God’s New Way
Service Prayers for the Eighth Sunday after Epiphany

Call To Worship (invite four different voices to lead)

Leader:           Among the certain

Among the scared

Among the poor

Among the privileged

People:            Christ is calling us to trust and live in God’s Way.

                        In the living room

In the boardroom

In the classroom

Where there is no room

                        Christ is calling us to trust and live in God’s Way.

                        With a gentle touch

With an angry word

With a clear conscience

With burning love

                        Christ is calling us to trust and live in God’s Way.

                        In our fretting

In our attending

In our divided loyalties

In our earnestness

All:                  Christ is calling us to trust and live in God’s Way.

Opening Prayer

Lord, we cannot serve two masters,

but how often we try!

So set your blessings upon us as we begin this day together.

Confirm in us the truth by which we rightly live;

confront us with the truth from which we wrongly turn.

We ask not for what we want

but for what you know we need,

as we offer this day and ourselves to you,

through Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Amen.

Confession

Leader:            
Holy God of surprises, we hear you call us to a new way of being.

Voice 1:           
We know the Holy Spirit will be with us as we test the vastness of your love,

but it is hard to let go of what has been.

Voice 2:          
We confess how often we yearn for the good old days,

for a kind of comfort and safety that never really was.

Leader:             We see the future as threat rather than hope.

All:                   O Holy One, forgive us for our fears and failings.  

Assurance

Leader:                 The God of all creation welcomes us with open arms,

                            offering love and hope and faith.

                            Fear not. Worry not. We are forgiven. Amen.

Call to Offering

         All you who are thirsty, this is the place for water.

         Here, as we share our gifts, all may enjoy the bread of heaven.

         See, how in sharing, we become the gift others need.

Offering Prayer

         Lord, in these times,

         when we fear we are losing hope

         or feel that our efforts are futile,

         may these gifts help others get a glimpse of your resurrection.

         Let these gifts become a sign that we serve you alone,

         trust you alone and choose to live in hope.

Benediction

May God provide for you all that is needed

for body, mind and soul

as you walk the journey ahead.

May Christ bring you through the balancing times you face

and hold you gently with his love.

And may the Holy Spirit give you peace when fear is close

and may that peace be your home for ever and ever. Amen.

God’s New Way: Service Prayers for the Eighth Sunday after Epiphany was written by the Rev. Daniel B. Randall, Senior Pastor of the First Congregational Church, U.C.C., in Bristol, RI and a USAF Chaplain (Reserves).

Copyright 2011 Local Church Ministries, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.