Anxiety eased by Christ's presence
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Have you ever felt left by God to struggle alone with your problems?
People:
Our faith tells us God never leaves us. But fear often makes us feel stranded in our anxiety.
Pastor:
When we feel that way, we need to focus on the promise and presence of Christ who refreshes our souls with hope.
People:
Life may seem like a dry and thirsty land; but thanks be to God for the thirst-quenching of his Son, our Savior!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son is the source of life: Come to us in our end of the rope experiences with the awareness of our Savior's presence; that we may discover our needs are met when we put our faith in him. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We panic easily, Lord, when we feel life is overcome with threats. Forgive us when we blame you for our painful experiences, instead of depending on you to heal our pain. Increase our faith to rest in the assurance of your love; that we may know the joy of our Savior's company. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
"God of the Ages, by Whose Hand"
"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah"
"Lead Us, O Father"
PROPER 16
Sunday between August 21 and 27 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 11:33-36
Theme:
A doxology to God
Call to Worship
Pastor:
How wonderful is our God! His glory exceeds the greatest praise of our lips!
People:
We bless the Lord our God with heart, mind, and soul; and still we feel we have hardly begun to praise his name!
Pastor:
We have reached deep into space, and yet have only scratched the surface of his creative works!
People:
All praise and honor be to God. To him be the glory forever!
Collect
Almighty and most merciful God: You have shared the riches of your glory both through the natural order of creation and through the spiritual order of salvation. Accept our worship we give to you in honor of your great wisdom and unlimited love. Thus may we witness to our redemption through your Son Jesus, our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Heavenly Father, in humility and in penitence we bow before you. Our lives are nothing but a blot on the beauty of your wonderful acts, in history. You have made us in your image; yet we have marred your likeness so that there is little resemblance. Forgive us, Father, for crawling in sin, when you would raise us in glory. Unleash your mighty love and power upon us, and restore us to fellowship with you. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"All Creatures of Our God and King"
"I Sing the Almighty Power of God"
"Joyful, Joyful, We adore Thee"
"O How Glorious, Full of Wonder"
PROPER 16
Sunday between August 21 and 27 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 16:13-20
Theme:
Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Many questions were raised as to who Jesus was. Even his disciples had different answers.
People:
Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God!
Pastor:
It was by faith in God's revelation that Peter could say that. That same faith can be ours.
People:
We do believe Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior! May our faith add to the strengthening of his church.
Collect
Eternal Father, who reveals the divinity of your Son to those who are receptive to faith: Give us such faith to know your Son as Savior; that we may build, with strong conviction, your church in our world. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
There is no doubt in our minds, Father, that Jesus is your Son. And the church is his witness in our world today. But faith so easily becomes impersonal theology; and we fail to be builders of a church which stands against the forces of evil. Forgive us for our unstable ways which we consider to he discipleship. Help us to make our faith vital, and personal, that your church may be able to depend on our witness. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know"
"Author of Faith, Eternal Word"
"Strong Son of God, Immortal Love"
"The Church's One Foundation"
Pastor:
Have you ever felt left by God to struggle alone with your problems?
People:
Our faith tells us God never leaves us. But fear often makes us feel stranded in our anxiety.
Pastor:
When we feel that way, we need to focus on the promise and presence of Christ who refreshes our souls with hope.
People:
Life may seem like a dry and thirsty land; but thanks be to God for the thirst-quenching of his Son, our Savior!
Collect
Almighty God, whose Son is the source of life: Come to us in our end of the rope experiences with the awareness of our Savior's presence; that we may discover our needs are met when we put our faith in him. In his name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
We panic easily, Lord, when we feel life is overcome with threats. Forgive us when we blame you for our painful experiences, instead of depending on you to heal our pain. Increase our faith to rest in the assurance of your love; that we may know the joy of our Savior's company. In his name we pray. Amen.
Hymns
"Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
"God of the Ages, by Whose Hand"
"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah"
"Lead Us, O Father"
PROPER 16
Sunday between August 21 and 27 inclusive
Second Lesson: Romans 11:33-36
Theme:
A doxology to God
Call to Worship
Pastor:
How wonderful is our God! His glory exceeds the greatest praise of our lips!
People:
We bless the Lord our God with heart, mind, and soul; and still we feel we have hardly begun to praise his name!
Pastor:
We have reached deep into space, and yet have only scratched the surface of his creative works!
People:
All praise and honor be to God. To him be the glory forever!
Collect
Almighty and most merciful God: You have shared the riches of your glory both through the natural order of creation and through the spiritual order of salvation. Accept our worship we give to you in honor of your great wisdom and unlimited love. Thus may we witness to our redemption through your Son Jesus, our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Heavenly Father, in humility and in penitence we bow before you. Our lives are nothing but a blot on the beauty of your wonderful acts, in history. You have made us in your image; yet we have marred your likeness so that there is little resemblance. Forgive us, Father, for crawling in sin, when you would raise us in glory. Unleash your mighty love and power upon us, and restore us to fellowship with you. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"All Creatures of Our God and King"
"I Sing the Almighty Power of God"
"Joyful, Joyful, We adore Thee"
"O How Glorious, Full of Wonder"
PROPER 16
Sunday between August 21 and 27 inclusive
Gospel:
Matthew 16:13-20
Theme:
Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah
Call to Worship
Pastor:
Many questions were raised as to who Jesus was. Even his disciples had different answers.
People:
Peter knew Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God!
Pastor:
It was by faith in God's revelation that Peter could say that. That same faith can be ours.
People:
We do believe Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior! May our faith add to the strengthening of his church.
Collect
Eternal Father, who reveals the divinity of your Son to those who are receptive to faith: Give us such faith to know your Son as Savior; that we may build, with strong conviction, your church in our world. In our Savior's name we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
There is no doubt in our minds, Father, that Jesus is your Son. And the church is his witness in our world today. But faith so easily becomes impersonal theology; and we fail to be builders of a church which stands against the forces of evil. Forgive us for our unstable ways which we consider to he discipleship. Help us to make our faith vital, and personal, that your church may be able to depend on our witness. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns
"Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know"
"Author of Faith, Eternal Word"
"Strong Son of God, Immortal Love"
"The Church's One Foundation"
