a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
One: We come into this place offering our praise and seeking God’s path.
All: We come carrying our doubts and fears, our wrongs and rights.
One: We come to hear God’s word in song and in silence, in preaching and in prayer,
for we long to be re-created in Christ’s likeness.
All: We come to worship, trusting that the Spirit will transform us and transform the world,
until the Kingdom of God is come on earth.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.
The Holy One is our refuge and shelter
There is no good apart from the Lord
Our God gives us counsel and instruction
We keep the Lord always before us
Therefore, we are glad, and our souls rejoice
For God did not give us up to death, but shows us the path of life. Amen!
Submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Ancho + Corona Presbyterian Churches, New Mexico
One: As we gather for worship, think back on your week…
Have you turned on the news and struggled to find God in it all?
All: Then come, this is a place for you!
One: Have you felt guilty because of something we did or neglected to do?
All: Then come, as together we seek God’s peace and forgiveness.
One: Have you been anxious about the future? Celebrated the coming of Spring?
All: No matter how we have felt this week, this time is for each of us, for us to worship God.
May we discover Christ’s love for us and call to love each other.
Submitted by Rev. Laura Cunningham, Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Pearl River, NY
O God, as a hen gathers her brood under her wing, so you have gathered us all here. As the father runs to welcome the prodigal home, you too have eagerly opened your arms to welcome us into this holy space. As your assembled people, help us to welcome you into our hearts. Teach us to open ourselves to receive your word, your call, and your love. Make us bold to worship and serve you, now and always. Amen.
submitted by Rev. Betsy Turner, Luther Hays Presbyterian Church, Hayston, GA
We pray to you, O God…
Overwhelm us with your love, which casts out every fear
If love is how we know you God, remind us this day,
that love is what set the world in motion,
Love is what spoke order into the chaos at creation,
Love is what breathed into the dirt and brought Adam
Love is what inspired Adam to see his partner and cry out
bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh.
Let us know the love that brings us life and life abundant
So if love is how we know you, we pray to you, O God…
Overwhelm us with your love which casts our every fear.
If love is how we drive out fear, then we cry to you,
for the fear that leaves people paralyzed in their homes
for the fear in war torn communities and broken families
for the fear of losing life, the fear of rejection
for the fear that tells us we don’t belong
for the fear that makes us selfish.
Drive out our fear and make it clear that your love is stronger even than death.
So if love is how we drive out fear, we pray to you, O God…
Overwhelm us with your love which casts out every fear.
If your love is how we love others, then we ask you this day
to bless us that we might be a blessing to others,
to challenge us that we might grow deeper in your love,
to guide us as we stumble forth as your children,
to lead us as we love boldly in your holy name.
Make us into the bearers of your love.
So if your love is how we love others, we pray to you O God…
Overwhelm us with your love which casts out every fear
And cast us out into our work and into our world with the task
to be your hands, your feet, your love, your people.
We pray in the name of the Beloved who taught us to pray saying…
Submitted by Rev. Lindsay Conrad, First Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor MI
recent comments