March 4, 2012
Prayers for Worship
by David von Schlichten
Leader: The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
People: and be killed,
Leader: and after three days rise again.
People: We follow Christ in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Leader: taking up our cross,
People: taking up our cross.
God of Sarah and Abraham, we thank you over and over for saving us through Christ’s death on the cross. We are saved by grace through faith. Throughout these forty days, strengthen our gratitude. Give us the bold humility to say, “Get behind me, Satan!” In the name of the Messiah we pray. Amen.
Leader: We cannot number our offenses. There are too many of them.
People: We falter in our faith in your faithfulness.
Leader: We rebuke you, getting in the way of your plans, thinking we know better.
People: You call us to take up our cross, but we’d rather deny and betray you.
Leader: For the sake of the Son of Humanity, forgive us our sins.
People: Deliver us from evil, Jesus Christ. Yes.
Christ has driven Satan away from you. Each of your sins is forgiven, gone, deleted. Start over.
Holy Spirit, through the Word-Sermon, teach us anew how to carry the cross.
Our God, our God, you have not forsaken us. You have blessed us with the Church, including martyrs such as Perpetua and Felicity, and societal renewers such as Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. Empower us to lead one another to freedom. Indeed, we know that already you, Lord, (congregational response: have acted.).
Our God, our God, you have created a gorgeous universe. We praise you for humanity, including our nation. Direct us with your wisdom to end poverty, war, injustice, the brutalization of the planet. Indeed, we know that already you, Lord, . . .
Our God, our God, you call us to reject Satan and take up the cross. Doing these things is difficult. Fortify us to follow you, not for glory, but because Christ’s cross saves us. Indeed, we know that already you, Lord, . . .
Our God, our God, you have healed us. Heal everyone in need [Add names.]. Fill us with your healing power as we reach to help one another. Indeed, we know that already you, Lord, . . .
(You may add other praises and petitions here...)
You hear us and help us. We praise you in the name of Christ. Amen.
From you comes our praise in the great assembly. From you comes this offering.
Leader: Father, Son, and Spirit,
People: Three-in-One,
Leader: has called you to shoulder the cross and gives you the grace to do that.
People: Carrying the cross, we walk on in Lent, eyes on Christ.
(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)