Prayers for Worship
Proper 21
September 30, 2012

Prayers for Worship
by David von Schlichten

Call to Worship

Leader: Whoever is not against us is for us.
People: God, the Three-in-One, uses all kinds of people to do deeds of loving power.
Leader: Christ calls us to have salt in ourselves
People: and to be at peace with one another.

Invocation

God of All-Power, you include and strengthen beyond our expectations. Continue to guide us to spiritual purity. Teach us to be as open as possible to the workings of the Spirit. In the name of the Savior we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

God, we cannot discern all our errors. You alone know the width and depth of our sin: our lack of faith in your responses to our prayers; our tendency to exclude people you include; our placement of stumbling blocks in front of each other; our clinging to that which we should cut off.

For the sake of the Teacher, forgive us. Please.

Words of Assurance

Alleluia! Because of Christ, God forgives your sins, no matter what they are. The Almighty brings us back from wandering. Yes!

Prayer of Inspiration

Holy Spirit, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, our rock and redeemer. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Mother of Eldad and Medad, your embrace is so wide. Teach us in the Church to widen our embrace in accord with your genius. Adonai, (congregational response: make our prayers powerful and effective.).

We thank you for the Law. Expand our understanding, so that we appreciate the Law as, not a burden, but a gift. Adonai, . . .

We exalt you for creation. Bless all of us, including us humans, that we may take care of one another. Humble us to lay aside destructive hierarchies in the name of focusing on helping one another. Adonai, .

God, autumn! It feels and smells so good! Rejuvenating! Adonai, . . .

Mama, we are in awe of the genius and courage of some of our fellow humans. We know their strengths start and end with you. Adonai, . . .

Abba, bless all with special needs, including these we mention now [Add names.]. Guide our hands to assist with healing. Adonai, . . .

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

Thank you for answering our prayers in accord with Christ. Amen.

Offertory Prayer

May these gifts honor you by helping to make the world more loving.

Benediction

Leader: God, Father, Son, and Spirit, calls, empowers, and purifies us.
People: We enter the week having salt in ourselves and being at peace with one another. Yes!

(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)