Pentecost -- Ordinary Time -- Service Prayers
Empowered
to Love and Speak Truth
Service
Prayers for 7th Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 10 (Inclusive)
Amos 7:7-17 Psalm 82
Colossians
1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37
Call to Worship
Leader: Come,
let us celebrate the One
who calls us to love and
speak truth to power:
People: No
one can stop us from speaking the truth.
Leader: We
are called to love and defend our brothers and sisters
who suffer in silence:
People: No
one can stop us from speaking the truth.
Leader: We
must rise up, stand up, and speak up for righteousness:
People: No
one can stop us from speaking the truth.
Leader: Come,
let us celebrate together the power to love
and to speak truth:
People:
We are ready to worship
our God who is still speaking!
No
one can stop us now!
Prayer of Invocation
Spirit
of the living God, fall fresh upon us;
allow your presence to fill us with
power from on high.
Come, Holy One, and dwell among
us.
We need your authority to love our
neighbor
and speak to the powers of this
world.
Give us a special anointing to stand
and be witnesses
in our homes, our schools, and on our
jobs.
Come into this place and make us one
with each other.
It is in your name we pray. Amen.
Call
to Confession
Leader: In
the lives of neighbors who suffer brokenness and pain:
People: We confess you are still speaking!
Leader: In
the struggle of the poor whose rights are not honored:
People: We confess you are still speaking!
Leader: In
a world crying out for wisdom, love and mercy:
People: We confess you are still speaking!
Leader:
In
a world calling for the blessing of truth:
People: We confess you are still speaking! Bless us to hear!
Leader:
Let us confess together:
We
confess that in our lives we often hide behind
our work and play, schools and jobs,
fun and fashion.
We let ourselves get so busy
that we forget the cause of the poor
and the suffering.
We confess we allow the powers of
this world
to seduce us into selfishness
and
silence our witness.
Teach
us to champion the cause for justice for all,
strengthen us to love our neighbor
and speak truth no matter the
penalty. Amen.
Assurance
of God’s Love
The Word of God assures us
that
we are able to love through the Spirit of Christ.
Let
us go from this place with authority,
knowing
that God’s Word gives us strength
to
love our neighbors near and far
and
power to speak up for those who are broken.
Thanks
to the Word of God!
Invitation
to Sharing
We
are called to love and obey God’s still-speaking voice.
Let
us give freely to the building of God’s kingdom on earth.
Come
now and share your gifts, tithes and offerings.
Let
us give as God has blessed us to give.
Prayer
of Dedication
O God,
we offer these gifts, tithes, and offerings
for the building of your kingdom on
earth.
Bless the gift and the givers.
Bless all who offer time, talent and
treasure in your service.
We offer this prayer in your holy
name. Amen.
Benediction
Now
as we leave from this place,
but
not from your presence,
let
us remember your still-speaking voice.
Send
your grace to go with us,
your
peace to keep us,
and
your love to surround us as we travel.
May
we leave empowered to love and
speak your truth each
day. Amen.
Empowered to Love and Speak
Truth was
written by LT Leticia Rouser, a chaplain in the United States Navy, stationed
in Gulfport, MS.
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.
.
