Epiphany -- Service Prayers
“Chosen as
Witnesses”:
Service Prayers for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
For Your
Reflection
“No
one has a right to sit down and feel helpless: there's too much to do.” ~ Dorothy Day
“Most
everybody I see knows the truth but they just don’t know that they know it.” ~ Woody Guthrie
“We
who have a voice must be a voice for the voiceless.” ~ Oscar Arnulfo Romero
Possible
Sermon Titles
“An Out-of Bounds God”
“God’s Odd Choices”
“All You Need Is … Commitment”
“Outside-In”
“Who Said It Would Be Easy?”
Call to Worship
One: We have come to worship God, the living God,
All:
Who calls prophets and teachers to
bear witness.
We have come to praise God, the
almighty God,
Who answers the forces of hatred and
hurt with the power of grace.
We have come to worship God,
all-gracious God,
Who chooses even you and me,
to receive and carry the Word
of life and hope.
All glory to God!
Unison
Invocation
God of the prophets,
is it possible that you, who
spoke to Jeremiah and Jesus,
will speak to us? We may not
be ready to believe it.
We may not be ready to receive
you.
But we have gathered in your
name and we pray: come, holy one.
Fill us with the story of your
people; fill us with your loving Word.
Take us as we are, and make us
wholly yours. In Jesus’ name; Amen.
Prayer
of Confession
One:
If we say we are completely put
together, the truth is not in us.
All:
But if we confess our distractions,
our errors, and our anxieties,
God will meet us and renew us.
Before God and God’s people, I
confess that I have
been reluctant to speak out clearly,
naming the injustice I see and
declaring God’s vision.
Before God and one another, we
confess our reluctance
to receive our calling as
God’s people, made by God
and chosen as witnesses to
God’s dream of justice and joy.
Remind me, God, that you have made
me for your service
and recharge me with your
Word.
Renew us, God.
Grant us courage to live out your
Way of peace and grace.
We ask it in Jesus’ name; Amen.
Words of Assurance
One: God
has promised that whenever we repent, and seek a new union with God,
forgiveness
is ours.
That
promise comes true now. Sisters and brothers, know that in Christ Jesus,
we
are forgiven.
All:
Thanks be to God! Amen.
Offertory Invitation
One: God
called great prophets, and God calls us.
God
is generous, pouring out the gifts of grace and love
and
the life-giving power of the Word for all people.
We
respond with our renewed commitment to God’s vision,
and
by giving our tithes and offerings to the ministries of God’s church.
All:
Let us gather our gifts together and
offer them to God in gratitude and praise.
Unison Prayer of Dedication
God
of the prophets, we bless this offering
as
people who have received your gifts of grace and hope.
We
return to you a portion of the abundance you have given to us.
We
dedicate all that we give, to your loving purposes:
bringing
in those who have been cast out;
standing
strong on behalf of those who are weak;
speaking
out with your Word of joy and justice for all people.
May
your loving realm increase! In Jesus’ name; Amen.
Benediction
One:
May God bless you and keep you;
may God’s face shine upon you
and be gracious unto you;
may God look upon you with
favor
and grant you wholeness,
harmony, hope: shalom, now and always.
Our worship concludes; our
service continues.
God’s Word is within you; go
in peace.
“Chosen as Witnesses”: Service Prayers for the
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Year C), was written by John A. Nelson,
Pastor and Teacher of Niantic Community Church, Niantic, Connecticut.
Copyright
2010 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.
