special services on Distraction

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23, Luke 8:1-15, Mark 4:1-20

Jesus, you sow yourself The Word of Truth, generously The Word of Life, graciously Defend us from the Evil One Who seeks to snatch us away Fortify us for hard times and costly discipleship That we m...

liturgy

God of light and life,

Author

Jacob Traeger

Keywords

As we begin, we confess that our attention wanders. We pray: God of light and life, We know that we don’t always listen well to your word Our lives are full of distractions We pay attention to thi...

liturgy

Help us in this time of worship to be

Keywords

Help us in this time of worship to be still and know that you are God. In quietness we would hear your voice calling us away from the discordant noises of the everyday world, that our spirits might be...

liturgy

Holy One, help us be still and know

Author

Kimberly Bracken Long

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 46:10, Matthew 7:26

Holy One, help us be still and know that you are God. Too often we move at such a hectic pace that we neglect our relationship with you. Our lives become full of distractions that are nothing but shif...

liturgy

We desire your presence with us, O God.

Keywords

We desire your presence with us, O God. Still our restless spirits, that with quiet minds and reverent hearts we may hear your voice and worthily worship you. Amen .

liturgy

God of grace, you ask us to pray

Author

Keywords

Scripture

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Romans 12:12, Luke 10:38-42, Psalm 119:10, Philippians 4:6-7, Psalm 145:18

God of grace, you ask us to pray without ceasing, yet we admit to you that we are easily distracted. Days and weeks can pass where we don’t acknowledge you. Neglecting our relationship with you, we de...

liturgy

Gracious God, Your yoke is easy, and

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 11:28-30

Gracious God, Your yoke is easy, and your burden is light. You say you will give us rest, yet we don’t always believe it. Forgive us for being distracted by our doing. Instead of finding rest in Your ...

liturgy

When our faith falls short, God remains faithful

Author

Jacob Traeger

Keywords

Sisters and brothers, hear the good news When our faith falls short, God remains faithful When we are distracted, God remains attentive When we judge ourselves and others, God offers mercy and forgive...

liturgy

Eternal God, we recognize that Your

Keywords

Eternal God, we recognize that Your ways are mysterious. Teach us to be still and to wait for You. We confess our sinfulness, our need for control, and our discomfort with the unknown. Instead of turn...

liturgy

Dear God, we confess that we have

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Titus 3:5-6, Psalm 119:105, Romans 8:26-27, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:1-2

Dear God, we confess that we have sinned and need Your forgiveness. We want to do things on our own, without You. We have been distracted from Your Word and behave as if Your instructions were vague. ...

liturgy

Lord Jesus, we have been slumbering

Author

Jacob Traeger

Keywords

Lord Jesus, we have been slumbering We have not expected you to be active in our lives And we have allowed ourselves to be distracted from your love We have not seen you in the lives of others And we ...

liturgy

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, as we gather for worship

Author

Andrew Van Kirk

Keywords

Scripture

Exodus 34:29-35, Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, as we gather for worship we invite you to come down and meet with us. The desires, distractions, thoughts and temptations that plague us are already known to you and...

liturgy

Good Father, we thank you for inviting

Author

Keywords

Good Father, we thank you for inviting us to your table. You invite us to your heavenly feast, but we don’t show up to the party. Rather, we ignore your invitation, we get distracted by other work we ...

liturgy

Loving God, please forgive us of the

Author

Keywords

Loving God, please forgive us of the times when we don’t make it our number one priority to follow you. For the times when we focus too much on things that distract us from you, we repent. We are sorr...

liturgy

Lord, we come here with lots of things

Keywords

Lord, we come here with lots of things on our minds, but now we turn our focus to you. Help us to put aside our schedules and "to do" lists, and replace our worry with peace. Guide us as...

liturgy

Gracious God, we confess that we do not

Author

Keywords

Gracious God, we confess that we do not always listen to your calling for us. Instead we carry on with our busy lives, not being mindful of your voice, calling us to live for more than ourselves. Plea...

liturgy

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we

Author

Allen Thompson

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 25:31-46, Ephesians 4:29, Matthew 6:33, Luke 10:38-42, Ephesians 5:15-17, Haggai 1:5-9, 1 Corinthians 10:31

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we become so consumed with the details of life that we do not see the opportunities that you have placed before us. Open our eyes to your call to extend love, by commu...

liturgy

O God, too often we turn to You when we

Author

Stuart R. Strachan, Jr.

Keywords

O God, too often we turn to You when we have no other place to go, but your arms are always open wide. Forgive us for using you as our last resort when you ought to be our first. We confess that you h...

liturgy

Holy Lord, in this time of Advent, we

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 10:41-42, Isaiah 55:2-3, Luke 10:38-42, Matthew 25:44-45, Psalm 46:10, Luke 2:7, Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 5:9, Luke 10:1-12, Romans 8:24-25, Luke 2:25-32, Luke 2:25-38, Philippians 2:10-11, Colossians 3:17, Luke 2:13-14

Holy Lord, in this time of Advent, we confess we often are distracted by the season’s busyness, by the stress of commitment, and even by putting our own traditions ahead of the true meaning of Christm...

liturgy

Gracious God, the noise of this world

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 46:10, John 10:27, Psalm 119:105, 1 Kings 19:11-12, Psalm 62:1, Jeremiah 29:13

Gracious God, the noise of this world drowns out the beauty of your voice. You invite us to listen, but we deny you time and space. Forgive us for ignoring you. Create in us the desire to listen to yo...

liturgy

God of healing, we look for you in all

Author

Keywords

Scripture

John 9:1-7, Mark 8:22-25, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Psalm 146:8, Isaiah 55:8-9, Luke 24:13-32, Acts 9:1-19

God of healing, we look for you in all the wrong places. We assume we have figured out how you are at work. Because of this, we miss out on seeing your glory, and we fail to join with you as partners ...

liturgy

Come to the Table

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 11:28-30, Revelation 19:9, Psalm 23:5-6, Isaiah 55:1-2, Luke 14:16-17, Luke 22:19-20, John 6:35, Psalm 34:8, Isaiah 25:6, Matthew 22:2-4, Proverbs 9:5-6

In the midst of all you are facing Your burdens Your responsibilities Your hustle Hear the invitation “Come to the Table” In the midst of all you are facing Your longing Your ambition Your distractio...

liturgy

Lord, You answer our pleas for help.

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Lord, You answer our pleas for help. You draw near to us when we are hurting; You save us when we are crushed by life. Your Psalmists declare it on every page. Yet we often feel abandoned and alone. W...

liturgy

Let us go before our God, confessing the ways we have dismissed

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 46:10, Ephesians 2:10, Psalm 51:10, Philippians 4:19, Psalm 42:1

Leader : Let us go before our God, confessing the ways we have dismissed His plan for internal peace from our lives. Leader : Heavenly Father, we crave rest and seek it everywhere but with You...

liturgy

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your

Author

John Birch

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 8:1-2

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise. How can we praise you In life’s...

liturgy

Cry, “Glory”

Author

Keywords

Scripture

Revelation 4:11, Matthew 17:1-9, 1 Kings 19:11-13, Exodus 3:1-6, Psalm 46:10

Transcendent Lord, in the midst of ordinary days draw us to wonder to fall on our knees and cry, “Glory!” You are the Holy One, Above and Other. May we tremble, knowing how deeply you know us and lov...

liturgy

How can we praise you In life’s

Author

John Birch

Keywords

How can we praise you In life’s ordinary moments, bus, car or train, pedestrian moments, at home and employment, with all those distractions. How can we praise you? How can we praise you when ...

liturgy

Long-awaited Messiah

Author