SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III, Cycle A
CALL TO WORSHIP
Worship God, the sovereign Lawgiver of Sinai. Worship the One who ascends from the hill called Olive. Receive the Spirit without whom we cannot truly worship.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all grace, Christ of glory, powerful Spirit, we confess that the tempter sometimes catches us unawares. When things are going well for us, pride in our deserving such prosperity may be the very cause of our downfall. When we are convinced that we can get by on our own, unexpected reverses can drag us down with anxiety. Then we are tempted to believe that you do not care and cannot bring us through our time of adversity. Restore, establish, and strengthen us in the faith of Jesus Christ. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The Spirit of God is resting upon us and will give us cause for joy as we are willing to share the suffering of Christ. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Humble yourselves under the almighty hand of God, who will lift you up in due time and cares for you always.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy Parent, protect us as our Savior has prayed, that we may not seek independence, but unity, the unity of love and obedience, so that the world also may believe in the one you have sent, Jesus your Son. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Great Sovereign over all the earth, you are high above the most powerful of earth's princes and mighty ones. We are grateful for our heritage of faith from the days of Abraham, to the apostle, to the present day. We are privileged to pray in the company of all the faithful in this and every generation. Though we are undeserving, we are honored to bear the name of Christ, having heard and heeded the good news of Jesus Christ. Receive our thanksgiving for all the prayers of Christ and others for us and for the unity of your church, to the glory of your name. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
At prayer together before you, God of the gospel, we come as adults and children to obey the gospel and do the good to which you point us, moved by the Spirit to share the work and the suffering of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 68:1-10, 32-35
Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered:
let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away:
as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
But let the righteous be joyful:
let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
Sing to God, sing praises to his name:
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds - his name is the LORD - be exultant before him.
Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
God gives the desolate a home to live in:
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.
O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked,
the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God,
the God of Sinai,
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad:
you restored your heritage when it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it:
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord,
O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens:
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel:
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel:
he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!
Worship God, the sovereign Lawgiver of Sinai. Worship the One who ascends from the hill called Olive. Receive the Spirit without whom we cannot truly worship.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of all grace, Christ of glory, powerful Spirit, we confess that the tempter sometimes catches us unawares. When things are going well for us, pride in our deserving such prosperity may be the very cause of our downfall. When we are convinced that we can get by on our own, unexpected reverses can drag us down with anxiety. Then we are tempted to believe that you do not care and cannot bring us through our time of adversity. Restore, establish, and strengthen us in the faith of Jesus Christ. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! The Spirit of God is resting upon us and will give us cause for joy as we are willing to share the suffering of Christ. Friends, believe the Good News. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Humble yourselves under the almighty hand of God, who will lift you up in due time and cares for you always.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy Parent, protect us as our Savior has prayed, that we may not seek independence, but unity, the unity of love and obedience, so that the world also may believe in the one you have sent, Jesus your Son. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Great Sovereign over all the earth, you are high above the most powerful of earth's princes and mighty ones. We are grateful for our heritage of faith from the days of Abraham, to the apostle, to the present day. We are privileged to pray in the company of all the faithful in this and every generation. Though we are undeserving, we are honored to bear the name of Christ, having heard and heeded the good news of Jesus Christ. Receive our thanksgiving for all the prayers of Christ and others for us and for the unity of your church, to the glory of your name. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
At prayer together before you, God of the gospel, we come as adults and children to obey the gospel and do the good to which you point us, moved by the Spirit to share the work and the suffering of Jesus Christ. Amen.
PSALM 68:1-10, 32-35
Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered:
let those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away:
as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.
But let the righteous be joyful:
let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.
Sing to God, sing praises to his name:
lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds - his name is the LORD - be exultant before him.
Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
God gives the desolate a home to live in:
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,
but the rebellious live in a parched land.
O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked,
the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God,
the God of Sinai,
at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad:
you restored your heritage when it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it:
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
sing praises to the Lord,
O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens:
listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel:
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel:
he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

