Prayers for Worship
Proper 10
July 15, 2012

Prayers for Worship
by David von Schlichten

Call to Worship

Leader: By the power of the Trinity, love and faithfulness have met together;
People: righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Leader: God sends prophets to speak both the tough and tender words of love.
People: Likewise, God calls us to do the same, full of the Spirit.

Invocation

Wisdom-God, you sent John the Baptist to say what needed to be said. Through his example, inspire us to have such courage and resolve. Fill us with the determination to speak the truth in love. In the name of Christ we pray by the Spirit’s power. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Our sins are myriad, God. We come between love and faithfulness, separate righteousness and peace. You urge us to share your message, yet we conjure up excuses not to, afraid of the consequences of sharing. We neglect the poor. You have blessed us and made us heirs, but we fail to live according to such an identity. We get caught up in cowardice and protecting our egos and so behead those who try to correct us.

Through Christ, forgive us. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Like John, Jesus died, but then Christ rose from the dead. You have redemption through Christ’s blood. You are heirs. Your sins are forgiven, erased. Alleluia!

Prayer of Inspiration

Paraclete, through the sermon, open our ears to the Word.

Prayers of the People

Adonai of Amos and John the Baptist, we thank you for the leaders you have sent throughout the centuries. Continue to lead us Christians. In the face of rising secularism, we often get discouraged. Inspire us each day to serve you and not tire. Lord, (congregational response: we thank you for hearing us.).

Mother of Diversity, we exalt you for our nation, the United States. Continue to bless our nation, that we may care for the poor more than we care for shopping at the mall. Lord, . . .

Omnipotent Elohim, we are in awe of creation. Bless all those struggling with this hot weather. Shower them with relief. Lord, . . .

We are full of gratitude for the healing you have given us. Heal those we mention in our hearts or aloud [Add names.] Lord, . . .

(You may add other praises and petitions here...)

We know you hear us and will answer us. We pray in Christ’s name. Yes.

Offertory Prayer

LORD, you have granted us prosperity, and we return to you a portion of it for the sake of others.

Benediction

Leader: God, Father, Son, and Spirit, has called you, blessed you, chosen you,
People: so we walk out to be prophets for a lost world. Amen.

(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)