Prayers for Worship
Epiphany 5
February 5, 2012

Prayers for Worship
by David von Schlichten

Call to Worship

Leader: Jesus takes you by the hand and lifts you up.
People: We respond by serving Christ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Leader: Through the Savior we are free, belonging to no one,
People: and we are slaves, belonging to everyone. Alleluia!

Invocation

Tender-hearted God, you cared for Simon’s mother-in-law, and you care for us. Thank you. Touch us and lift us. Empower us to proclaim the message and cast out demons throughout the world, ever following Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Elohim, we have sinned against you through our words, actions, and thoughts. We lack faith in your healing love. You are inexhaustible in your powerful compassion, yet we do not give you much credit for your faithfulness. We are quick to doubt you. We are also quick to boast in our accomplishments and to do good for the sake of a reward. We are reluctant to serve others; we make a god out of our freedoms.

For the sake of the nurturing Teacher, forgive us. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Alleluia! Christ has taken you by the hand and stood you up. All your sins are forgiven, no matter how shameful they are. We are set free, so let us be captive to serving others in the name of our Redeemer. Yes!

Prayer of Inspiration

Holy Spirit, compel each one of us to preach the Gospel now and throughout the week.

Prayers of the People

Everlasting God, we praise you for the Church, future, past, and present. As secularism swells, it is tempting for us to think that the Church is dying, but with your Spirit the Church always has breath. You continually renew our strength, raise us up on eagle’s wings. Healing Mother, (congregational response: we thank you for helping us.).

Flawless Lord, we exalt you for creation, including us humans, all seven billion of us. Bless the United States and every nation, that each one of us may take care of those in need and show creation proper respect. Help us to take care of our own bodies, too, remembering that they are on loan from you. Healing Mother, . . .

Boundless Adonai, we thank you for the fun of the Superbowl. Bless the teams. Keep everyone safe. Help us all to have fun, to be respectful of one another, and to keep the Superbowl in proper perspective. Healing Mother, . . .

God of Renewal, we praise you for healing Simon’s mother-in-law. You heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. Touch all those in need [Add names.]. Humble and embolden each of us to speak and touch with your restoring wisdom. Healing Mother, . . .

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

We know you hear us, and we thank you for answering us. In Christ’s name we praise. Amen.

Offertory Prayer

You have provided us with abundance, some of which we give back to you.

Benediction

Leader: Christ has fed and renewed you.
People: The Three-in-One, Father, Son, and Spirit, has picked us up. The fever has left us.
Leader: Let us go on to the neighboring towns, that we may proclaim the message there also.
People: Christ will use us to make it happen. Yes!

(from www.goodpreacher.com/blog/)