Opening Prayer: Feed Us, Lord

Opening Prayer

(based on Psalm 145:15-16, Isaiah 55:1-3, John 6:35)

Lord,

the eyes of all look to You in hope;

and You give them what they need.

You open Your hand

and satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.

We, too, turn to You again, longing to be filled—

to eat of the Bread of Life,

to drink from Your life-giving streams,

to taste Your goodness and live.

May the time we spend together in Your presence

nourish our hearts and minds;

may it strengthen our relationship with You,

and renew our commitment to live in this world as Your faithful disciples.

For You alone are God,

the Source and Sustainer of life.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Opening Prayer: Mark 4: 35-41

Here’s an opening prayer inspired by Mark 4:35-41, the account of how Jesus calmed the storm.  It comes from the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren.

Opening Prayer

(inspired by Mark 4:35-41)

Mighty God, who speaks a word of peace to calm our troubled sea;
Caring God, who nudges us away from fear and toward faith;
Ever-present God, who fills us with awe
   but also raises many questions
      without easy answers;

Open our eyes to see you in our boat—today,
Strengthen our hearts for the challenges that lie ahead,
Open our ears this hour to hear the word you speak.

This we pray, In Jesus’ name. Amen

— posted on the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website.  http://rockhay.tripod.com/

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/

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

Call to Worship, Prayer: Life-Giving Trinity

Here’s a Trinitarian call to worship and opening prayer from The Minor Keys blog.

Call to Worship and Opening Prayer:

God, the Life-Giving Trinity

The words God speaks

are the life and sustenance

of all that exists.

The life Jesus gives

is the re-creation and renewed birth

of all that is broken and worn.

The Spirit’s stirring in our souls

is the inspiration

for creativity, compassion, joy, and community.

Life-giving, life-restoring, life-fulfilling God;

may our whole lives be worship.

In all things, may we seek to connect with

and to reflect your love and your hope.

~ posted on The Minor Keys. http://theminorkeys.blogspot.ca/  

Pastoral Prayer: Christ the King

Here is an opening or pastoral prayer inspired by the scripture texts for Proper 29B (Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday). It was written by Thom Shuman and posted on Lectionary Liturgies.

 

Prayer

Almighty God:
from the beginning of time
to the end of eternity,
you have chosen 
to use your power and majesty
     to love us,
     to redeem us,
     to shape us as your people.
 
King of Kings 
and Lord of Lords:
you became weak
     so you could confront
     the strength of sin and death,
confounding their ridicule
with your resurrection.
 
Spirit of God,
resting upon us:
may your power enflame us
     with your peace;
may your peace touch us 
     with your grace;
may your grace fill us 
     with your hope;
may your hope lead us
into your Kingdom.
 
God in Community, Holy in One,
may your word be on our lips,
as we pray together as Jesus
has taught us, saying,
(The Lord’s Prayer) 

 

~ written by Thom M. Shuman and posted on Lectionary Liturgies. http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com/

Prayer: Come, Spirit of God

Here’s a prayer of invocation and petition from the Third Space website.

Prayer for Justice

God the Holy Spirit,

You are the restless breath of love that sweeps through the world.

You move where you will, breaking down barriers,

Stirring hearts to change, making all things possible.

Inspire each one of us to hunger and thirst for justice!

Come, Spirit of God,

Sweep through our world bringing great change.

May the bounty of your goodness be shared more justly,

So all may share in the rich blessings of your creation.

And, for us, bring transformation in our praying and living,

So that we may act justly, love mercy,

And walk humbly with you all the days of our lives. 

Amen.

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

Sunday Prayer: Transfiguration

Here’s a prayer for Transfiguration Sunday.  It was written by rev karla, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Transfiguration Prayer

Holy One,

We come before you,

many of us feeling like we have climbed just a part of the mountain,

and there is so much more of a climb left to even get to point

to dream that we might be dazzled by what is Divine.

Our loads are heavy,

with worry, with regret,

with fatigue, with illness,

with despair for all in the world

that is hurting, in danger, in bondage and more.

We trudge ahead, following you,

stumbling, hoping, praying...

breathing hard, hearts pounding, and yes,

even some of us are nimble and skipping.

Lead us Lord,

to the top of that mountain,

where we might be dazzled by your Light,

lifted by what is Divine,

filled by the sheer delight

of what is numinous and ethereal and grounded and real.

We pray this,

for ourselves, for one another,

and for the worlds in which we live in.

Amen.

~ written by rev karla, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Call to Worship & Prayer: Epiphany 4B

Here’s a call to worship based on the suggested scripture texts for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. It was based on materials by Peter K. Perry.

Call to Worship

God comes into a world filled with uncertainties and darkness. 

God seeks out the voids of belief and conviction. 

God embraces the wounded and broken. 

God knocks down the walls of division and strife.

God is the candle shining in the darkness of our days.

God is the light of our lives.

God is the one who makes all things new.

Praise be to God, now and forevermore!

Prayer of Approach

Loving God,

whose touch can heal the broken places of life,

touch us today... 

God of peace,

whose spirit of peace can quiet our spirits

of confusion and despair,

reassure us today...  

Forgiving God,

whose call to repentance promises grace upon grace,

place your mercy in our souls today... 

You who heal the sick and liberate the imprisoned,

who bring justice in the midst of oppression

and strength in the midst of weakness,

pour out your spirit of power upon us today.

Open our hearts to new faithfulness,

redirect our waywardness,

and hold us gently in your goodness. 

We confess our need to you,

and we turn to you with hearts filled with hope,

remembering the promises you have made to us. 

May your name be glorified in us and through us. 

We ask it through Christ Jesus,

your only begotten son,

he who is our Lord and our Saviour,

our brother and our friend.  Amen.

— based on materials by Peter K. Perry, and posted on Richard Fairchild’s Kir-shalom website. 

For more worship resources for January 29, 2012 (the fourth Sunday after Epiphany), click on Epiphany 4B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more calls to worship on this blog, click on Calls to worship in the list of “Labels” at the lower right, or see the Call to Worship Index at the upper right. For more prayer resources on this blog, see the Scriptural Index of Prayers at the upper right side of the page.

Call to Worship & Prayer for Advent

Here’s a responsive call to worship and opening prayer inspired by Psalm 146 and Luke 1:46-56.  They were written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 146 and Luke 1:46-56)

Our souls proclaim your greatness, O God.
And our spirits rejoice in you.
We will praise you as long as we live.
We will sing praises to you our whole lives long.
We will not trust in the powerful of this world,
But will trust in you–Creator of heaven and earth,
the One who gives food to the hungry,
the One who enacts justice for the oppressed.
Our souls proclaim your greatness, O God
As we worship you in this place,
As we light these candles in hope, peace, and joy.

Opening Prayer

Holy God of Joy,
We rejoice in the reality of who you are.

We live within the joy of your love for us.

Our contentment comes and goes.

Our happiness ebbs and flows.

Our feelings depend upon our circumstances,

our physical health, our brain chemistry.

But our joy is deeply rooted

in our identity as your beloved children.

And we give you thanks. Amen.

~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. http://spaciousfaith.com/

Advent Wreath Litany: Longest Night

Here’s an advent wreath litany for a Blue Christmas or Longest Night service during the Advent season. It was written by Tim Graves and posted on LiturgyBits.

Lighting the Advent Wreath

We look around us and feel so sad, worthless, and discouraged.
And you remain with us. 

[light first candle]

We look around and see unspeakable violence, terrorism and hatred.
And you see who humanity can become. 

[light second candle]

We look around and find ourselves sliding into anger and hatred.
And you remind us who we are. 

[light third candle]

We feel sorry for ourselves. We think something is wrong with us.
And you see the good within. 

[light fourth candle]

We look around us and see death and destruction.
But you see hope. 

[light Christ candle]

We look around and see greed, power seeking,

and fear having its day.

We are ready to give up on our human kindred.
But you never give up.

You promise that despite these tough times

you never give up on humanity.

~ written by Tim Graves, and posted on LiturgyBits. https://liturgybits.wordpress.com

Advent Prayer: O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Here’s a responsive opening prayer or prayer of invocation for Advent from Joanna Harader’s Spacious Faith website.

Prayer of Invocation for Advent

O come, O come, Emmanuel–
God with us.
Come into our brokenness;
Come into our joy.
come into our captivity;
Come into our freedom.
Come into our fear;
Come into our compassion.
Our souls have had their fill.
Have mercy upon us, O God,
And come, O come, Emmanuel. 

~ written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/

Opening Prayer: Prepare the Way

Here’s an opening prayer for Advent from Bruce Prewer.

Prayer of Invocation

(inspired by Isaiah 40:3-5, Mark 1:2-3, Luke 3:4-6)

Loving God, 

be to us as a bulldozer of the spirit.

Clear your road in us;

clear a path through the detritus of possessions and obsessions.

Thrust aside our divided aims and devious games.

Topple the ramparts of pride and the doubts that deride.

Make a highway on which Christ may come

and take possession of the whole territory of our being.  

To the glory of your name we pray.

Amen!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.  http://www.bruceprewer.com/

All Saints: Opening Prayer

Here’s a responsive opening prayer for All Saints Day/Sunday. It comes from the Seasons Online website.

Opening Prayer

for All Saints Day

In all our weakness and strength,

with our youth-filled spirits and aging bodies,

we come to be your people, O God.

Strong in faith and eager with questions,

singing our praise and whispering our prayers,

we come to be your people, O God.

Filled with saintly determination

yet mindful of our human limitations,

we come to be your people, O God.

Made strong in your endless love for us,

we know ourselves to be yours and

we come to be your people, O God.

May we truly become your people today. Amen. 

~ from “All Saints Day (Year A),” posted on Seasons Online. http://www.seasonsonline.ca/files/all-saints-day_cong-life_yr-a.pdf

Prayers of Approach and Confession: Proper 22A

Here’s a prayer of approach and confession inspired by the scripture texts for Proper 22, Year A. It was written by Thomas Sutcliffe, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday page.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Loving God, present and near.
You are beyond our words and our understanding.

Help us to remember that You are at once
infinite, boundless, timeless and eternal
but, at the same time intimately entwined with our lives.
You are with us no matter where we find ourselves.

When we have forgotten You
Lord, have mercy.

When we have failed to speak words of love
Lord, have mercy.

When we have neglected the need of another
Lord, have mercy.

Loving God, present and near
help us to recognise Your presence and nearness with us
as we worship together.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ written by Thomas Sutcliffe, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly_worship/

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

Opening Prayer: Worship in a Time of Isolation

Here’s an opening prayer for a time of isolation from Bryce Wiebe. It was posted in a collection of prayers on the PCUSA website.

Prayer in a Time of Isolation

 The Bible says, “they were all gathered together in one place.”

And we do not know when we will be together next.

Triune God, you exist in eternal relationship.

You are One and yet are three.

In a time of isolation, draw us closer to this mystery.

May it remind us of your truth:

even in physical isolation, we are never truly alone.

Your love links us together, making us a people.

For the Bible also says:

We belong to each other. We belong to you.

Even now. Especially now. Amen.

~ Bryce Wiebe, Director of Special Offerings for PCUSA (edited). Posted on the PCUSA website. https://www.pcusa.org/covid19/