Proper 22
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids
Series VI, Cycle A
Object:
Words Of Assurance
Be assured of this: that the Christ who taught forgiveness and exemplified it during his earthly ministry, continues to practice it today through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Pastoral Prayer
O Lord, our God, in whose presence we stand, in whose care our restless lives are held, to whose mercy we turn again and again, the voice of your Spirit calls us. It sounds in our inmost being like a haunting melody, and reminds us of the beautiful music for which we were created. Although we are conscious of the blaring discord we have actually made, yet your voice still calls us, and the deep yearning within us responds.
Eternal God, we come to you in prayer as to a trusted friend. You see us as we are, and though it seems impossible to believe, accept us as we are. Your judgments are those that would fashion us after your image. The spiritual vistas of your creation invite us to lift our eyes and souls to you. We know full well we have fallen short of your purposes, but we thank you that you have not forsaken us, but instead revealed Jesus as the way for you to gain entry again into our hearts.
We thank you for our blessings that we are inclined to take for granted: our health, our families, our life's work, our friends. Teach us again that these are to be treasured and nurtured as we live each day fully. We thank you for the joys that we have experienced this week, and the power of your Holy Spirit that strengthened us in times of difficulties.
Help us, O Lord, to be your people in the world. Challenge us today to witness here, where we live, as a faith community. May the attractive power of our lives made holy invite others to seek your Word for their lives. We offer this prayer in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
Go forth in peace, for you have been forgiven. Go forth in power, for you have been renewed. Go forth in joy, for you have been loved; and the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.
Be assured of this: that the Christ who taught forgiveness and exemplified it during his earthly ministry, continues to practice it today through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Pastoral Prayer
O Lord, our God, in whose presence we stand, in whose care our restless lives are held, to whose mercy we turn again and again, the voice of your Spirit calls us. It sounds in our inmost being like a haunting melody, and reminds us of the beautiful music for which we were created. Although we are conscious of the blaring discord we have actually made, yet your voice still calls us, and the deep yearning within us responds.
Eternal God, we come to you in prayer as to a trusted friend. You see us as we are, and though it seems impossible to believe, accept us as we are. Your judgments are those that would fashion us after your image. The spiritual vistas of your creation invite us to lift our eyes and souls to you. We know full well we have fallen short of your purposes, but we thank you that you have not forsaken us, but instead revealed Jesus as the way for you to gain entry again into our hearts.
We thank you for our blessings that we are inclined to take for granted: our health, our families, our life's work, our friends. Teach us again that these are to be treasured and nurtured as we live each day fully. We thank you for the joys that we have experienced this week, and the power of your Holy Spirit that strengthened us in times of difficulties.
Help us, O Lord, to be your people in the world. Challenge us today to witness here, where we live, as a faith community. May the attractive power of our lives made holy invite others to seek your Word for their lives. We offer this prayer in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
Go forth in peace, for you have been forgiven. Go forth in power, for you have been renewed. Go forth in joy, for you have been loved; and the blessing of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.
