Eighth Sunday After Epiphany
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle A
Object:
Words Of Assurance
Do not try to punish yourselves or live in nagging regret. Instead, accept for yourselves the complete healing offered by Jesus when he said: "Your sins are forgiven; rise, take up your pallet and walk."
Pastoral Prayer
O God, you are our refuge. When we are exhausted by life's efforts, when we are bewildered by life's problems, when we are wounded by life's sorrows, we come for refuge to you.
O God, you are our strength. When our tasks are beyond our powers, when our temptations are too strong for us, when duty calls for more than we have to give to it, we come for strength to you.
O God, it is from you that all goodness comes. It is from you that there comes to us the spur of high desire and the restraint of conscience. It is from you that there has come the strength to resist temptation and to do any good thing.
And now as we pray to you, help us to believe in your love, so that we may be certain you will hear our prayer. Help us to believe in your power, so that we may be certain you are able to do for us above all that we ask or think. Help us to believe in your wisdom, so that we may be certain you will answer, not as our ignorance asks, but as your perfect wisdom knows best.
God of peace, we beseech your blessing upon this torn and broken world. We live in a time of hate, mistrust, fear, and violence. Bless us with your Holy Spirit that we may follow in your ways and create a world where all may live in peace.
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Benediction
Let this be your assurance, that God will walk with you. Let this be your resolve, that you will walk with God. And the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.
Do not try to punish yourselves or live in nagging regret. Instead, accept for yourselves the complete healing offered by Jesus when he said: "Your sins are forgiven; rise, take up your pallet and walk."
Pastoral Prayer
O God, you are our refuge. When we are exhausted by life's efforts, when we are bewildered by life's problems, when we are wounded by life's sorrows, we come for refuge to you.
O God, you are our strength. When our tasks are beyond our powers, when our temptations are too strong for us, when duty calls for more than we have to give to it, we come for strength to you.
O God, it is from you that all goodness comes. It is from you that there comes to us the spur of high desire and the restraint of conscience. It is from you that there has come the strength to resist temptation and to do any good thing.
And now as we pray to you, help us to believe in your love, so that we may be certain you will hear our prayer. Help us to believe in your power, so that we may be certain you are able to do for us above all that we ask or think. Help us to believe in your wisdom, so that we may be certain you will answer, not as our ignorance asks, but as your perfect wisdom knows best.
God of peace, we beseech your blessing upon this torn and broken world. We live in a time of hate, mistrust, fear, and violence. Bless us with your Holy Spirit that we may follow in your ways and create a world where all may live in peace.
We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Benediction
Let this be your assurance, that God will walk with you. Let this be your resolve, that you will walk with God. And the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.
