Father
Worship
THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE
Liturgical Aids
Call to Worship
There is a vastness and wonder to God that we can in no way describe.
Yet there is a closeness and intimacy to God that we call Father.
Our worship is thus filled with awe, with words about God that are woefully inadequate.
Yet there is certainty and tenderness in one word: Father.
Let our worship then reflect both the grandeur and the personal nature of the one God.
Let us give thanks to the great God of the Universe, who nonetheless comes to us and cares for us as a heavenly Parent.
Invocation
We are here, O God, to learn what it means to live as family, with you as the Parent and we as children. Family, you would teach us, is to be closely--knit, each member a valued part of the whole, yet with one clearly the head, on whom all others depend for guidance, for encouragement, and for drawing all together in unity. Gladly do we acknowledge you to be the head. Willingly do we depend upon the way in which you would lead us. Teach us yet further lessons today, we pray, lessons that will enable us to strengthen the ties of family, lessons that will assist in bringing all into accord with your holy Word and Spirit. Such is our prayer as we begin this hour of worship. So be it. Amen.
Call to Confession
In many a willful way do we introduce disharmony within the human family, and so do we fail to follow faithfully God's call that we be members united to one another in loyalty to a heavenly family. We pull this way and that in order that our own ambition might rule, rather than comply with the more humble task of being a servant member of the whole body. Let us confess unto God our restlessness, our willingness to be tempted, and the very personal need for forgiveness that follows.
Prayer of Confession
Patient and loving Father, how many times you have shown us the way, only to have us spurn the resources for abundant living that you offer. We would rather follow our separate yearnings - which are shallow and selfish. How we must grieve you, as did that prodigal son of old. Yet like that compassionate and faithful father, you long for our return and are prepared joyously to welcome us again into the family. It falls to us that with repentant hearts we acknowledge our need and recognize your goodness. We use this very moment in our lives to do that. We confess the various ways we have separated ourselves from the wellspring of life and love that flows from your being, and we ask to be received home. Father, may we once again be called your children. Indeed, help us to act like children of the Most High. We look to your Son Jesus to show us how. Amen.
Words of Assurance
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love ... He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who revere him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who revere him."
Thanks be to God for such patience, for such concern, for mercy, and for the power to forgive.
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 89)
You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
'I will establish your descendants forever, and I will build your throne for all generations.' "
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, "You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!"
I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
For I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him shall stand firm.
Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen and amen.
Offering Sentences
What father would give his son or daughter a serpent? If we would give only good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father in heaven give good gifts to us, his children! And now, in thanksgiving, what will we return to the Father as gift? Let us worship God with our tithes and offerings, our response of gratitude, this that God's gracious will and his mighty works might be known by still others, those who need to hear and see and so live.
Prayer of Dedication
In God's economy, no gift is wasted. Thus, we know that these gifts, O God, can be and will be routed by you to places of need - there to awaken hearts, to heal bodies, to rouse spirits, and to bring people into community. Your love can do this! Therefore, we entrust these gifts to the leading of your love. And noting the results, may we be willing to give more and more - that your name be praised and your will be done, here and everywhere. Amen.
Benediction
May those who are parents ever be guided by God the Father. May we all find our lives indelibly marked by the mercy, the persistence, the never--failing care of that Holy Parent, the Father, who claims us, yes indeed, every one of us. Amen!
There is a vastness and wonder to God that we can in no way describe.
Yet there is a closeness and intimacy to God that we call Father.
Our worship is thus filled with awe, with words about God that are woefully inadequate.
Yet there is certainty and tenderness in one word: Father.
Let our worship then reflect both the grandeur and the personal nature of the one God.
Let us give thanks to the great God of the Universe, who nonetheless comes to us and cares for us as a heavenly Parent.
Invocation
We are here, O God, to learn what it means to live as family, with you as the Parent and we as children. Family, you would teach us, is to be closely--knit, each member a valued part of the whole, yet with one clearly the head, on whom all others depend for guidance, for encouragement, and for drawing all together in unity. Gladly do we acknowledge you to be the head. Willingly do we depend upon the way in which you would lead us. Teach us yet further lessons today, we pray, lessons that will enable us to strengthen the ties of family, lessons that will assist in bringing all into accord with your holy Word and Spirit. Such is our prayer as we begin this hour of worship. So be it. Amen.
Call to Confession
In many a willful way do we introduce disharmony within the human family, and so do we fail to follow faithfully God's call that we be members united to one another in loyalty to a heavenly family. We pull this way and that in order that our own ambition might rule, rather than comply with the more humble task of being a servant member of the whole body. Let us confess unto God our restlessness, our willingness to be tempted, and the very personal need for forgiveness that follows.
Prayer of Confession
Patient and loving Father, how many times you have shown us the way, only to have us spurn the resources for abundant living that you offer. We would rather follow our separate yearnings - which are shallow and selfish. How we must grieve you, as did that prodigal son of old. Yet like that compassionate and faithful father, you long for our return and are prepared joyously to welcome us again into the family. It falls to us that with repentant hearts we acknowledge our need and recognize your goodness. We use this very moment in our lives to do that. We confess the various ways we have separated ourselves from the wellspring of life and love that flows from your being, and we ask to be received home. Father, may we once again be called your children. Indeed, help us to act like children of the Most High. We look to your Son Jesus to show us how. Amen.
Words of Assurance
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love ... He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who revere him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who revere him."
Thanks be to God for such patience, for such concern, for mercy, and for the power to forgive.
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 89)
You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
'I will establish your descendants forever, and I will build your throne for all generations.' "
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, "You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!"
I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
For I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him shall stand firm.
Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen and amen.
Offering Sentences
What father would give his son or daughter a serpent? If we would give only good gifts to our children, how much more will our Father in heaven give good gifts to us, his children! And now, in thanksgiving, what will we return to the Father as gift? Let us worship God with our tithes and offerings, our response of gratitude, this that God's gracious will and his mighty works might be known by still others, those who need to hear and see and so live.
Prayer of Dedication
In God's economy, no gift is wasted. Thus, we know that these gifts, O God, can be and will be routed by you to places of need - there to awaken hearts, to heal bodies, to rouse spirits, and to bring people into community. Your love can do this! Therefore, we entrust these gifts to the leading of your love. And noting the results, may we be willing to give more and more - that your name be praised and your will be done, here and everywhere. Amen.
Benediction
May those who are parents ever be guided by God the Father. May we all find our lives indelibly marked by the mercy, the persistence, the never--failing care of that Holy Parent, the Father, who claims us, yes indeed, every one of us. Amen!
