PRELUDE/ENTRANCE
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
*OPENING SONG
“Cry of My Heart” TFWS 2165
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: When we struggle to live as you teach us, and we fail to answer your cal…
People: God, your steadfast loves surrounds us.
Liturgist: When the truth clogs up in our throat, and we fear what will happen if we speak and if we keep silent…
People: God, your steadfast love surrounds us.
Liturgist: When we open our hearts and let the truth of our sorrows, our sin, our joys, and our doubts flow freely…
People: God, your steadfast love surrounds us.
Liturgist: When our stubborn hearts encounter the grace that teaches and guides us into a life of trust and joyful obedience…
ALL: God, your steadfast love surrounds us today and every day. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, September 2024.
OPENING PRAYER
Loving God, it was said of the Prodigal Son that he “came to himself.” Help us to wake up to ourselves, and to you. Set us free from the illusion of trying to be perfect so that we might be more fully human. Help us not to chase after an imaginary life, and to find satisfaction in our real lives. And turn us away from our self-rejection so that we might notice your arms open in welcome. Amen.
Adapted from Ann Siddall, in Lent to Easter liturgies: Year C. Posted on the website of the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre, https://stillpointcentre.com.au/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/02/prayer-prodigal-son.html.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND WORDS OF ASSURANCE
SHARING GOD’S PEACE
JOYS AND CONCERNS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
A TIME FOR CHILDREN
SPECIAL MUSIC
FIRST SCRIPTURE Joshua 5:9-12
SECOND SCRIPTURE 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22
MESSAGE “I’m Gonna Pray”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
*SONG OF RESPONSE
“I’m Goin’a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing” UMH 333
*OFFERING OF OURSELVES
*”The Nicene’ Creed” UMH 880
*DOXOLOGY UMH 95
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
SENDING FORTH
*SONG OF DISMISSAL
“This Is a Day of New Beginnings” UMH 383
*BENEDICTION
*PEACE
"God Be with You till We Meet Again” UMH 672
Verse 1