Opening Prayer: Psalm 138

Opening Prayer

(based on Psalm 138)

Faithful God,

we come into Your presence with thanksgiving,

deeply grateful for the unfailing love and faithfulness

You have shown toward us, Your people.

When we call out to You, You answer.

When we are exhausted, You give us the strength to go on.

When we find ourselves in trouble,

You are there, standing beside us.

And so we come before You gratitude and praise,

offering You the worship of our hearts and lives.

Open our eyes to see and know You here among us;

open our ears to recognize Your voice.

And then send us out from here,

to live and work in the world as Your faithful disciples.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Amen.

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Prayer Litany: Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Here’s a prayer litany on prayer written by Chuck Fromm and Jeremy Armstrong. It would be especially suitable at the start of worship.

Prayer Litany

(inspired by Matthew 6:5-14, Luke 11:1-13)

Lord, teach us to pray.

So we might awaken to the wonder of your presence

So we might feel gratitude for your gift of life today

So we might discover your kingdom

as revealed in our sisters and brothers

So we might find safety beneath the shelter of your wings

So we might declare your glory as we gather together:

Lord, teach us to pray

So we might forgive those who have wronged us

So we might lead free from pretense and hypocrisy

So we might trust your perfect plans

and not replace them with our own

So we might love you with our whole hearts,

and love our neighbors as ourselves

So we might declare your glory as we gather together:

Lord, teach us to pray

So diverse hearts might harmonize as many voices become one

So our bodies might praise you in bowed heads and raised hands

So a spirit of criticism is replaced with an offering of sacrifice

So we consider others more important than ourselves

So we might declare your glory as we gather together:

Lord, teach us to pray

So the truth of your Word resonates in what we say and sing

So we might prepare a way through the wilderness of chaos and pain

So our eyes are alert and our souls awake to your movement in our midst

So our good work is fruitful in the reign of your kingdom

So we might declare your glory as we gather together:

Lord, teach us to pray

So our voices bring a pleasing sound to your ear

So the notes of our instruments rise sweetly to your throne

So our singing is a light in the darkness, drawing nations to your grace

So our songs vibrate with the voice of the Lamb who was slain

So we might declare your glory as we gather together:

Lord, teach us to pray

So the lonely and hopeless find comfort in your abundant presence

So those in war and famine find the everlasting peace of your Spirit

So we are not indifferent to the suffering of the world around us

So our songs help to make us look more like you

So we might declare your glory as we gather together:

Lord, teach us to pray

~ “Lord Teach Us to Pray: Responsive Reading,” by Chuck Fromm and Jeremy Armstrong, as found in “Lord Teach Us To Pray,” Worship Leader Magazine (September-October 2015). Posted on Preach the Story. https://preachthestory.com/

Confession: Matthew 23: 1-12

Here’s a prayer of confession followed by words of assurance based on Matthew 23: 1-12, one of the suggested scripture texts for October 30, 2011 (Proper 26A, Ordinary 31A).  It was written by Moira Laidlaw.

Prayer of Confession

(based on Matthew 23: 1-12)

Jesus, teacher and Lord,

when we hear your criticism of the behaviour

of the scribes and the Pharisees in the gospel today,

we wonder what has changed.  

People still place unwarranted burdens on others,

still demand preferential treatment,

still abuse positions of leadership. 

We are ashamed to confess that this does not only happen

in society at large,

it happens also within the church.
Forgive our participation in practices

which inflate our egos at the expense of others.

Pause for silent reflection

Jesus, forgive us when we parade our piety

and expect favoured treatment,

forgetting that you emptied yourself of power

so that you could be the servant and Saviour of all.
Forgive us when we care more for impressive outward appearances

rather than inner dispositions shaped by tolerance and love.

Pause for silent reflection

Jesus, forgive us for any behaviour

which is experienced or perceived as hypocritical—

any actions which lack integrity and justice.
Renew and refresh us with your gentle and selfless Spirit, Lord,

so that we know what it is to be your followers

not only in name, but in reality.   Amen

Assurance of Forgiveness

(based on Colossians 2: 13-14)

Hear the good news:

God has forgiven us all our sins,

erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. 

This God set aside, nailing it to the cross.

In Jesus Christ, therefore, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!

— Copyright © Moira Laidlaw, posted on her Liturgies Online website. Visit that site for other great lectionary-based resources.

Prayer: Psalm 1

Here’s a prayer of confession and commitment from Jeff’s Blog. It was inspired by Psalm 1.

Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 1)

Holy God,

we come before your throne and admit

that most of the time we are too busy singing and praying

and feeling good and feeling bad

and feeling so-so

to stop and listen for your tiny, little whispers. 

In your word you paint for us a picture of full and abundant life,

life that can only be had by drinking your living water,

knowing you not as a title, but intimately, a mystery….

We pray that our lives would be planted near you –

that we would send our roots deep into your word and your life,

that we would draw nourishment from you,

and that with the life you give we would in turn

provide shelter and comfort and blessing

to whoever comes under our branches.

We pray that we would not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stand in the way of sinners,

nor abide in the house of the scornful,

but that our delight would be in you,

in your truth, in your grace, now and forevermore.

~ posted on Jeff’s Blog. https://blog.wisch.org/category/benedictions-and-prayers/

Epiphany Prayer

Here’s a prayer of commitment inspired by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). It comes from the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website.

 

Prayer for Epiphany

 

“On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother;

and they knelt down and paid him homage.

Then, opening their treasure chests,

they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Emmanuel -  
Give us the perseverance and courage 
to seek out and approach you 

wherever you are to be found;

Grant us the vision and understanding 
to see and recognize you  
whenever we might meet you;

Gift us the grace and generosity 
to respond freely and fully  
whatever you might ask of us.

~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Call to Worship: We Gather to Give Thanks

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Psalm 138.  It was posted on the Lectionary Sermons Archive.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 138)

We gather to give thanks to You, O Lord,
with all our heart!
We will sing Your praises before all creation,
and rejoice in Your steadfast love!
You have created us O Lord, and made us for Yourself.

In You we become everything You have made us to be!

~ posted on the Lectionary Sermons Archives http://www.lectionarysermons.com/ARCH-W.html

Prayer: In Your Name

Here’s a prayer of commitment from Roddy Hamilton’s Listening to the Stones blog.

In Your Name

May we honour your name
not by paying it lip service, Lord Jesus
but by trusting the vision it speaks of

and the way it calls for

May we honour it by following you

speaking into the word with our actions
and showing who we’re chosen to follow

May we love in your name
speak in your name
care in your name
that willingness to touch the outcast
feed the hungry
remember the sick
visit the imprisoned
clothe the naked
give water to the thirsty
in your name

~ excerpted from a longer piece by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Listening to the Stones. http://newkilpatrickblog.typepad.com/nk-blogging/mucky-paws/  Used by permission.

Prayer for Others: God is not reluctant

Here’s a thoughtful prayer of intercession from Ann Siddall at the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith Community.

Prayer of Intercession

(inspired by Romans 8:26-27, Luke 11:5-13, Luke 18:2-8)

People of God, as we come to prayer

let us remember that we do not

have to twist the arm of a reluctant God

to seek good things for this world,

nor find ways to persuade a distant God

to come near and listen to us.

Let us remember that as we pray

we kneel alongside Jesus Christ,

in the presence of God,

with the help of the Spirit.

So let us bring to mind now

those people who are in need of our prayers:

those who are ill, or anxious;

those who are lonely or sad;

those who are despairing or defeated;

those who are hungry or homeless;

those whose relationships are breaking apart;

those who are bullied or abused;

those who cannot find work;

and those who are over-worked.

In silence now, let us make our own specific prayers

for those on our hearts and minds today.

(silence)

In the presence of God,

alongside Jesus Christ,

with help from the Spirit

may we go into this week

to live out our prayers through our lives.

Amen.

~ written by Ann Siddall, Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith community. http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/prayer/prayers-and-liturgies/

Prayer: Christ the King

Here’s a prayer of petition, confession and thanksgiving from Rev Abi.  It comes from the  RevGalBlogPals website.

Prayer to the King of Glory

O Jesus,
You are the King of Glory,
You are the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.
And we pray that your Kingdom will reign forever

in our hearts and in this world.

Lord, we pray for your Kingdom to come here now,
bringing a kingdom of justice, righteousness, hope, love,
peace, mercy and grace for all.
Lord, we ask that you rule in our hearts,
lead in this world and govern over your kingdom.

But Lord honestly,
We often have our own plans and agendas
And we want to be rulers of our world.
Forgive us for those times.
And Lord we live in a time that would rather idolize the King of Pop
than worship you.
Help us to know how to live as your Kingdom People in these times.

And Lord , there are a lot of Kings in this world who terrorize, over tax, humiliate,
over exploit, and abuse those they are to lead.
Help us to spread the good news of the different kind of King you are.

Lord, thank you for being a different kind of King.
Thank you for your goodness and kindness in our lives.
Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you for loving us.
Thank you for your Kingdom that is unlike any
Kingdom in this world

~ written by Rev Abi, and posted on RevGalBlogPals blog.  http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Lord's Prayer: O Breathing Life

Here’s a refreshing paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer from Mark Berry.  It was posted on the jonnybaker blog.

O Breathing Life

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

O Breathing Life, your Name shines everywhere!

Release a space to plant your Presence here.

Imagine your possibilities now.

Embody your desire in every light and form.

Grow through us this moment's bread and wisdom.

Untie the knots of failure binding us,

as we release the strands we hold of others' faults.

Help us not forget our Source,

yet free us from not being in the Present.

From you arises every Vision,

Power and Song from gathering to gathering.

Amen!  May our future actions grow from here!

~ written by Mark Berry, and posted on Jonny Baker’s blog.

http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/jonnybaker/2005/12/the_lords_praye.html

The Lord's Prayer: New Zealand Prayer Book

Here is an expanded paraphrase version of the Lord’s Prayer from a New Zealand Prayer Book.

The Lord’s Prayer:

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

Our creator God, Ancient of Days,

Holy Mother of all worlds and living souls:

Your arms, that once flung galaxies of stars

like grains of sand, are open wide,

and close enough to carry each of us

like a father cradles his child next to his heart.

May your sacred name be praised!

May your realm extend,

a commonwealth of mercy, peace and justice.

Your love knits all created nature into one whole.

Your will for us always is love; and so we pray:

May your love be done on earth,

in time, as it is in eternity.

Give all of us each day the bread we need,

and hope to all who hunger for your life.

And as we share our bread along the way,

pardon us the times we've broken faith.

Forgive our lack of loyalty and love;

and move us quickly to forgiveness

when wrongs are done to us.

Do not abandon us in the time of hard testing.

Save us from evil’s every incarnation,

From the powers that possess our spirits and our structures.

Forever bind us to your liberating joy!

For you alone are God of grace and glory,

and Rock of our Redemption.

Let it be so, God, let it be so.

Amen.

~ from the New Zealand Prayer Book. http://anglicanprayerbook.org.nz/

Lord's Prayer in a Time of War

Here is a version of the Lord’s Prayer written by Wendy Lyons. It is posted on Progressive Church Planting.

Lord’s Prayer in Time of War

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

Our Father, who art in heaven,

slow to anger, and of great mercy, lover of all peoples of the earth,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Remind us that "all the nations are as nothing before thee,"

their governments but a shadow of passing age;

Thy kingdom come on earth.

Grant to thy children throughout the world,

and especially to the leaders of the nations,

the gift of prayerful thought and thoughtful prayer;

that following the example of our Lord,

we may discern what is right, and do it;

Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Help us to protect and to provide for all who are hungry and homeless,

especially those who are deprived of food and shelter,

family and friends, by the tragedy of war;

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us for neglecting to "seek peace and pursue it,"

and finding ourselves in each new crisis,

more ready to make war than to make peace.

"We have not loved thee with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves";

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Let us not seek revenge, but reconciliation;

Let us not delight in victory, but in justice;

Let us not give ourselves up to pride, but to prayer;

Lead us not into temptation.

Be present to all thy children ravaged by war:

Be present to those who are killing and to those who are being killed;

Be present to the loved ones of those who are killing

and to the loved ones of those who are being killed;

Deliver us from evil.

Subdue our selfish desires to possess and to dominate,

and forbid us arrogance in victory;

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

~ written by Wendy Lyons, and posted on Progressive Church Planting. 

http://progressivechurchplanting.blogspot.ca/2012/07/lords-prayer-workshop-texts.html

Lord's Prayer: Beloved

Here’s a paraphrase of the Lord’s Prayer from Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild’s Human Rites: Worship Resources for an Age of Change (published by Mowbray).

Lord’s Prayer Paraphrase: Beloved

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

Beloved, our Father and Mother, in whom is heaven,

hallowed be your name,

followed be your royal way,

done be your will and rule,

throughout the whole creation.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.

From trials too great to endure, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

Now and forever.

Amen.

~ from Human Rites: Worship Resources for an Age of Change, by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild (Mowbray,1998). http://www.amazon.ca/Human-Rites-Worship-Resources-Change/dp/0264673344

The Lord's Prayer: Prayers of the Cosmos

Here is a translation of the Lord’s Prayer by Neil Douglas-Klotz in Prayers of the Cosmos. Posted on The Nazarene Way of Essenic Studies.

Prayers of the Cosmos: The Lord’s Prayer

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos

Focus your light within us—make it useful.

Create your reign of unity now—

through our fiery hearts and willing hands.

Help us love beyond our ideals

and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.

Animate the earth within us:

we then feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all.

Untangle the knots within

so that we can mend our hearts' simple ties to each other.

Don't let surface things delude us,

but free us from what holds us back from our true purpose.

Out of you, the astonishing fire,

returning light and sound to the cosmos.

Amen.

~ written by Neil Douglas-Klotz, in Prayers of the Cosmos. http://www.amazon.com/Prayers-Cosmos-Meditations-Aramaic-Words/dp/0060619953  Posted on The Nazarene Way of Essenic Studies website. http://www.thenazareneway.com/lords_prayer.htm

The Lord's Prayer: Abba, Our God

Here is a version of the Lord’s Prayer from the 1980 Alternative Service Book.

The Lord’s Prayer: Abba, Our God

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

Abba, our God, whom the heavens disclose,

may your name be held holy,

your authority come.

May your longing be fulfilled as in heaven,

so on earth

Give us today the bread of tomorrow,

and cancel our debts

as we have already forgiven our debtors.

Do not draw us in to sinful enticement,

but set us free from the grip of evil;

for authority and power and glory

are yours alone, forever.

Amen.

~ from the 1980 Alternative Service Book (1980), Church of England.

The Lord's Prayer

Here is a responsive version of the Lord’s Prayer from a Dominican Sisters Retreat in Great Bend Kansas. It was posted on the Liddington View.

The Lord’s Prayer

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

Our Father                                           

Our Mother

Who art in heaven                                

Who are in all the earth

Hallowed be they name                        

Holy is your truth

Thy kingdom come                              

May your wisdom come

Thy will be done, on earth                    

Your circle be one uniting

as it is in heaven                                  

heaven and earth

Give us this day our daily bread           

Give us today a nurturing spirit

And forgive us our trespasses  

Heal through us as we

as we forgive those who trespass against us    

ourselves are healed

Lead us not into temptation                   

Lead us into Fullness of life

But deliver us from evil            

And liberate all that is good

For thine is the Kingdom,                     

For the Wisdom,

the power and the glory                        

Presence and the Goodness are Yours

Now and forever

Amen.

~ from a Dominican Sisters Retreat, March 1993 in Great Bend Kansas. Posted on The Liddington View. http://theliddingtonview.blogspot.ca/2010/06/great-version-of-lords-prayer.html

Lord's Prayer: Father, Mother

Here is a new version of the Lord’s Prayer written by Parker J. Palmer. It comes from Spirituality and Practice.

Lord’s Prayer: Father, Mother

(inspired by Matthew 6: 9-13, Luke 11: 2-4)

Heavenly Father, heavenly Mother,

Holy and blessed is your true name.

We pray for your reign of peace to come,

We pray that your good will be done,

Let heaven and earth become one.

Give us this day the bread we need,

Give it to those who have none.

Let forgiveness flow like a river between us,

From each one to each one.

Lead us to holy innocence

Beyond the evil of our days —

Come swiftly Mother, Father, come.

For yours is the power and the glory and the mercy:

Forever your name is All in One.

~ Posted on Spirituality and Practice. 

http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/practices/wartime.php?id=15807

Lord's Prayer from The Message

Here’s the Lord’s Prayer from Eugene Peterson’s The Message.

Lord’s Prayer

(Matthew 6: 9-13)

Our Father in heaven,

Reveal who you are.

Set the world right;

Do what's best --

As above, so below.

Keep us alive with three square meals.

Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.

You're in charge!

You can do anything you want!

You're ablaze in beauty!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

~ from The Message, copyright 2003 Eugene Peterson/NavPress Publishing.