The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) offers a three-year cycle with four readings for every Sunday in the Church Year.
These readings are:
A Lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures (or Acts during the Season of Easter)
A Psalm
A Lesson from the Epistles or Acts
A Lesson from the Gospels
The following prayers follow a traditional form using the pattern of ACT (Adoration, Confession and Thanksgiving).
There is also an opening prayer which can be used at the beginning of a service.
OPENING PRAYER
May the God who brought us to this place
accept the hymns and words we pray,
and the love that binds us in his grace
be the blessing we receive this day. Amen
ADORATION
In you, O Lord, do we trust,
in your love we delight,
for there is no other
to whom we can turn
who knows our needs
before we ask,
reads our hearts
and answers our requests.
In you, O Lord, do we trust,
in your peace we depend,
for there is no other
to whom we can turn
who calms our souls,
brings release,
and in whose
arms we would rest.
CONFESSION
Lord, we bring to you those ‘almost’ moments.
When the opportunity arose to bring your name
into a conversation and we almost did.
When we were challenged to give to those
who are in need, and we almost did.
When we heard of an injustice and, tempted
to reach for our pen, we almost did.
When challenged by the whisper of your voice
to go where you would send, we almost did.
Forgive our timidity, our reluctance
to live the life that we proclaim.
Fill us with your Spirit of love and power
that by our words and actions
your name might be glorified,
and our ‘almost’ become ‘always’!
THANKSGIVING
For the gift of faith
which sees beyond the present moment
and looks to an eternity,
we thank you.
For the gift of faith
small as a mustard seed, which has power
within its simplicity,
we thank you.
For the gift of faith
bestowed on those who would simply come,
hearts open in humility,
we thank you. Amen
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