Prayer
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
After Jesus' ascension, the Apostles often gathered to pray together in expectation of the Holy Spirit.
People:
Prayer is God's way of opening our hearts to his love and power.
Pastor:
We are strengthened when we pray together, because it unites us with God our Father, and binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
People:
May God move us to be a praying congregation, open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Collect
Heavenly Father, who imparts your wisdom, power, love, and grace to those who commune with you in prayer: Join our hearts together in a praying fellowship; that we may receive the blessing of your Spirit, and find strength to be your church at work. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We would never question the power of prayer, Father. But we are willing to get along with too little of the strength you provide in prayer. Forgive us for our breakdown in spiritual communion, which results in our ineffective discipleship. Revive our faith in prayer; and make us aware of its necessity in the fellowship of Christians; that through prayer, we may become strong in the faith. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Sweet Hour of Prayer"
"Take Time to Be Holy"
"Talk with Us, Lord"
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Theme:
Rejoice when suffering for Christ
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Commitment to Christ has often caused persons to suffer rejection and abuse.
People:
Suffering is not always in the form of persecution; but it tempts us to deny our faith nevertheless.
Pastor:
If we suffer because of our faith, we should rejoice that God has given us such faith, and trust him to give us endurance.
People:
We trust God to keep us faithful when being a Christian brings rejection.
Collect
Our Father in heaven, whose children are often in conflict with those who do not believe, and therefore suffer because of their faith: Make firm our faith; that our witness will be sure, and any suffering due to our witness will not weaken our faith. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are not being persecuted as was the early church, Father; so we feel safe in our faith. But we resist the unkindness of society; and we protect ourselves from being hurt by those who do not share our faith. And in our defense, we deny our faith. Forgive us for weakening, instead of growing, when we feel our faith brings rejection or pain. Fill our hearts with joy for being a part of the Christian fellowship of believers; and use us even when ridiculed, to bear witness to your love. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Am I a Soldier of the Cross"
"Be Not Dismayed"
"He Who Would Valiant Be"
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Gospel:
John 17:1-11
Theme:
Jesus prays for his disciples
Call to Worship
Pastor:
As Jesus approached his hour, he prayed for his disciples to be faithful.
People:
They believed in Jesus, but needed God's help to carry out their work of convincing others about Jesus.
Pastor:
The church is in the world, but not of the world, to show that Christ is the source of life.
People:
May the witness of our congregation give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Collect
Gracious Father, whose Son was glorified not only in his sacrificial death, but also through the faithfulness of his followers: Keep us safe from all temptation; that we, too, may be true to our calling, and give glory to your Son our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We serve in a nation which is familiar with the Christian faith, Father. And the cries of persons who need the ministry of the church are not heard over the noise of the church making itself at home in the world. Forgive us for our likeness to the world, when we have been called to transform the world by our likeness to Christ. Make us receptive to the power of your Spirit, that we may be the source of help in our world for which Christ prayed. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"God of Grace and God of Glory"
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
"One Holy Church of God Appears"
"Walk in the Light"
Pastor:
After Jesus' ascension, the Apostles often gathered to pray together in expectation of the Holy Spirit.
People:
Prayer is God's way of opening our hearts to his love and power.
Pastor:
We are strengthened when we pray together, because it unites us with God our Father, and binds us together as brothers and sisters in Christ.
People:
May God move us to be a praying congregation, open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Collect
Heavenly Father, who imparts your wisdom, power, love, and grace to those who commune with you in prayer: Join our hearts together in a praying fellowship; that we may receive the blessing of your Spirit, and find strength to be your church at work. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We would never question the power of prayer, Father. But we are willing to get along with too little of the strength you provide in prayer. Forgive us for our breakdown in spiritual communion, which results in our ineffective discipleship. Revive our faith in prayer; and make us aware of its necessity in the fellowship of Christians; that through prayer, we may become strong in the faith. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Sweet Hour of Prayer"
"Take Time to Be Holy"
"Talk with Us, Lord"
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Theme:
Rejoice when suffering for Christ
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Commitment to Christ has often caused persons to suffer rejection and abuse.
People:
Suffering is not always in the form of persecution; but it tempts us to deny our faith nevertheless.
Pastor:
If we suffer because of our faith, we should rejoice that God has given us such faith, and trust him to give us endurance.
People:
We trust God to keep us faithful when being a Christian brings rejection.
Collect
Our Father in heaven, whose children are often in conflict with those who do not believe, and therefore suffer because of their faith: Make firm our faith; that our witness will be sure, and any suffering due to our witness will not weaken our faith. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We are not being persecuted as was the early church, Father; so we feel safe in our faith. But we resist the unkindness of society; and we protect ourselves from being hurt by those who do not share our faith. And in our defense, we deny our faith. Forgive us for weakening, instead of growing, when we feel our faith brings rejection or pain. Fill our hearts with joy for being a part of the Christian fellowship of believers; and use us even when ridiculed, to bear witness to your love. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Am I a Soldier of the Cross"
"Be Not Dismayed"
"He Who Would Valiant Be"
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Gospel:
John 17:1-11
Theme:
Jesus prays for his disciples
Call to Worship
Pastor:
As Jesus approached his hour, he prayed for his disciples to be faithful.
People:
They believed in Jesus, but needed God's help to carry out their work of convincing others about Jesus.
Pastor:
The church is in the world, but not of the world, to show that Christ is the source of life.
People:
May the witness of our congregation give glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Collect
Gracious Father, whose Son was glorified not only in his sacrificial death, but also through the faithfulness of his followers: Keep us safe from all temptation; that we, too, may be true to our calling, and give glory to your Son our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We serve in a nation which is familiar with the Christian faith, Father. And the cries of persons who need the ministry of the church are not heard over the noise of the church making itself at home in the world. Forgive us for our likeness to the world, when we have been called to transform the world by our likeness to Christ. Make us receptive to the power of your Spirit, that we may be the source of help in our world for which Christ prayed. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"God of Grace and God of Glory"
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
"One Holy Church of God Appears"
"Walk in the Light"
