Year A
CTW: Holy Humor / all-age worship
One: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
All: Joy! Joy! Joy!
One: Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! [GtG #236: The Strife is O’er]
One: Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre!
All: We would, but what sound does a lyre make?
One: With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
All: We know that one: toot, toot, toot!
One: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it.
All: Roar!
One: Let the floods clap their hands!
All: [Applause]
One: Let the hills sing together for joy!
Choir: I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart. I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart to stay!
One: Christ is Risen! Let us worship God.
~Submitted by Rev. Elana Keppel Levy, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, Oklahoma
Confession: other powers
O God, our protector, we take refuge in you;
you alone are the source of all our good.
We seek to be counted among the godly and upright,
but we confess that we have run after other powers,
and we have brought trouble upon ourselves and others.
O Lord, our portion and our cup,
you sustain us and lead us in good and pleasant ways.
We confess that we have trusted in false wisdom
and set our hearts on short-sighted desires.
Forgive us, God our life.
Help us set you always before us,
and sustain us in your righteousness.
Let our hearts be glad, our spirits rejoice,
and our bodies rest in hope,
for you do not abandon us to our sin
or let your chosen ones dwell in the pit.
In Christ you show us the path of life;
you welcome us into the joy of your presence;
you feed us with pleasures forevermore. Amen.
Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
Prayers of the People: eternally victorious
We give you praise, O God,
because you are eternally victorious over death.
In faithfulness you have raised up Christ for us,
and your mercy knows no end.
God of life, we pray for those who are bowed down
under the weight of hunger, injustice, uncertainty, or despair.
You who provide every good thing,
uphold your people.
Open your hands wide
and satisfy the needs of every living thing.
God of hope, we trust in your righteousness
and depend on your love.
Be near to those on whose behalf we call upon you;
to those who face sorrow, illness, injury, or death.
Fulfill our longings for wholeness, healing, and new life;
hear and answer all who cry out to you.
Steadfast God, preserve us in your love,
that we might speak your praise
and bless you forever
in the name of the holy one, the Risen Christ,
who teaches us to pray as we say:
The Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
POP: creative grace
O Lord, you are our shepherd;
we shall not be in want.
Your creative grace is visible in lush green pastures
and revealed in still, clear waters.
Your restoring resurrecting Spirit revives our souls and our communities,
and you guide us in ways of righteousness for the sake of your earth.
We pray for the earth you create and love:
for people, families, nations, and species that dwell in the valley of the shadow of death;
for all who fear the evils of pollution, violence, depredation, and illness;
for those whose suffering is on our hearts this morning, and for those whom we will never meet.
Shepherding God, be with your people;
with your rod and your staff, restore us and lead us.
Spread your table of abundance before those who hunger and thirst;
set us free from enmity and division.
Anoint us with your calling to reconciliation,
and let the cup of our life overflow
with justice and life for all your creation.
Let your goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our life,
and make this earth your home forever,
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
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