Opening Prayers
For better or worse, I refer to the beginning prayer of worship as an
"Opening Prayer" rather than as the more traditional
"Invocation." Indeed, in worship we do "call" upon the Lord, we lift up our "voices" to God - which is what
"invocation" means. However, we shouldn't be tempted to believe that our
efforts invoke, conjure up, or bring about God's presence. The truth is - "I
am with you always, even to the end of the age;" (Matthew
28:20) "I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with
me;" (Revelation 3:20) The voice of Christ is
calling us. He is knocking upon our door.
In worship, we are the ones who are invoked, the ones who respond to that call,
that knock to open our door and greet the awesome presence of God. Thus the
phrase, "Opening Prayer," has a double meaning. Pragmatically, it is
the prayer that begins or opens worship. In this moment, however, we are
awakening to God, opening our "door," our "selves," our very
lives to the One who is with us always. One of my mentors, the late Rev. E. Paul Weaver,
referred to this as the "Prayer for the Awareness of God's Presence."
Whatever terms we use, that is what we mean.
Confession is a part of worship. In higher church liturgy it usually has its own
separate space towards the beginning of the service, as a unison or responsive
reading followed by an assurance of pardon. An opening prayer can function,
also, in this capacity - leading God's people to welcome the Lord into our
lives, as we are, not as some pipe-dream of who we think we are.
Below is an ever-increasing collection of Opening Prayers written by me over the
years (unless otherwise noted). Some may have been pulled from other sources.
Like many ministers, my record keeping has not always been the best. If you find
one here which should be attributed to someone else, please let
me know and I will do so. Feel free to borrow - "for the glory of God
and my neighbor's good."
Pete Haynes, pastor
Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
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See also: |
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Each resource on this page has been bookmarked. To link to a particular prayer
use the designation at the beginning of it, without the parenthesis, with a #.
Thus, the first prayer would be bookmarked as:
https://rockhay.tripod.com/worship/prayers-etc/opening.htm#a-1
Dates at the end of an entry are when they have been used at this church,
according to records not kept until Oct., 2000. All have been part of worship
here, though when they were written or first used may go back as far as 1990 (my
first computer files).
(a-1)
O God, our resurrection & life, the promise of your new life in Christ is
like a breath of fresh air in a dry & thirsty land. We have gathered as
believers, & as those who are honestly seeking the truth. Guide our worship
this hour.
O God who makes all things new, speak to us as whole people today. May your truth touch not just our intellects, but also our deeper yearnings of heart & soul. We bring with us our daily concerns, as well as our more eternal questions. May your new creation in us shed light upon our everyday walk.
O God who fed the multitudes with but a few loaves & some fish, feed us now with the abundance of what you freely offer, that we might overflow with your goodness right where we live. All this we pray in the name of, & because of, Jesus our Christ. Amen. (4/25/04)
(a-2)
O God who is greater than the most
powerful forces in this world, enable us to be still & know that you are
God.
O Lord who answers out of the
whirlwind of everyday life, breathe in us your Holy Spirit to strengthen,
comfort, & guide us in the midst of the storm.
(a-3)
O God, we trust in your power to
create, to sustain, to enable. But we could not trust if we did not know that
you are always near. Be with us, Lord, as we are gathered here to worship you.
Help us not to check our minds or our hearts at the door, but enable us to bring
all that we are to you, so that we might experience your touch upon all aspects of
our life. We pray this because of, and in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
(1/14/01)
(a-4)
O God, we trust in your power,
even as it is often found in weakness; in your wisdom, even as it is expressed
in seeming foolishness; in your wholeness, even as it comes to us amid
brokenness. We do not ask this day for dazzling displays of strength, electric
exercises of intellectual prowess, or marvelous manifestations of miracles. We
come simply to worship you. Touch us this day, O Lord, sinners that we are, that
we might become your saints, your body, your children, your church. For this
Temple of your Spirit is built not upon our own abilities, knowledge, or
restorative skill, but upon you, in Jesus Christ. Amen.
(10/10/04)
(a-5)
Gentle...yet powerful.
Lowly...yet almighty.
Shepherd...yet King.
(a-6)
Gentle Shepherd ... King of Love,
(a-7)
Light of Christ, awaken us this
hour to the glory of your presence in our midst. Shine among us in such a way
that the darkness without and within may be pushed back, such that we might
truly see what is really real. Help us to recognize our sin for what it is.
Enable us to behold the world as you created it to be, as you created us to be.
Empower us to move from darkness to light, from sin to new life. May your light
within us shine through into worship this day, as all days. This we pray in the
name of the Word made flesh, the light which is the light of all people. Jesus
Christ. Amen. (2/25/01,
1/12/02, 7/22/07)
(a-8)
O Holy God, like Isaiah the
prophet we stand in awe of your glory, feeling tremendously small and polluted
by our sin, and the sin of our society. Even so, you touch us with your burning
presence, and we are made clean and whole. O God, our Creator, continue to build
this household of faith into what you want us to be. O Christ, our Savior, lead
us to do as you will. O Spirit, our Power, strengthen us for the work of the
Kingdom, a worship and a service which is ours today as well as tomorrow. O
Blessed Trinity, fill this place and these people with your presence. For yours
is the Power, and the Salvation, and the Creation, now and always. Amen.
(6/6/04)
(a-9)
O God from whom every gift
derives, we gather to worship you this day. You are an awesome God, greater than
our comprehension or our imagination. You are beyond any word we could ever use
to describe you. And yet, through Jesus, we know the intimacy of your vast Love.
(b-1)
Eternal God, our Alpha and Omega,
our beginning and our end, we have gathered in this time and at this place to
worship you. In your time, you created all things, and wove into their fabric a
yearning for fulfillment in you. It is this yearning within us which has pulled
us here this morning. Take these moments, O Lord of time and space, and complete
them in us, through your Holy Spirit. May our labor bring forth a new creation
in you. This is your hour, Christ Jesus, help us to make the most of each
precious moment. For in your name we have gathered, and we pray. Amen.
(5/5/02, 7/3/05)
(b-2)
Like Elijah, O God, we turn and
face you in the midst of the storm. Help us this hour to hear you speak to us -
not in the wind, or the thunder, nor even in the upheaval of the ground beneath
us. Help us to hear you speak to us, in our heart of hearts, as that still,
small voice amidst the maelstrom, which gives us direction, and peace, and hope.
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
(b-3)
O God, music is the food of our souls ... but not all are musically inclined.
"O for a thousand ...", a million.
(b-4)
O God, who is here - in this
place, now - in our midst; Empower us to praise you, not with words and actions
which come from outside of us, but from within us; Dwell in us more fully that
we may sing to you with all our being; Fill us with a sense of your joy, that
we might actually delight in your worship; Focus us upon your self-giving Love,
which is above every love we have ever known, the source of all.
(b-5)
O God, the joy of this day, the
hope for every day to come, Move in our midst, fill us with your Spirit, and
make us one. May our words, as well as our actions, and even the secret thoughts
of our hearts, be a part of your worship this hour, O Lord of great power,
displayed in sacrificial love. For we pray focused upon the One who died for
all, your only begotten son. Amen.
(b-6)
"Get out of bed, sleepy
head," we heard a voice say: an alarm clock, a mother or father, a husband
or wife, an excited child. "Eat breakfast," "get dressed,"
"hurry up - let's go", the voices prodded us, Lord. And so, we are
here. But are we really? Wake us up, God. Really! WAKE US UP!
(b-7)
confessional:
The Life you give us in Christ is
so very real, God. Who are we to receive such goodness? Yes, we have come to
church today, but we confess that we have not been all that faithful throughout
the past week.
(b-8) CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER (uses 2 leaders)
2 - Please stand, ready to worship God.
1 - Listen! Do you hear?
2 - Listen! Are you alive to what God has created around you?
1 - Look! Have you beheld the wonder of God's Creation?
2 - Look! Do you see the wonder of God's presence around us?
1 - Wait! "Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him."
2 - Wait! "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength."
1 - Come! "Come to me all who labor & are heavy burdened, & I shall
give you rest."
2 - Come! "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it
(b-9)
You are such a gracious host, Lord
God of all creation. Who are we to receive such goodness? You prepare a table
for us, amidst our daily struggles, our successes and failures, even in the
presence of our enemies. You anoint us, wash us, feed us. You do all this.
(c-1)
You are here, Lord, in this place.
Now. Not only do we stand in awe of how great you are, larger than our
imagination; But we also can scarcely comprehend that you are with us this
moment. Yes, from a distance you are watching us. But you stand beside us as
well. Your Spirit's presence quickens our pulse, fills us with wonder when we
become aware than you are near. In extra-ordinary, as well as common, every-day
ways, you make your presence known to us. This is your time of worship, God. The
words don't belong to the Pastor or myself. The music isn't the property of
the organist. The praying and singing we all do
comes not only from us but, most importantly, from you. When we lose sight
of this, today as well as every day, O Lord, forgive us, and live in and through
us. Do great things with us
right now, and in the week which lies ahead. We pray this, our heavenly Father, in the name of
your Son - Jesus Christ, in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
(5/26/02)
(c-2)
Holy God, make your presence known
to us today. We come to you as we are, called to be saints, holy ones, but so
often less than our calling. Help us this hour to let go of those sins to which
we cling. Help us to know that our self-worth does not depend so much on our
ability to hold on to our lives, as on your power to release ourselves into your
hands.
(c-3)
O God of the still, small voice
quiet our inner spirit. Help us to focus upon you, and you alone, to hear your
voice within. There are so many other voices demanding our attention. But we
cannot attend to them without you.... "Be still and know that I am
God," you say to us as you said to Elijah.... May your voice speak through
us. In weakness, be our strength. In poverty, be our wealth. In depression, be
our joy. In apathy, be our love. We cannot sing Love's song, O Lord, unless it
be your voice singing in us. Take this heart, and with this mouth make your
praise and thanksgiving a reality here and now. Because of, and in the name of
our Messiah, Jesus. Amen.
(c-4)
Creator and Ruler of the Earth, we
lift up our voices, our eyes, our hearts, our lives to you in praise. Make us
your alleluia people. Uphold the weary, for whom praise may be very difficult.
Humble the strong, for whom "alleluia" may be too easy. Creator and
Ruler of the Earth, continue to form us into your new creation, that we might
welcome you to more fully become the ruler of our hearts and minds. Through him
who came as a servant, and who now reigns over all creation, Jesus, our Christ.
Amen.
(10/21/01, 8/14/05,
11/12/06)
(c-5)
O God, whose holiness is not
limited to grand cathedrals or saintly persons, spectacular mountains or
mountain-moving leaders; O God, whose holiness is often discovered in simple
everyday places and simple everyday folks, plant your holiness in this place, in
us now. Grow us this hour, that we might flower, right where we are, with the
beauty of your holiness. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.
(2/4/01)
(c-6)
O God, who gives to those who ask,
provide for each of us in your way, a special gift to be used for your glory,
and for the good of our neighbors. O God, who reveals to those who seek, show us
this day what these gifts are, and how they may be used. O God, who opens to
those who knock, help us to step forward, now, into your gracious presence,
knowing that we are each and all blessed with something special to share. One
more thing, Lord, stir us up, so that we don't become too self-satisfied, and
forget to keep asking, and seeking, and knocking. We pray all this in the name
of the One who asks for the voiceless, who seeks out the lost, who stands at the
door and knocks. Come in, Lord Jesus. Amen.
(c-7)
Most Gracious God, hallowed be
your name, help us to honor your name in what we say and what we do, this hour
in our worship, this week in our work. May your gracious presence surround us
this day, so that obedience to your Word becomes a joy rather than a burden. May
the depth of your Grace, the width of your Love, the height of your Joy, inspire
us, here and now, to more fully be your people, folks known not by forced
friendliness, but by gracious goodwill. We look to you for this, God, because,
on our own, we are tempted to be just the opposite. Empower us with your Spirit,
we pray in Jesus name. Amen. (7/11/04)
(c-8)
O God who watches over all of
creation, you are far greater than our ability to understand. How do you do it?
From where do you do it? Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father who art in
heaven." What a mouthful, Lord! On the one hand you are as close as a
loving parent. But on the other hand, you watch from a distance.
(c-9)
Eternal God, whose signature we
see, if we dare to look, in the creation of the universe, help us this hour to
look and to listen for your handwriting and your voice in this place, among
these people. Connect our temporary praise to your timeless rhythms, your
ageless melodies, your everlasting joyful noise. Guide us now to focus upon you,
knowing that in you our distractions become new possibilities for action.
Breathe life into our singing, our praying, our speaking, our listening, our
touching, that all these activities might become more than they are. In our
worship we reach out to you, O God, knowing that you have already enfolded us in
your arms. Thank you. In Jesus, we pray. Amen. (9/15/02,
10/8/06)
(d-1)
Lord God, words are not enough to
express your awesomeness, your majesty, your holiness. Our highest expressions
of theology are but baby talk next to you: your creation, your very self. Make
us aware, through your Holy Spirit, that you are here among us. May this
awareness lead us to approach this hour more carefully. The words we speak, the
tunes we sing, the thoughts we think, the joy and sadness we feel, may these be
pleasing to you. For in spite of the inadequacy of our words, this worship is
addressed to you. Make it complete, whole, full to overflowing, O God, our rock,
and our redeemer. In Christ we pray. Amen.
(7/15/01, 10/2/05)
(d-2)
"Those who drink of the
water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give
them will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." (John
4:14)
O God of living water, O bread of life; We are hungry. We are thirsty. Our prosperity, though, masks these deepest needs. Quench our thirst now, that our lips might sing your praise. Fill our emptiness now, that our lives might show your love. "Cast your bread upon the waters" of this place. (Ecclesiastes 11:1) Let your waters "break forth in (our) wilderness, (your) streams in (our) desert." (Isaiah 35:6b) Create an oasis here and now in us, where the hungry and thirsty might come and receive, a channel that might carry your living water where it is needed. Flow in and through us this hour. This we pray, in the name of the One whose love is expressed in bread and wine. Amen.
(d-3)
O God, powerful and loving, we
look to you for both strength and compassion. We confess that we don't really
understand power, nor - when it comes down to it - are we very good at love.
Very easily we go to extremes: too hard or too soft. Teach us your tough love.
Sharpen us this hour on the whetstone of your Word. With the tender arms of your
Spirit, embrace us. O powerful and loving God, fashion us to become tough and
tender disciples. We worship you now because we know of no other like you. In
the name of Jesus, your beloved Son, our leader and friend, we pray. Amen.
(d-4)
(used with "A Mighty Fortress")
(d-5)
O God, whose glory is found not
just on majestic thrones far beyond our reach, but also amid the imperfection of
the human family; help us to approach this hour, this day, and thus every day
this week, as a gift from you, full of glorious possibilities, as well as holy
expectations. This does not come naturally, Lord. Our temptation is to be so
"realistic", or so lost in the clouds, that we miss your kingdom
coming on earth, even as it is in heaven. It is often in the simplest of ways,
in the middle of situations for which a sigh is our only response, that your
glory becomes a reality. Come, Holy Spirit, help us to see and worship, to trust
and live, starting right now! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. (6/11/06)
(d-6)
Yes, Lord, teach us to wait. You
are eternal. In you we find freedom from the tyranny of time. You have given us
the minutes and hours of our days not to enslave us, but to give order. Help us
to use this hour wisely, to wait, and experience your nearness. Only in
returning and rest are we saved, in quietness and trust are we strengthened.
(pause)
(d-7)
We thank you for this new day,
God. Confession time: ... we're not very good at giving thanks. We tend to be
takers more than givers. You give us so much, only we get so turned around that
we can't see what you provide for us, each and every day. We get so lost in the
struggle to make ends meet, that "meat", and what it takes to buy it,
becomes our end. Forgive us, Lord, and free us. Open us to your simple gifts,
that we might be able to turn right side around; that we might, in fact, find
delight in turning; that we might enjoy simply giving. Today is a day for
turning, O God, a new day, your day of rest and renewal. Bow us, bend us, turn
us this hour, so that these words become the song of our heart, mind, &
soul: "May Jesus Christ be praised!" Amen.
(d-7a)
"Thus said the Lord God,
the Holy One of Israel: 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness
and in trust shall be your strength.'" (Isaiah 30:15)
(d-8)
O God, whose Word is not just a
one-way conversation, talk with us, today, and hear us as we pray. Free us, that
we might listen for your voice, and empower us to speak to you. For in Christ
Jesus, you have called us into a friendship which influences all other
relationships. Help us to see beauty where we might be tempted to see ugliness,
in ourselves, as well as in others. May your "joy" be found there as
well. As you have washed our feet in Christ, kneel us to washing your feet in
others. As you have lifted us off our knees, help us to lift others up. Four we
all were created in your image. Re-create in us, just now, a new heart, O God,
one that beats in tune with your own. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
(d-9)
Holy God, you have revealed
yourself to us in a trinity of ways: as our powerful Creator, our dying Savior,
and our comforting Spirit. But we also know you as a loving parent; a risen
Lord; and a dynamic breath of fresh air. We're never really sure of how you are
able to be all these things to us, but you are. And we praise you. You are an
awesome God, limited only by our ability to understand. Inhabit our worship this
hour. Teach us the grace of placing our limitations within the wonder of your
unlimited hands. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
(6/10/01, 10/14/01,
1/9/05, 4.22/07,
adapted for 2/20/11)
(e-1)
O God, we are gathered here under
the shelter of your wings, nurtured by your motherly love,
(e-2)
Thank you, Lord, for the song
you've planted in us, a melody which rings out no matter what our circumstances
may be. Some of us here today need your strength, for our voices are barely
heard above the noise of our problems. Others of us require your leading, for in
the confusion of life we are losing our sense of direction. Some need your word
of caution concerning roads we are hell-bent on traveling. Others could use your
encouragement as we walk the path you have opened for us. When we sing our
praise, Lord, in the same breath we are asking you to move amid
our problems, our confusion, our mistakes, as well as the good we do, and make
your praise a part of our daily life. Help us to rejoice and be glad. In the
name of Christ, our joy. Amen.
(6/2/02,
3/6/05, 9/2/07)
(e-3)
(used with Exodus 15:11,13,17-18)
One: O God, you have planted in us a yearning
for "home". With the psalmist we cry,(e-5)
There is no way that we can
really bless you, O God, no way that we can truly become a blessing to others, without
your blessing first becoming a part of us. Behind the scenes you are at work, O
Lord, blessing this world. For the wrong, of which we are so often a part, we
deserve your curse. But you bless us, instead. Thank you!
(e-6)
O Lord, we are like workers in a
field, reaping the harvest of your Word. Keep us faithful, today, to the work of
worship. May your Spirit move in our midst, waking us up when we are tired,
opening our eyes to the goodness you spread before us, strengthening our hand to
cut through the stalk and get to the grain which provides our spiritual bread.
In so doing, feed us. As you do so, however, remind us of those who are still
hungry, needing the taste of what you so richly provide. Do not satisfy us so
much that we fail to reach out to them. For in reality, we are all poor. And
yet, "blessed are the poor," you said in Jesus, "for theirs is
the Kingdom of Heaven; blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted;
blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
filled..." In you, we are rich. Receive, now, the offering of our worship:
the gifts we bring from your field, the songs we sing from your Spirit, the
words we say from our heart.
(e-7)
Immortal God, as we
witness the stunning change in seasons, we realize that all of life reflects
your creative power. Invisible God, as we search for your love in a
violent world, we realize that you have shown us your silent power in grieving
women, like Ruth and Naomi, in a baby born away from his home village, in
today's humble believers in foreign lands. Wise God, as we listen for
direction in our lives, we understand that you are present and speaking in this
time of worship. Great God, we praise your continued desire to lead your
people to servant lives of joy and sharing - lives directed by the example of
your Son, Jesus Christ, and works guided by the power of your Holy Spirit. O
help us to see and feel this power this holy morning.
(e-8)
God, you have been at work in
this world, from that first day of Creation up until today. So many lives, down
through the centuries, have been shaped by your hand. People going beyond the
possible, walking by faith and thus changing the course of history, in ways
large or small. We call them saints. But it was you behind them all. You are an
awesome God!
(e-9)
Lord, make us free... free with
eyes not focused upon ourselves; free with ears open to hearing your Word; free
with hands reaching out; free with hearts no longer chained by what we possess,
but bound, instead, by what we can share. Yes, Lord, make us free... free to
worship; free to be extravagant with thankfulness; free to break open the most
costly oil upon your feet; free to love as love really is, In Jesus...Amen.
(f-1)
(follows
"Praise, I will
praise you, Lord")
(f-2)
Thank you, God, for the ability
to sing out our faith. Of course, some of us are better singers than others.
Accept our praise, from each and every tongue united in Jesus Christ. We know
that all our voices together cannot even begin to convey the wonder and glory
and majesty of who you are. Strangely enough, though, you make our song
complete. To your gracious ears, the praise of a few is as great as the best
chorus and symphony. We still find this hard to believe. You put a new song in
our mouths. You set us free to sing! Thank you God. Receive the praise of these
joy-filled hearts, in Jesus name. Amen. (7/4/04,
1/29/06)
(f-3)
As we come together into your
presence with singing, O Lord, we confess that Love is still a mystery to us...
This is as it should be, for Your Love is not something under our control. It is
like Your Spirit, a wind which blows where it will, an unseen power. It is like
Your Justice, which rolls down like waters, and Your Righteousness - an
ever-flowing stream. Blow through us, roll through us, flow through us this
hour, that your Love in us might be perfected on the anvil of faith. In Jesus
name, we pray. Amen. (8/18/02)
(f-4)
In order for you to move in us, O
Lord, we need to open the door. In some ways, that's the hardest step. We
can be that mountain which seems impossible to move. Through our joys and our
fears, our laughter as well as our tears, move us this morning, God. The door is
open. Welcome. In the name of the One who said, "nothing is
impossible," we pray. Amen.
(f-5)
Thank you, God, for your gift of
the Holy Spirit. Like the wind that blows across our land, we cannot control it.
But like a ship on the sea, we can lift our sails and journey with it. By your
mercy, Lord, move us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
(5/15/05)
(f-6)
Eternal God, we open our minds and
hearts to you this hour. Turn us on to you, and keep us tuned in, even after we
have left this place. This we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.
(10/24/04)
(f-7)
O God, who is to us like a loving,
faithful father, we open ourselves this day to your care. May your refreshment,
your renewal, your forgiveness, your strength, your hope surround those who are
gathered here in Jesus' name. Amen. (6/17/07)
(f-8)
We have come, O Lord. Not as
faithful as we should be, nor as joyful as we could be. Even so, we have been
attracted by your faithfulness and your joy. Holy Spirit, teach us this day
more about your truth, as revealed by Jesus Christ. Fill us with your promised
happiness. Challenge us to follow you this moment, this day, this coming week.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus, whom we adore as Christ the Lord. Amen.
(10/28/01)
(f-9)
In "the name of Jesus"
we pray, O Lord. Our own, individual names separate us from one another and,
more importantly, from you. When we gather with your Holy Spirit as our guide,
many prayers become one prayer. A jamble of many words becomes less a tower of
Babel, and more a simple, united song of praise. Thank you for this one-ness we
have found in Jesus Christ, O God of every nation, Master of the universe. In
Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
1 - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in
you?
2 - You are God's temple!
3 - God's Spirit dwells in you!
4 - We are God's temple!
5 - God's Spirit dwells in us!
Prayer
An awesome thought, O Lord: We are your temple. You dwell in us. We must confess our feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. The plain truth is: we're all sinners. Even so, you make us your sanctuary. Without your steadfast love, though, these Temples are nothing. Move through these rooms with your Spirit. Touch that Holy of Holies, that sacred space within us. Teach us how to live...in Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
(g-2)
"To live our praise to
thee." That is our deepest desire, O God. Take these words we speak this
day, these songs we sing, the gifts we offer; our inner thoughts, our outer
expressions - take them all, and make them into a living praise that will not
end with the final note of the postlude, but go with us beyond this place into
our world. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
(7/14/02)
Opening Prayer
(g-4) Call
to Worship
Soon, our children will stand before
us
and sing to the Lord a song of Jesus.
Are we ready to stand with them
and sing as children of God ourselves?
Soon, infants in their parent’s
arms will come forward
and be dedicated to the Lord.
Are we ready to be dedicated also?
Do we not, all of us, come to God as children
held in the arms of their heavenly Father?
With happy voices singing, then,
may our praise be full and clear.
May we tell the wondrous story,
and live in truth before God.
Come, stand, worship!
("With Happy Voices Singing," hymn #83)
Opening Prayer
We praise you, O God. You have been
faithful and true, through good times and bad. Forgive us for doubting when we
have not seen your hand at work, believing that you are too distant to care or
too weak to act. Open our eyes, our ears, our minds, our hearts to the glory of
what you are about in this world. Open our hands to both receive from you and to
reach out to others. Breathe into us the new life of your Holy Spirit, that we
might breathe out your good news. This we pray in the name of the One who is our
foundation: Jesus Christ. Amen! (10/15/00)
(g-5) Opening
Prayer
Thank you, God, for all your many
blessings. We are surrounded with your goodness and mercy, if only we have eyes
to see, ears to hear, hands to touch, and hearts to confess them. As you love us
beyond what we do, caring for us simply because you created us - so we praise
you for who you are, after and beyond what you give to us.
Forgive our pride, which paints too
small a picture of you next to our own portrait. Forgive our sloth, which holds
back from dreaming big dreams with you in fear of the hard work involved.
Forgive and live in us such that you and your vision becomes our motivation to
face a new day with faith and hope. May these be moments of a new beginning for
us.
This we pray in the name of the One
who said, "behold, I make all things new." Amen. (11/19/00)
(g-6) Call
to Worship (alludes to Psalm
104)
One - Bless the Lord, O my
soul. O Lord my God, I stand in awe at your greatness.
All - You are clothed with
honor and majesty and robed in light.
One - You stretch out the
heavens like a tent,
All - Making the winds your
messengers, and fire and flame your servants
One - How great are your
works, O God!
All - In your wisdom you
created the earth and all that is within it.
One - In thanksgiving, let us
worship and praise the Lord our God.
Hymn - "How Great Thou Art"
Opening Prayer
Great and awesome God, creator and
source of all life, we worship and praise you. Out of chaos and darkness you
spoke words which brought order and light and life. We marvel at such evidence
of your greatness and glory. Yet, you laid these aside when you took on human
flesh in Jesus Christ. In him we gained a new understanding of your power and
glory, for he revealed through his life, that true power is based upon
empowering others, and that glory is made visible through loving and serving
others. We marvel anew at the depth of your care for us and the many ways our
lives have been blessed by the sacrificial life and love of Jesus. It is because
of him that we are gathered here today, and it is in his name that we pray.
Amen. (11/22/00)
(g-7) Call
to Worship (Psalm
148:1-2, 13-14 NRSV)
"Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the LORD!"
(then - "Good Christian friends, rejoice!")
Opening Prayer
"Good" ...
"Christian" ... "friends" ... do we really fit that billing,
O Lord. So often we fall flat on our faces when it comes to being who you
created us to be. We lag behind, all of us, when it comes to following your Son.
Too easily we lose track of the "seventy times seven" ways of
forgiving. "Turning the other check," and "going the second
mile" become dim memories of something called "friendship." Have
mercy, O God, for our "heart and soul" lag behind our
"voice" when it comes to praise and joy.
Thank you for the precious gift you
have placed into our lives, a birth we celebrated not all that long ago. Help us
to orient ourselves in such a way that every morning we can say, "Christ is
born today!" Not just two thousand years ago. Not just two weeks ago. But
today, January 7th, 2001. Not just in the ancient nearest land of
Israel. Not just beneath a Christmas tree. But here in this place. Not just to
Joseph and Mary and their "tribe." Not just to "tiny tots with
their eyes all aglow." But to us, to me... "Christ is born today!
This is the day. We open the door to
your knock, our Savior. Welcome! Amen.
(1/7/01)
(g-8)
(quotes John 7:37-38, could follow "Come thou fount of every
blessing")
Like a
stream, O Lord, your blessings flow through our lives. Help us this hour to bend
and drink in what you so richly provide, your living water which refreshes and
invigorates. Forgive us the desire to place barriers across the current in order
to store up for ourselves what you intend to share with all. Likewise, have
mercy on our wandering feet which too often march in the opposite direction of
where you desire us to be. Beyond forgiveness, pour your Holy Spirit upon us,
that we might become part of your never-ending stream. This we pray in the name
of the One who said, "Let those who are thirsty come to me, and those
who believe in me drink... for ‘out of the believer's heart shall flow
rivers of living water.’" Amen. (3/17/02,
1/21/01)
(g-9)
We praise you, Lord, for this sanctuary on our journey. You are the holiness in
this place. We pause to reflect on your holiness, as we seek to reflect your
holiness in our own lives. But a sanctuary is about safety as well as about
holiness. We know you also as the safety which we feel in this sanctuary. We
have paused on our week’s journey, once again to experience the holiness and
the safety that we find in you and in your body.
Our hearts are grateful for all of the goodness and love that we
have experienced during this past week. We recognize you as the giver of all
good things and praise you for this. When we understand that good news reporting
is so often construed to be the most ample report of bad things that happen to
people, we are thankful that the Gospel is nothing but the good news of your
love for us. Thank you for such really Good News.
On our life journeys, we find ourselves making missteps, stopping
short of our goals on the journey, slowing our pace, changing course, and even
giving up and turning back from the journey. Though we recognize when we miss
the mark, we become experts in concealing our failings. We ask your pardon for
all our shortcomings. Renew in us today the overwhelming assurance that all is
not lost because of our failing. Give us again the certainty that you and other
fellow travelers will be by our sides, no matter what may happen on the journey.
Reawaken in us a clear vision of where we are going as we worship and fellowship
together here today.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
(written by Ellis Shenk) (3/4/01)
(h-1)
Yes, Lord, you are our "light," our "salvation," as well as
our "strength." Forgive us for allowing fear to rule us, as it does
much more than we care to admit. This fear has a thousand names, but your
perfect love casts it out. We come to you this hour as those who need:
the breath of your Spirit to blow through us,
the brightness of your light to shine in us and around us,
the fire of your love to bring us to life right now, and
the sight and sound of your glory to bring forth our "hallelujah."
Yes, Lord,
revive us again! Again, and again, and again! This we pray, in the name of the
One who set his face to Jerusalem - your Son Jesus, our Christ. Amen!
(3/11/01)
(h-2)
Shepherd us, O God. You who care about the lost and the least - seeking,
finding, carrying them home - we cannot help but enter into your joy. You call
us together. "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost,"
you tell us. Forgive us when we hold back and grumble our way through your grace
and mercy. Keep seeking and finding us!
Clean this house, O
God. You whose word is like a lamp for our feet - lighting up this place,
sweeping and searching every nook and cranny - we are drawn together by your
call. "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost."
"There is more
joy in heaven," you tell us, "there is joy in the presence of
angels." May it overflow into this gathering, O Lord - into us. Help
these tongues to sing our praise of your glory and grace. And Lord, as we sing,
help us to hear your heavenly choir. In Jesus’ name, amen.
(3/25/01)
(h-3) Welcome,
Lord Jesus. You are the reason we are gathered here. As you entered Jerusalem
long ago, come into the temple of our hearts and minds just now. If need be,
turn a few tables upside down to bring us right-side up.
Welcome, Holy Spirit. You are
the power behind this hour. As you strengthened believers long ago, come among
us just now. If need be, blow away the dust and cobwebs to spring clean this
home.
Welcome, God. You are who you
are! We don’t really need to welcome you here, for you are with us always.
Even so, we open the gates and cry, "Hosanna! Blessed is the One who comes
in the name of the Lord!" Amen. (4/8/01,
4/13/03, 3/20/05)
(h-4)
(follows "Crown
him with many crowns")
Lord of life,
of love, of peace, of time itself, we stand in awe of your eternal
presence and resurrection power. We open our lives, once again, to
your involvement. Come, Lord Jesus. As you sit in heaven, be
seated here on the throne of our hearts. Forgive us our sin, and
enter in. Amen. (4/29/01)
(h-5)
(follows "All hail
the power of Jesus’ name")
We praise you, Lord God, and lift up the name of your Son. Through
your Holy Spirit, direct us to not only speak the words, but to
live as if they are true - to "crown him" Lord of our
own lives. We confess that, on our own, we stumble and fall. We
tarnish that crown with impure thoughts and thoughtless actions.
Empower and guide us to walk by faith as those who are forgiven -
step by step, day by day. Bless, O Lord, the promises made this
hour, for they are grounded in your faithfulness to us. Yes,
indeed! "All hail the power of Jesus’ name." And God’s
people said, (everyone:
"Amen!") (5/6/01)
(h-6)
Thank you, God. You are so good to us. Your love is steady and does not falter,
unlike our own. You are faithful and true, even when we are not. Forgive us for
when we step over the line in our relationship with you and with others, hurting
those we love or those we don’t. Forgive us also when we don’t step over
that other line, when we fail to be thankful and to share gratitude. How often
we jeopardize our connection with you and with our loved ones by not sharing a
good word, or by not putting that gratitude into action.
Thank you, Lord, for who you
are and what you do. Help us to speak about and to act upon your perfect gifts,
your wonderful works - every day, in ordinary ways and places. This we pray in
the name of the One who was and is your most perfect gift, your wonderful work -
Jesus Christ. Amen. (5/13/01)
(h-7)
Lord God,
our alpha and omega, our
beginning and our end;
who has defeated sin and death
through your Son Jesus Christ;
who wipes the tears from our eyes even now,
with the promise of a future
where tears will only be for joy;
We praise you, O Lord, and love you
with heart, soul, and mind.
May this
worship be like a spring
of cold, clear water,
refreshing, cleansing, renewing, living,
and pleasing in your sight.
Amen!
(5/20/01, 6/24/07)
(h-8)
(follows Praise Medley (vs. 1&7) "All
creatures of our God and King,"
(vs. 1&4) "O
worship the King," & (vs. 1&4) "Crown
him with many crowns")
Lamb upon the
throne, Lord of peace, our God and King, Creator, Shield and
Defender, Redeemer and Friend!... Mere words can not fully
describe all that you are. Who are we to stand in your presence,
in awe of your glory? And yet you have drawn us here. Your Holy
Spirit empowers us to share your good news, to tell the story of
your Son and your coming Kingdom, to rejoice in your Life freely
given. You have already moved past our sin. In confessing how we
have fallen far short of what you created us to be, we are enabled
by you to see past our sin also. Help us to live beyond ourselves,
in you - beginning yet again, this very moment. This we pray,
focused upon and in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen! (5/27/01)
(h-9)
(follows "Holy
Spirit, truth divine")
Lord God, in a world
where truth seems
so relative,
your Word is a solid foundation;
where love is but
a flickering, momentary flame,
your passion is a constant ember;
where power is
widely abused,
your quiet strength works for justice;
where law is
enforced from the outside in,
your rule is from the inside out;
where peace is
misunderstood as an absence of conflict,
your reconciliation is a voice of calm amid the storm;
where joy depends
upon outer circumstance,
your happiness is an ever-flowing spring from within.
As we sing your praise, Awesome God,
we open ourselves
to you,
that we may receive your promised Spirit.
Abide in us. Help us to abide in you.
Gathered in the
name of your Son, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
(6/3/01)
©1990-2001, Peter L. Haynes
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