Prayers
The LORD’S Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kindgom come. Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, for ever.
AMEN
The Prayer of Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
• Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
• …where there is injury, pardon;
• …where there is doubt, faith;
• …where there is despair, hope;
• …where there is darkness, light;
• …where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
• …to be consoled as to console;
• …to be understood as to understand;
• …to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
• …it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
• …and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Litany of Thanksgiving and Dedication
Leader: The earth is the LORD’S in all its fullness, the world and all who live in it. Let us thank God together. God of justice and mercy, you who give life to your creatures and hope to humanity, hear our prayers, accept our thanksgiving, and empower us to rededicate ourselves to Jesus the Christ.
People: We pray that your Spirit will deepen our thanksgiving into heartfelt gratitude that moves us to trust you with our lives, to gain hope from your promises of salvation and wholeness, to become free and generous in our attitudes toward time and possessions, and to live more fully.
Leader: As we recommit ourselves to being Christ’s church in the world, we ask you for the gift of empathy. Free us from being self-absorbed and defensive, so we can work at understanding other people. Teach us to look beyond our prejudices and suspicions, so we can achieve mutual understanding and respect.
People: In Jesus, you know how it feels to be one of us. He shared our joys and griefs. He learned humility, and even allowed himself to be put to shame. In him, you—the one we call the Almighty—know what it means to be helpless. Forgive us for not letting ourselves care more about other people, and for imagining our callousness to be strength. Remove the callous from our hearts.
Leader: God, the world needs you, the church needs you, and each of us needs you.
People: Draw us closer and closer to yourself. Teach us the ways of faith, hope, and love. Equip us to follow Jesus and serve him, together as his church and separately in our personal lives. Show us how to make your grace the way of life in our families.
Leader: We bring you our hopes, worries, and fears for people in special need of your grace, your healing touch. We pray this morning for . . . . Be the life and salvation of all who cry to you.
People: Be also the hope and salvation of our country and our world. Lead us away from the arrogance of power, the pride of empire, and the demonic hypocrisy of using religion to inspire killing and terrorism. Deliver the world’s people from economic oppression, the children from enslavement, and all from the cycles of revenge that keep peace from taking hold.
Leader: We pray to you in the name of Jesus, whom you have made our Savior and Lord.
People: AMEN.
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Copyright © 2009, First Presbyterian Church of Bridgeton, NJ
119 West Commerce Street
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
(856) 455-0809
