Lord, receive these offerings,
not because they’re anything special,
but because generosity is part of the work
you have given us to do
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
Ordinary 9C-33C
Prayer: Mercy and Justice
written for National Day of Prayer, for the government.
Lord, as we delicately balance a relationship between mercy and justice
Give us a prudence for Good News when only Sheol surrounds us.
Suffering is real, death is real, this pandemic is real, and you are real.
Those who discern their power in the midst of crisis through wisdom
comfort the poor, shepherd the vulnerable, feed the hungry, and heal sick.
May their work translate from the language of illness to the celebration of wholeness.
Those who discern their power in the midst of crisis through foolishness
ignore the poor, endanger the vulnerable, hoard from hunger, and heal only some.
We know now that you show no partiality and we search to find you in all creatures.
Make our leaders grow as people worthy of their civic calling.
Make us uneasy when they act with injustice, and proud when they pursue peace.
Dissuade any political entity or party from propaganda, misinformation, & scapegoating.
Bring forward in our government the best of who we are when we are fully human
And actively decide to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We do this because you first loved us.
In Jesus Name.
submitted by Brian Merritt, First Presbyterian Church of Hackettstown, NJ
Communion: Psalm 46
We praise you, O God, our refuge and strength,
for you are always present to help and give hope.
In the beginning, you moved the earth
and shook the mountains loose from the depths of the sea.
You quieted the raging tumult,
and you watered the earth with your life-giving rivers.
You created humanity in your image
and charged us with stewardship of your creation.When the time was right, your Beloved came to dwell in our midst,
so that we might become your holy habitation.
Jesus taught, healed, and fed
to show us the way of life.
The powers of death plunged him into night,
but your life prevailed at the break of day.
The world’s powers raged and shook;
you spoke your vindication, and the tomb melted away.You are yet with us, Lord of hosts;
O God of Jacob, you are our stronghold.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup,
so we may share this meal with Christ
and become one with him.
Give your church power and grace
to do the works of the Lord upon the earth;
to make war to cease in all the world;
to break the weapons of hatred, and shatter the tools of division,
and burn away all defensiveness.
for you are always present to help and give hope.
In the beginning, you moved the earth
and shook the mountains loose from the depths of the sea.
You quieted the raging tumult,
and you watered the earth with your life-giving rivers.
You created humanity in your image
and charged us with stewardship of your creation.When the time was right, your Beloved came to dwell in our midst,
so that we might become your holy habitation.
Jesus taught, healed, and fed
to show us the way of life.
The powers of death plunged him into night,
but your life prevailed at the break of day.
The world’s powers raged and shook;
you spoke your vindication, and the tomb melted away.You are yet with us, Lord of hosts;
O God of Jacob, you are our stronghold.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup,
so we may share this meal with Christ
and become one with him.
Give your church power and grace
to do the works of the Lord upon the earth;
to make war to cease in all the world;
to break the weapons of hatred, and shatter the tools of division,
and burn away all defensiveness.
Still us, that we may know you are God;
In all that we do let us exalt your name;
in all that we do let us serve your reign upon earth.
Join us at this table, Lord of hosts;
be our stronghold, God of Jacob;
we pray in the name of the one who was and is and is to come.
As Christ’s people, we join together in the prayer he taught…
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
POP: You Are Always Good
Based on Psalm 31:19
You are always good, O God!
We put our trust in you,
so we gladly offer you these gifts.
Use them to do more good things for everyone who needs them.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
We put our trust in you,
so we gladly offer you these gifts.
Use them to do more good things for everyone who needs them.
We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams (he/him), Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
call to worship: because God does marvelous things
We sing because God does marvelous things!
He opened salvation to all and revealed his righteousness to the world.
Make joyful noise the Lord, all the earth!
We join in joyous song and sing God’s praises!
It’s not only us, but the sea, the rivers, even the mountains rejoice out loud.
The whole cosmos sings because the Lord is coming to establish justice on earth!
based on Psalm 98
submitted by Rev. Will Ryan, Paris FCC and Midway CC
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