a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
The universe is full of God’s handiwork,
God’s Holy Wisdom is the source of life.
We celebrate your works, O Holy One,
for you are our Creator, your Spirit gives us life.
We will sing God’s praises as long as we have a voice,
We bless you God with our whole being!
Submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, Paris FCC and Midway CC
We praise you, O Lord, for your greatness and splendor;
we rejoice in you for the beauty and delight of your presence.
Your goodness flows abundantly in the life of the world,
and you provide enough
not only to sustain life
but to make living a delight.
We pray for all that lives,
and especially today for those creatures
whose lives are filled with suffering or uncertainty
because they cannot find enough
food, shelter, security, love, or hope.
Guide us as we seek to use the gifts you have given us,
and open us to see what wonders you can work in the world through us.
We pray for those who hunger for signs of your love
and who thirst for the gladness of your good news.
Make us vessels of your mercy
and servants at your welcome table,
so we might make room for everyone to find a home in you.
We pray as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who teaches us to pray, saying:
The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
O God Most High, we give you thanks
today and every day for your unfailing goodness and love.
You are always coming to the rescue of your faithful ones,
and you promise to guard us in all our ways.
We praise you for the gift of this sacrament,
which is a sign of your promise to watch over us forever.
As we come to this table, we lift up before you
those who need your special protection today.
Grant your healing, your protection, your peace, and your hope
to all who are in need.
Give your special care and guidance to this nation,
and grant peace to all the earth,
in the name of the Prince of Peace,
who prays with us as we say together:
The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Marion, IA
Almighty God our refuge,
you provide all things for those who wait upon you.
We present these offerings to you as signs of our trust,
knowing that your angels guard all our ways.
Show us your salvation, today and forever,
we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Marion, IA
We struggle with what we want from this world, Jesus. We want to be acknowledged for the deeds and work we have done. We want others to serve us. We want to have power. We want it all. So when you tell us that this is not your way, we struggle. We don’t want to think about giving away all that we have. Serving rather than being served is a hard shift for us to make. Serving in secret, or without the expectation of acknowledgement doesn’t make sense to us. Giving up our power and authority scares us. We don’t want to. And yet, Jesus, you call us to do just those things. Let us hear your words to us. Give us hearts open wide enough to accept that we are to live differently. Grant us the strength to let go of what we think makes us secure and let us find our security in you.
(silent confession)
Submitted by Rev. Julie Jensen, First Presbyterian Church, Cartersville, GA
recent comments