re:Worship: Proper 5 B

Showing posts with label Proper 5 B. Show all posts

Opening Prayer: Psalm 130

Here’s an opening prayer based on Psalm 130 from Rev. Nancy J.

Opening Prayer

(based on Psalm 130)

Holy God, Creator of Life,
you call us out of our dark places,

offering us the grace of new life.
When we see nothing but hopelessness,

you surprise us with the breath of your spirit.
Call us out of our complacency and routines,
set us free from our self-imposed bonds,
and fill us with your spirit of life, compassion, and peace,
In the name of Jesus, your anointed one, we pray. Amen.

~ written by Rev. Nancy J., and posted on her wonderings through life and other such nonsense. http://ruminari.wordpress.com/

Prayer of Intercession: Mark 3:23-35

Here’s a prayer of intercession inspired by Jesus’ words in Mark 3:23-35. It was written by Rev. Andrea Price.

Prayers of the People

(inspired by Mark 3:23-35)

Heavenly Father, you call us to be your friends and to make friends of others – more even, to recognize in them our brothers and sisters, your family in Christ. So we pray for ourselves and for the world and its people:

We pray for all areas in the world where deep divisions run between ethnic groups because of race, religion or past history. Lord, help your people to be your friends and to make friends – your family in Christ.

We pray for our communities where different traditions shape different outlooks on things. Lord, help your people to listen well to each other that we may learn to live together knowing that though different we are your family in Christ.

We pray for our own families where growing up is difficult, where harsh words spoken in anger are not easily taken back, and hurtful or thoughtless actions are endangering relationships. Lord, empower your children to be patient, slow to anger and to become wise in their speaking and acting as your family in Christ.

Let us pray together the prayer Jesus taught us: Our Father…..

Amen

~ written by Rev. Andrea Price, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

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 of Confession: Genesis 3

Here’s a corporate act of confession inspired by Genesis 3 and 1 Corinthians 15. It was written by Greg Scheer.

Call to Confession

Since the Garden, God has been calling to us, “Where are you?”

Since the Garden, humans have been hiding in shame.

Let’s stop hiding and bring our sins to light.

Prayer of Confession

Our God, you created the world and called it good.

You created man and woman in your image

and called them very good.

But we have been deceived by half-truths and false promises.

We have tasted temptation and it is bitter in our mouths.

We thought our desire for forbidden fruit would bring us wisdom,

but it brought us only the curse of pain and death.

Please cover us in your love.

Take away our sin.

Restore our relationship with you, our God.

Words of Assurance

1 Corinthians 15 tells us:

For since death came through a man,

the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

For as in Adam all die,

so in Christ all will be made alive.

Thanks be to God!

He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen!

~ written by Greg Scheer (www.gregscheer.com). Permission granted for non-commercial use.

Prayer of Intercession: Psalm 130

Here’s a prayer for others inspired by a reading of Psalm 130. It comes from the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website.

Prayer for Others

(inspired by Psalm 130)

Breath of life,
We think of those who cry out to you today,
of those who long for the morning,
of those who are waiting for the long Lent to end.

We pray that our ears will be attentive to their cry,
that we will stand with them,
steadfast together in your love,
bringing life before death.
Amen.

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

Contemporary Songs: Psalm 130

If you’re looking for contemporary Praise & Worship song suggestions to use with Psalm 130 (the suggested psalm for Lent 5 A, Proper 8 B, Proper 14 B, Proper 5 B), 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 130: http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/2013/05/psalm-130.html

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

Call to Worship: Psalm 138

Here’s a responsive call to worship inspired by Psalm 138, one of the suggested Psalms for Proper 5, Year B. It was written by Nancy C. Townley, and posted on the Ministry Matters website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 138)

In the times of trouble,

when all seemed hopeless, I cried out to God.
And the Lord heard my pleas and answered me.

When I felt lost and alone, I looked for God.
And God found me and brought me home.

When my life was filled with joy and blessing,

I danced and praised God.
And God danced and rejoiced with me.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

~ written by Nancy C. Townley, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, and posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/2845/worship-connection-june-7-2015

Opening Prayer: Psalm 130

Here’s an opening prayer inspired by Psalm 130. It was written by Joan Stott, and posted on The Timeless Psalms.

Opening Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 130)

O Lord our God, we come to you, seeking to

rise up from the depths and agony of despair.

Please listen, our Saving God—

we need your help and blessing.

Lord, through the tenderness

of your mercy towards us

we have learned to worship you—

and to revere your Holy Name;

therefore, we place our entire trust

and hope in you, our Trustworthy God.

We gather to offer you our thanks,

for we know that you offer us

your unfailing love and mercy

that is beyond our understanding.

You know our longing for forgiveness,

and you offer us your presence - which

blesses us from God’s overflowing store

of mercy, hope, freedom and joy. Amen.

~ written by Joan Stott, and posted on The Timeless Psalms. If any part of these Prayers and/or Meditations is used in shared worship, please provide the following acknowledgement: © 2011 Joan Stott – ‘The Timeless Psalms’ RCL Psalms Year A. Used with permission.

Contemporary Songs: Psalm 138

If you’re looking for contemporary Praise & Worship song suggestions to use with Psalm 138 (the suggested psalm for Proper 16A, Proper 5B, Proper 12C, Epiphany 5C), 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 138: http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/2013/05/psalm-138.html

Call to Worship: Psalm 138

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Psalm 138. It comes from the Worship Archive of the Lectionary Sermons website.

A Call to Worship from 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 Lectionary Sermons Worship Archive. http://www.lectionarysermons.com/ARCH-W.html

Confession: Proper 14 B

Here’s a prayer of confession based on Psalm 130 and Ephesians 4. It comes from the Ministry Matters website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Psalm 130, Ephesians 4)

O God of compassion,
if you kept a record of our sins,
who could stand?
We come before you with our brokenness
and our wounds for all to see.
We bring our anger, our bitterness,
our unwholesome talk,
and our deceitfulness.
We try to do good,
but sometimes fail.
We choose to do evil,
and sometimes succeed.
Keep your promise to forgive us
when we confess to you completely.
Without you, we have no hope.

Words of Assurance

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and will forgive us.
God provides freely, in the bread of heaven,
all the mercy we need for life everlasting.
The good news is forgiveness in the name of Christ Jesus.

Benediction: Psalm 130

Here’s a closing commission and benediction based on Psalm 130. It was written by Jeff Shrowder.

Commissioning and Blessing

(based on Psalm 130)

Wait for the LORD,
I wait with deep longing;
and in his word I stand, waiting in hope.

Hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with the LORD is great power to save.

Go into the world with assurance, hope and promise:
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest upon you – and even unsettle you;
the love of God, creator and giver of life, embrace you – and even confront you;
and the presence of the Holy Spirit encourage you – and surprise you,
this day and all your days. Amen

Prayer: Unlike Earthly Kings

Here’s a prayer inspired by 1 Samuel 8:4-20, where the people of Israel request a king to rule over them.

Prayer

Unlike earthly kings,

you, O Lord, are ever steadfast and faithful.

You sent us your Son, Jesus the Christ,

to rule over us, not as a tyrant,

but as a gentle shepherd.

Keep us united and strong in faith,

that we may always know your presence in our lives,

and, when you call us home,

may we enter your heavenly kingdom

where you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

~ from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress. Posted on Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Prayers of the People: Psalm 138

Here’s a thoughtful prayer of intercession inspired by Psalm 138. It comes from Jeff Shrowder’s excellent The Billabong website.

Prayer of Intercession

(inspired by Psalm 138)

Gracious and eternal God,
you have raised up your name and your word
above everything;
your steadfast love endures for ever.
In a world where every day
some division or strife arises
we bring our prayers for others
and for ourselves.
Do not turn from the work of your hand,
your human creation
and the world in which you have set us:
by your holy breath
comfort the lonely;
bind up the broken-hearted
and those who mourn;
calm the fearful;
rejoice with those who celebrate;
be present to those who call on your name,
to those we named on our lips,
and in the silence of our hearts,
those whose concerns are known only to you;
in Jesus’ name we pray….
(the Prayers of the People continue)

Opening Litany: Proper 5 B

Here is an opening litany based on the suggested scripture readings for the second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 5 B, Ordinary 10 B). It comes from the Ministry Matters website.

Contemporary Gathering Words

(inspired by 1 Samuel 8, 11; 2 Corinthians 4–5; Mark 3)

We look to the rulers of this earth
for leadership, wisdom, and strength.
We look to these bodies of ours
for stability, fulfillment, and joy.
We look to families and friends
for love, compassion, and hope.
When rulers betray, when bodies fail,
and when families disappoint,
God offers another look.
God will guide us.
God’s Spirit will sustain us.
Christ will welcome us home.
Come, my sisters and brothers,
we are all God’s family now.

Prayer of Praise and Trust: Psalm 138

Here’s a prayer of praise and trust inspired by Psalm 138. It was written by Joan Stott.

Prayer of the Day

(inspired by Psalm 138)

Holy God, you are the God above and beyond all things! With trust, hope and humility in our hearts and minds, we gather to praise and worship you, the God who always hears and answers our prayers. God’s promises are trustworthy and honourable, and so with thankful hearts and minds, we praise and worship our God who understands and guides us.

Ever-loving and Faithful God, you are utterly to be trusted! God’s mercy and love does not discriminate between the rich and the poor, the powerful or the humble, but instead, God pours blessings and grace upon all people who respond to God’s gracious and generous acts of love and compassion.

Awesome God, we come in reverent wonder before our God! Every day and night, we have been blessed by the wonders of our God, whose ways are beyond our understanding, but whose mercy never fails; and whose gentle powers are shown through God’s unfailing kindness to people who are weak and
in need of strength, encouragement and hope for the future.

Ever-present God, your faithful love endures for ever, and ever. We give thanks with all our hearts to our Listening and Faithful God. Amen.

— written by Joan Stott, and posted on the Geelong City Parish UCA website. http://www.wesleychurchgeelong.net/

If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows: © 2012 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year B, used with permission.

Prayer of Approach & Confession

Here’s a thoughtful prayer of approach and confession from the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.

Prayer of Approach, Adoration and Confession

God the creator, we come, in awe of you. We are overwhelmed by the wonder of your creation; we are inspired by the mystery of life; we are amazed by the beauty of your world; we are astonished that such a God would have anything to do with the likes of us. So, we kneel before you, in awe and wonder, humbled before your greatness.

God the Son, who has come amongst us in the person of Jesus; you have walked our streets; you have lifted our children; you have sat in our churches; you have blethered with our fisherman. So we come, with you beside us, no longer remote and distant. We come, no longer in fear and trembling, but seeking the embrace of your love, the smile of your acceptance, the touch of your forgiveness. We dare to come close to you because you have come close to us.

God, the Spirit of Life, we are thankful for your constant presence; for the healing of your love; for the challenge of your Word; for the inspiration of your Gospel; for the community of your Church. Renew us and refresh us; enable us and enliven us; challenge us and change us; prompt us and improve us ... in our worship ... in our mission ... and in our service in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and all to your Glory Amen.

— written by Tom Gordon, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

Prayer of Intercession: Proper 5 B

Here’s a prayer of intercession for the second Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (June 10, 2012). It was written by Paul Sauer.

Prayers of the People: Proper 5 B

Heavenly Father, you heard the excuses of Adam and Eve for their personal sins, even as you hear our own excuses, yet you do not forsake any of us.