Opening Prayer: Matthew 13:1-9

Here’s a possible opening prayer based on Matthew 13:1-9, the parable of the Sower and the Seed. Feel free to revise it to suit your context.

Opening Prayer

(based on Matthew 13:1-9)

O God,

We gather together in Your presence with expectation,

hungry for an encounter with You,

eager to hear Your Word.

Open our eyes and ears to the presence of Your Holy Spirit.

May the seeds of Your Word scattered among us this morning

fall on fertile soil.

May they take root in our hearts and lives,

and produce an abundant harvest

of good words and deeds.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ,

our teacher and our Lord.

Amen.

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Intergenerational Call to Worship: Ps. 65

Intergenerational Call to Worship

(based on Psalm 65)

Come and worship,

everyone on earth,

everywhere the sun shines,

let’s praise God together!

For listening when we call,

answering our prayers,

forgiving our mistakes,

and providing what we need:

let’s praise God together!

Come and worship,

everyone on earth,

everywhere the sun shines,

let’s praise God together!

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Responsive Prayer: Psalm 119:105-112

Here’s a simple responsive prayer inspired by Psalm 119:105-112. It was written by The Rev. Erin Counihan, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 119:105-112)

Your word is a lamp to my feet, Lord.
Your word is a light to my path.
Though the world around me tosses and tumbles,
I hold fast to you.
Though I have doubts and worries and I wonder,
I hold fast to you.
Though my heart hurts, my spirit aches, and I lose my way,
I hold fast to you.
Though I encounter wickedness and hate seemingly around every corner,
I hold fast to you.
Your stories and your songs, O Lord-
They comfort me.
Your will and your way, O Lord-
They nudge me along.
Your presence and your promise, O Lord-
They give me hope.
Your world is my heritage and my heart.
And I will turn toward you forever.
I will hold fast to you.
And I will sing praises to your name!

~ adapted from Psalm 119:105-112. Written by The Rev. Erin Counihan, pastor Oak Hill Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in St. Louis, MO. Posted on RevGalBlogPals. https://revgalblogpals.org/2017/07/13/thursday-prayer-126/

Prayer of Confession: Walking with God

Here’s a prayer of confession from Rev. Mindi’s Rev-o-lution website.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God,

You have set before us the path

but we have wandered on our own

to try to find our way.

Sometimes we are like toddlers

and we hear Your call and come back.

Other times, we are children testing boundaries,

ignoring Your call until fear finally makes us look back.

And still other times we are full of youthful rebellion,

demanding to be cut loose and set free,

not knowing how much we still need

to seek Your wisdom and guidance.

But most of all, too often we think we are adults

and have figured it all our and know our own way,

only to stumble and stray so far. 

Remind us, parental God,

that we are always Your children,

that we are never fully grown up in Your sight,

that we always have much to learn.

Help us to seek You every day,

to acknowledge that we need Your wisdom and guidance,

and help us to return to the path and walk with You.

In the name of Christ,

who is our companion on this journey of faith, we pray. Amen.

~ written by Rev Mindi, and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/

Call to Worship: Living in Exile

Here’s a responsive call to worship inspired by Isaiah 40:1-11. It was written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Isaiah 40:1-11)

We’ve been in exile.
We’ve allowed ourselves to be tempted

by the idols of things and power.

We’ve found it isn’t what we thought. 

Shopping therapy and yearning for a soda pop

does nothing to build up our world.
They are all fizz and sugar,

satiating only temporarily. 

We’re left with the same emptiness.
We’re left without the spirit-words of God.

We’re alone in harshness and brokenness.

Acknowledging our idolatry and mistakes,

we turn back to the living water.

We turn back to the love that flows forward

bringing justice and hope to all of humanity.
The word that comes from God’s mouth

does not return empty.

God’s word does as God intends.

Always.
Always. 

Amen. 

~ written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits: Little bits for worship. https://liturgybits.wordpress.com/

Prayer for the Offering

Here’s a prayer for the offering from Thom Schuman’s Lectionary Liturgies website.

Prayer for the Offering

As we offer our gifts and lives in this moment,

may we become imitators of you, Gracious God,

who holds nothing back from us,

but is generous and gracious with all that is yours. 

In Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.

~ written by Thom Schuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/

Prayers of the People: Like a Seed

Here’s a prayer of intercession from Terri on RevGalBlogPals.

Prayers of the People

For all the blessings of this life,
we give thanks to You, Creator God.
For families, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and strangers,

who nurture us, that the love of God may grow within.

That Your love, your Word, like a seed,

may grow to produce in us, good fruit.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For the leaders of various nations and cities,

that they may lead with strong hearts and gentle hands and generous spirits,

with compassion and mercy, with wisdom and grace.
May they reflect your will guiding all their actions and decisions.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For those who serve in harms way,
those who live in dangerous places,
those who live in areas of war and strife,
those who live in fear,

those who worry about employment, bills, food,

and struggle just to find dignity in life.
May your grace bring peace and safety to all people, one to another.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For those who suffer from any illness or dis-ease—

of mind, body, or spirit.
Restore these, and all those we carry in our hearts, to fullness of health—
health as only you, O God, can bring.
May your mercy shower each of us with healing mercy and love.

May your love be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.

For those who are dying, and for those who have died.

Send forth your comforting love.
Give solace to those who mourn.
Console those who grieve.
May your grace surround us

like a mantle upon our heads,
a shawl upon our shoulders,
a hand, to hold our hand.

May your love, be like a seed, taking root and growing strong.
Amen

— written by Terri and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Opening Prayer of Thanksgiving: Psalm 65

Here’s a responsive opening prayer of thanksgiving from the Arthur Rank Centre.

Opening Prayer

(Inspired by Psalm 65)

God of life and love

We rejoice in your abundant gifts

God of all peoples and all places

We celebrate your generosity and grace

God of the earth and the heavens

We praise you for your provision

You visit the earth and water it

Softening it with showers and blessing its growth

You make springs gush forth in the valleys

From your lofty abode you water the mountains

God of life and love

We bless your holy name

~ posted on Arthur Rank Centre Harvest Festival Resources 2010 http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/worship-resources/item/2802-harvest-festival-resources-2010

Prayer: Secure Our Steps, O God

Here’s a prayer of petition and intercession from reverendmother.  It was posted on RevGalBlogPals. 

Prayer

Secure our steps, O God—
on rough terrain,
on shifting sands,
on fine, wide roads,
on narrow paths.
Make our footsteps firm.

Secure our steps, O God—
in the boardroom,
at the water cooler,
in the school yard,
in the checkout line.
Make our footsteps firm.

Secure our steps, O God—
chasing after deadlines,
trailing after toddlers,
scrambling toward the finish line,
clamoring for security.
Make our footsteps firm.

Secure our steps, O God—
pacing through hospitals,
wandering through the hurt,
tripping over the unforeseen,
meandering through the grief.
Make our footsteps firm.
Amen.

~ Posted by reverendmother on RevGalBlogPals.  http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Prayer of Petition: Parable of the Soils

Here’s a prayer of petition inspired by Jesus’ parable of the soils.  It comes from the Arthur Rank Centre website.

Prayer of Petition

(inspired by Mathew 13:3-23; Mark 4:3-25; Luke 8:5-18)

And now, O Lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest

you have given me from the ground. Deuteronomy 26:10

O Lord, save us from hardness of heart,

where your word cannot take root.

O Lord, save us from shallowness of mind,

where your word withers away.

O Lord, save us from the deceitfulness of riches,

where your word is choked by everyday cares.

But Lord, grant that our hearts may be fertile soil,

where your word flourishes and yields a harvest,

bringing salvation to ourselves and those about us.

Amen.

~ written by the Staffordshire Seven, in Seasonal Worship from the Countryside.  Posted on the Arthur Rank Centre website. http://www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/ 

Readers' Theatre: Romans 8: 6-11

Here’s a simple two-voice setting of Romans 8: 6-11, from the New Living translation

Readers’ Theatre: Romans 8: 6-11

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.

But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God.

It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 

That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature

can never please God.

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature.

You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.

And remember:

those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them

do not belong to him at all.

And Christ lives within you,

so even though your body will die because of sin,

the Spirit gives you life 

because you have been made right with God.

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.!

And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead,

he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Prayers of the People: Psalm 65: 5-14

Here’s a prayer of intercession inspired by Psalm 65: 5-14.  It was written by Jeff Shrowder, and posted on The Billabong.

Prayer of Intercession

(based on Psalm 65: 5-14)

Answer us with awesome deeds that put things right,
O God, who saves us;
who is the trust of the ends of the earth, and distant oceans;
who sets the mountains in place;
who is clothed in power;
who stills the roaring seas,
the raging of their waves,
and the unrest of the peoples;
so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth will fear your signs,
and the morning and evening will sing for joy as they set out.

Lord hear us.
Lord, hear our prayer.

You care for the earth and give it abundance,
greatly enriching it.
The irrigation channel is full of water;
you provide grain by preparing (the earth).
Soak its furrows; saturate its unbroken clods!
Let rainshowers soften it, and bless its growth.
Crown the year with your goodness;
Let the places where you pass
and the pastures of the wilderness drip with richness;
Let the hills dress themselves with rejoicing.
The pastures are clothed with young flocks,
the valleys are covered with grain;
they shout and sing for joy.
God of awesome deeds that put things right
strengthen us in uncertain times;
encourage us and those for whom we pray
so that we dream your dreams
and glimpse your vision for your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

~ written by Jeff Shrowder.  For use in worship, with acknowledgement, © Jeff Shrowder 2000.  Posted on The Billabong. http://thebillabong.info/lectionary-2/year-c-luke/62c-sunday-30c/

Offering Invitation: Psalm 65

Here’s an invitation to the offering inspired by Psalm 65.  It comes from the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website.

Offering Invitation

(inspired by Psalm 65)

This is how the earth praises God:

giving thanks for God’s abundance!

The meadows clothe themselves with flocks

and the valleys deck themselves

with shimmering fields of grain,

sharing their bounty with the rest of creation.

We, too, are to worship God

by being abundant and fruitful with our lives,     

offering up our yields as if they were songs of joyful praise.

Let us worship God with our gifts.

~ from How the Earth Praises God. Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/

Prayer: God of Seed and Harvest

Here’s a prayer of praise and blessing inspired by Psalm 65.  It comes from the Third Space website.

Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 65)

“You crown the year with a bountiful harvest;

 even the hard pathways overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11

We bless you,
God of Seed and Harvest
And we bless each other
That the beauty of this world
And the love that created it
Might be expressed though our lives
And be a blessing to others
Now and always.  Amen.

~ posted on the Third Space website. http://third-space.org.uk/blog

Contemporary Songs: Psalm 65

If you’re looking for contemporary Praise & Worship song suggestions to use with Psalm 65 (the suggested psalm for  Thanksgiving A, Proper 10A, Proper 25C), you can find a list at my Contemporary Psalms blog. http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/  The blog is not finished (and likely never will be, since I keep coming across new songs!), but it’s a start.

Follow this link to Psalm 65: http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/2013/05/psalm-65.html

Confession to the Divine Gardener

Here’s a prayer of confession which uses a gardening metaphor.  It was written by James E. Janecek.

Prayer of Confession

The Divine Gardener cannot sow seeds of justice and peace

where there is nothing but hearts of dry, hard rocks. 

We confess that our hearts may need tilling

and the digging out of the deeply rooted sins

that crowd out seedlings planted with divine compassion.

God of steadfast love,

you change bitter tears of remorseful hearts

with raindrops  of mercy,

Now let us germinate a new life, growing with integrity!

God of steadfast love,

you change the cold shame of contrite hearts

with sunrays of mercy

Now let us sprout a new life, growing with honesty!

God of steadfast love,

you change the stony edges of repentant hearts

into landscapes of mercy,

Now let us branch out into new life, growing with generosity!

Assurance of Pardon

Divine Gardener,

You tend us in steadfast love,

Unending mercies, and eternal faithfulness;

you cultivate true friendship with you

through boundless forgiveness. 

In Christ, this faithful love is planted in our hearts. 

Gathered as your community of believers, our family of faith,

with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us,

we can now produce forgiveness for each other as we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

~ written by James E. Janecek , in Seeds of Faith:  Service Prayers for the Nineteenth  Sunday after Pentecost.  Posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways archive.

http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-ordinary-time-21.html

Prayer: Your Word

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving and commitment from John Birch’s Faith and Worship website.

Prayer

(inspired by Isaiah 55: 10-13

and other passages)

You call us to love those
whom you would love,
and give us the words to say.

You call us to bring wholeness
to lives that are broken,
and give us the words to say.

You call us to bring comfort
to those who are grieving,
and give us the words to say.

You call us to bring good news
to those who are seeking,
and give us the words to say.

Your word, living water
in desert sands.

Your word, blossoming
in parched earth.

Your word, bearing fruit
wherever it is sown.
Amen

~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship. http://www.faithandworship.com/

Affirmation of Faith: Gifts of the Spirit

Here’s an affirmation of faith from Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony. 

Unison Affirmation of Faith

Jesus stays with us in the Spirit,
who renews our hearts,
moves us to faith,
leads us in the truth,
stands by us in our need,
and makes our obedience fresh and vibrant.
The Spirit's gifts are here to stay
in rich variety—fitting responses to timely needs.
We thankfully see each other
as gifted members of the fellowship
which delights in the creative Spirit's work.
He gives more than enough to each believer
for God's praise and our neighbor's welfare.

~ from Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony, Article 31, 33, ©1987, CRC Publications, Grand Rapids MI, 1-800-333-8300. In Keeping in Step with the Spirit, posted on the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship website. http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/keeping-in-step-with-the-spirit-romans-8-galatians-5/

Opening Prayer: Psalm 65

Here’s an opening prayer inspired by Psalm 65.  It was written by Michael Perry.

Preparing for Worship

(inspired by Psalm 65)

Our God, we come together to praise you,

and to renew our promises to you;

for you have overcome our failings,

you have forgiven our sins and answered our prayers:

thank you for sending the rain to make the land rich and fertile,

thank you for filling the streams with water,

thank you for providing the earth with crops,

for making the young plants grow,

thank you for the cattle in the pastures and the sheep upon the hillside;

thank you, Lord, for the harvest. Amen.

~ written by Michael Perry, and posted on the Jubilate website. http://www.jubilate.co.uk/   Visit that site for many other free worship resources and contemporary hymns.  If you use Jubilate material in worship, remember to report it on your CCLI license.

Closing Prayer: God of Harvest

Closing Prayer

God of harvest,
gardener supreme,
you place us at the centre,
feed us, equip us and,
having provided for us,
look to a different harvest—
a fruitfulness of lives
in service to you
and others.
God of harvest,
feed us
prune us
harvest us
that our lives
might bring glory to you.

—Copyright © John Birch, posted on Faith and Worship - Prayers and Resources.