Prayers for 10/4/98
Call to Worship
Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Invocation
Eternal God, Creator and Ruler of the world, we come with humility and gratitude as we gather to seek your presence. We praise and sing alleluias for all the saints and souls who have gone before us in faithfulness and service. Inspire, refresh, and revive us, that we may truly worship you with hymns, prayers, words, and deeds. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
Loving and merciful Father God, your people are present and prepared to receive your spirit. Come into our hearts with the good news that our lives have meaning and purpose. Help us to sense ever more intimately that Jesus Christ is the power and source of our lives. Without him, we would be nothing.
Touch the lives of those who are in need….
Many of us during this season of discerning the meaning of stewardship in our lives are busy and burdened. Release that weight of tasks and chores from our shoulders and hearts. Remind us that while we participate in this concentrated time of prayer and fasting that we can unstop our ears to hear your voice, silent our mouths so that we may know your will, open our hearts so that our priorities are also yours. We believe, O God, that miracles will happen not because of our efforts but according to your plan for us in San Francisco.
O God, you are a God of hope and future. Sometimes, we are too hard on ourselves about what things were like before. Sometimes, we may feel that the obstacles are too big for us to remove. Sometimes, we sense that the traditions are too deep-seeded to dig out and replant. You are the God of the mustard seed—so small and yet so big once we trust our lives with you.
Bless us today, Dear God, as you have blessed us everyday in our lives. It is in Christ from whom we now have new life, who taught us to pray together….
Offertory
We give but little when we give our possessions. It is when we give of ourselves that we truly give.
Prayer: We pray, O God, that these gifts be accepted as the symbols of our lives. For as we dedicate these gifts, so do we consecrate our lives to your service. Amen.
Communion
Jesus said, “Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking: if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”
While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
Deacon Pauline will offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the bread…
Take, eat, this is my body broken for you.
Deacon Gary will offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the cup…
Jesus said, “This Cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for the forgiveness of sins.”
When they had sung a hymn, the disciples and Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives. Let us sing, “Blest the Tie that Binds.”
Benediction (or find a minister guest)
You have feasted at Christ’s table. Your hunger has been satisfied and your thirst quenched. Go, therefore, and give drink to the thirsty and bread to the hungry, that they too may find life. Amen.