Faith & Worship

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.

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Proper 4 (9th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39; Psalm 96; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10

OPENING PRAYER

Bless us as we meet together,
dear Lord we pray.
Bless the singing of your praise,
the reading of your Word,
the sharing of our fellowship,
the prayers that will be heard.
Bless us as we meet together,
dear Lord we pray.
Amen

ADORATION

The whole of creation sings your praise,
Alpha and Omega,
beginning and end of all that is.
You who hold the universe
in the palm of your hand,
a precious thing of beauty.
The mountains shall sing your praise.
Oceans shall sing your praise.
Sunlit sky and starry night shall sing your praise.
And we your children
who stand in awe of all you have made,
who feel so small and yet so loved,
raise hands and hearts in worship
and join in their glorious harmony.
Amen


CONFESSION

There are confusing voices in the world, Lord
that would distract us from your Word,
persuasive voices that demand to be heard,
drown out the still small voice
that we have listened to before,
bring us instead a new philosophy
that has no place for you.
But you have faced rejection before,
insults and persecution you endured,
and even reports of your death
proved to be premature.
Forgive us
when we doubt your Word.
Forgive us
when we are led astray
toward a different path.
Grant us a faith that is strong,
and wisdom to know the difference
between your truth and that of the world.
Amen

THANKSGIVING

Creator of all
whose artistry is celebrated
in rainbow glow, ocean spray,
and mountain stream,
to you alone belongs our offering of thanks.
Saviour of all
whose grace is demonstrated
in healing hands, sacrifice,
and cruel cross,
to you alone belongs our offering of thanks.
Breath of Life
whose power is celebrated
in tongues of fire, living water
and lives that change
to you alone belongs our offering of thanks.

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