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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Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b ; Romans 8:14-17; John 14:8-17, (25-27)

OPENING PRAYER

Sovereign Lord, we meet together to celebrate the gift of your Holy Spirit to the church. Bless us as we seek to serve you in this place. Fill us with your Spirit as you did early one morning in Jerusalem over two thousand years ago, that we might better be your voices, hands and presence in the world, and draw others into your kingdom. Amen


ADORATION

Your Spirit,
present from the beginning
of beginnings,
present in the message
of the prophets,
present in provision
for your people,
present in the life
and words of Jesus,
present in the Cross
and crucifixion,
present in the lives
of the apostles,
present in the church
that you empower
Your Spirit,
the presence of God
in hearts and lives!



CONFESSION

Your Spirit was the power in the early church,
empowering lives, giving courage to the faint-hearted,
enabling fishermen to harvest the world.
Your Spirit was the power in the lives of saints
offering their lives and suffering persecution
for the sake of your name and Salvation.
When we forget the sacrifice of generations
who by your Spirit brought us the gospel message,
the Good News of which we are now entrusted,
forgive us.
Fill our lives, we pray, that they might be lived for you,
speak for you and stand up for you, now and forever. Amen

THANKSGIVING

For the Spirit of Peace
that calms our mind
and stills our life,
we give you thanks.
For the Spirit of Love
that touches hearts
and reaches out,
we give you thanks.
For the Spirit of Joy
that lifts our soul
and gives us faith
we give you thanks.
For the Spirit of Power,
that gift of grace
for this your church,
we give you thanks.

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