Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Rest
Adapted from 1 Kings 8:23, 56-58, NRSV
O LORD, God of Israel,
there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath,
keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants
who walk before you with all their heart.
Blessed be the LORD,
who has given rest to his people Israel
according to all that he promised;
not one word has failed of all his good promise,
which he spoke through his servant Moses.
The LORD our God be with us,
as he was with our ancestors;
may he not leave us or abandon us,
but incline our hearts to him,
to walk in all his ways,
and to keep his commandments,
his statutes, and his ordinances,
which he commanded our ancestors.
The Worship Sourcebook
Inspired by Psalm 23
God our Father,
Lord our Shepherd,
Spirit of the Living God,
One in Three … and Three in One:
We praise You our Creator, Savior, and Provider.
By Your grace, we lack nothing.
You feed us in body and in soul.
You give us rest when we are weary.
You direct us on ways that are good and right.
You go with us through the dark times
so we will not walk them alone.
You protect us in Your goodness
with Your strength.
You spread before us
a banquet in the wilderness
and a feast in the face of whoever
and whatever threatens us.
You pour over us Your oils
of cleansing grace, of healing, and of gladness.
And no matter where we have wandered,
You open wide Your arms to welcome us home.
That is why we praise You;
That is why we love You;
That is why we are here to worship You today,
our God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
the One in Three and the Three in One. AMEN.
O God, our Guide and Guardian, you have led us apart from the busy world into the quiet of your house. Grant us grace to worship you in Spirit and in truth, to the comfort of our souls and the upbuilding of every good purpose and holy desire. Enable us to do more perfectly the work to which you have called us, that we may not fear the coming of night, when we shall resign into your hands the tasks which you have committed to us. So may we worship you not with our lips at this hour, but in word and deed all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Book of Worship, 1965
We believe, O Lord, that you have not abandoned us to the dim light of our own reason to conduct us to happiness, but that you have revealed in Holy Scriptures whatever is necessary for us to believe and practice. How noble and excellent are the precepts, how sublime and enlightening the truth, how persuasive and strong the motives, how powerful the assistance of your holy religion. Our delight shall be in your statutes, and we will not forget your Word. Amen.
Richard Allen
(Prayer of Adoration)
God, Almighty – holy, gracious, truthful and loving, we’re drawn by Your invitation to enjoy Your love, an invitation to feel Your touch and hear Your voice, to taste and see that You are good!
Thank You for new life to celebrate. Thank You for meaningful work & restful Sabbaths. Thank You for encouraging relationships and Your provision for our daily needs. Thank You for all our good gifts from Your hand.
(Prayer of Confession)
Yet, we’re not always so grateful. In the midst of plenty, we still want more and complain when we don’t get it. Forgive us. When You give us more than we need so we can bless those with less than they need, we hold it tight to ourselves. Forgive us.
We’ve lived our agendas this week and ignored Yours. We’ve been blind to opportunities to show Your love to others. We’ve been too busy to love You in simple ways – neglecting quiet moments for prayer or reading your love letter to us in Scripture. Forgive us. Forgive, too, that for which we’re too embarrassed to say aloud but now confess in the silence of our own hearts … . Amen.
For Labor Day Weekend
Blessed Jesus
The Carpenter, the Rabbi,
The Healer, the Good Shepherd,
The One who washes feet, the Ruler of all that is seen and unseen
We bless you and thank you for the good gift of you and the good gift of work
For entrusting us with responsibilities and purpose
For making a place for us and a place for us in your plan
Lead us as we labor, so all is done with integrity
Lead us as we labor, so all is done with honor
Lead us as we labor, so all is done for the common good
and for your glory. Amen.
Opening Prayer for Labor Day Weekend © 2023 by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com
For Labor Day Weekend
Call to Worship for Labor Day Weekend
In the midst of your striving
Your labor
Your responsibilities
Your hustle
Hear the invitation, “Come to the Feast!”
Come, eat and drink
Come, rest and rejoice
Come, dance in the presence of our Generous Host
Listen…
Listen……
Grace is calling
Come, the feast awaits
Call to Worship for Labor Day Weekend © 2023 by Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia, www.revlisad.com