a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
Blessing God,
you are faithful to your promises to every generation.
Receive these gifts as an act of service,
for the sake the world you love,
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
Let us pray to the Lord saying:
God of Melody, help us sing songs of love.
God who fills our hearts with song,
we give you thanks for our choir,
our organist, our minister of music,
and all the musicians who gift us with music.
The Psalms implore us to make a joyful noise to the Lord,
and we are grateful for the musical leaders among us.
God of Melody, help us sing songs of love.
God of Songs Old and New,
we give thank for the songs that have been gifted to us
by those who have joined the Church Triumphant,
for the melodies that were taught to us
by our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents.
We thank you for their truth and endurance.
We also give you thanks for new melodies and hymns,
for new hymnals that expand our repertoire of praise,
and address an ever-changing world
with theological language that challenges and compels us.
God of Melody, help us sing songs of love.
God of Praise,
we pray for those who are too comfortable among us,
who need to hear songs that confront and challenge;
we pray for those who are sick and weak,
who need to hear songs that heal and give peace;
we pray for those who are uncertain or scared,
who need to hear songs that uplift and empower;
we pray for those who are grieving,
who need to hear songs that give voice to their sorrow;
we pray for those who are happy,
who need to hear songs that exude unabashed joy;
we pray silently for those on our hearts this day
that they may hear and sing whatever song is needed…
God of Melody, help us sing songs of love.
Melodious God,
hear our prayers as we lift them up to you.
Come to us, as we pray the prayer you taught us to pray, saying: Our Father…
Submitted by Stephen M. Fearing, Beaumont Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY
God of grace,
you are the source of all we have gained,
but your greatest gift is the new life we receive in Christ.
We offer these gifts as signs of our commitment
to claim Christ’s resurrection as your gift,
for you have claimed us in his life. Amen.
Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
Generous God, you have chosen to reveal yourself to us in ways this world considers foolish…and you call us to join you. As we learn generosity in the midst of a world that teaches self-sufficiency, bless our gifts that they may be a blessing to others. As we learn trust in the midst of a world that teaches individualism, bless our gifts that they may lead us into community. As we learn sacrifice in the midst of a world that teaches greed, bless our gifts that they may remind us of all you have given to us. We dedicate these, our gifts of treasure and talent, to the foolishness of your glory. Amen.
You, Lord, are our God, and we are your people. As you have placed your generosity in our hearts, we pray now for the blessing of pouring it out for others. May the gifts we bring be of use in your kingdom, bringing hope to the despairing, light in the valley of shadows, peace in the midst of chaos. Make these tokens of our gratitude into a sign that shows your glory, until all come to see your gracious love. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson
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