Messiah seeks and finds us. Alleluia! Prayer of Inspiration Through Baptism you have made us saints, and you call us to live accordingly. By the power of the Spirit, teach us with the Word, that we may love to do your will, the righteousness of the Rabbi secure within our heart. Amen. Prayers of the People Lord of the spectrum, we exalt you for the multi-colored diversity of humanity. We thank you for your servant, Pastor King, who struggled to replace violence with peace for all. Teach us to follow you, the Teacher, that we may realize the vision of one day every person being judged, not by skin-color, but by character-content. Light to the nations, (congregational response: shine on us.). We praise you for the rainbow of denominations and for the many great leaders you have given us, the saints. You gave Paul the wisdom to manage the exasperating congregation in Corinth. We are grateful that you converted Paul to follow you. We honor you also for missionaries such as Timothy, Titus and Silas, and martyrs such as Agnes. Throughout this week of prayer for Christian unity, instruct and humble us, that we may overcome division and be one like the Trinity. Light to the nations . . . We humans tend to rank each other and compete against each other. We obsess over who is the best. Coach the United States and every nation to concentrate instead on being the servant of all and on drawing together, not tearing apart. Light to the nations . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. These prayers we voice to you, knowing you will hear and respond with healing light and words of direction. In the name of the discipling One we pray. Amen. Offertory Prayer Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, LORD, unless we give them with hearts of righteousness. Continue to reinforce your law deep within us, that these gifts may glorify you and benefit people in need. Amen. Benediction Leader: Come and see. People: The Messiah leads us into the week to reveal his steadfast love and truth to the world. Leader: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit urge us to come and see how we can follow the Lamb every day. We are not lacking in spiritual gifts. People: We have the strength to love, so we go and show. David von Schlichten, poedifier January 13, 2008 By David von Schlichten Prayers for Worship – January 13, 2008 Baptism of the Lord – Year A Call to Worship Leader: The voice of the LORD is upon the waters. People: Because of the Son, God is well-pleased with us, the baptized. Leader: Hearing God's voice, we worship in the name of the Father, and of the Son who is the Beloved, and of the Holy Spirit, People: the saving waters around us, the Spirit alighting upon us. Alleluia! Prayer of Invocation Spirit of God, we praise you for descending upon Jesus at the Jordan and for descending upon us. Navigate our worship, that we may glorify God and arrive at lives that better reflect the Baptism. In Jesus' name we pray. Prayer of Confession Through water and the Word, you have joined us to Christ's death and resurrection, thereby saving us from eternal drowning. Despite your Wash-Mercy, we soil ourselves over and over. We ignore your voice, stomp out of the building instead of crying “Glory!” We batter every reed, burn down every tree. We roll in mud and then brag about how clean we are. We condone and even encourage injustice among the nations. For the sake of the One who fulfills all righteousness, forgive us our sins. Remember our Baptism. Create in us clean hearts. Lead us to the still waters, to the sunrise. Amen. Words of Assurance Although the voice of the LORD can strip trees, instead God whispers, “You are clean.” Through the Beloved, the Almighty scrubs us pure, makes us shine. God does not break or quench us but instead strengthens, washes and enlightens us, all because of the sacrificed Son. Alleluia! Prayer of Inspiration Divine-Feathered Friend, open our ears to the voice of the Word as we speak and listen to the proclamation. In the name of the pleasing Son we pray. Amen. Prayers of the People Lord of the waters, we thank you for Baptism, for the saving waters that you have poured over the entire Church. We praise you for Martin Luther King, Jr. Lead us to continue to be witnesses who renew the Church according to the dream of the peaceable kingdom. Lord of New Life, (congregational response: hear our voices.). God of Truth, we exalt you for Peter's confession and for Cornelius' conversion. Teach us to be bold confessors of the Good News through loving words and actions. Remind us over and over to pattern our lives according to our Baptism. You are the source of clarity, Father of all. Bless the United States as we strive to elect a new President. It is tempting for us to allow our hope to dry up. Revive us. Rejuvenate our hope. Lord of New Life . . . You anoint us with healing when we are sick. Bless those in need of that anointing now, including [Add names here.]. Direct us to assist you with the anointing. Lord of New Life . . . You may add other praises or petitions here. We know you hear our voices, and we trust that you will be pleased with us, because of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Offertory Prayer Leader: You have clothed us in bright, white robes. We respond by offering you these gifts, and we cry, People: Glory! Benediction Leader: The voice from heaven has announced that he is well-pleased with the Son People: and so is well-pleased with us, the baptized. Leader: In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we are washed People: and are sent to share the Message, “marching in the light of God.” David von Schlichten, poedifier [First Page] [Prev] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 [Next] [Last Page] Return |
