Alive with God in the Mystery of Christ 
Service Prayers for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
July 24, 2016

Hosea 1: 2-10       Psalm 85         Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19)          Luke 11:1-13

Call to Worship

Leader		We come abounding in thanksgiving: 
People		For in Christ we find in all fullness
			the holiness 
			the justice 
			the hope of God.  

		We come abounding in thanksgiving:
		To feel God’s life in us 
			flowing through our roots in Christ 
			and establishing our faith. 

		We come abounding in thanksgiving:
		To celebrate the mystery of God-with-us:
			Christ, who lives fully in us 
			and in whom we fully live.
		
All		Let us welcome the One who was sent 
		to make us alive in the fullness of God.    Amen.

Invocation

		God, we know you will come to us and give us what is good.
		Let your glory till the landscape of our hearts 
		so that it will yield an increase of love for you.
		Speak peace to us, your faithful, and to all who yearn for you.
		Like Hosea of old, help us to be willing to do as you ask,
		That we may rejoice to be children of the living God.
		For we know that as we ask, it will be given 
		and as we knock, the door will be opened to us.  
		Come, bring your goodness to us your children.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession

		St Paul’s reminder to the people of Colossae 
		holds true for us today:		
		that many false teachings at work in the world 
		may tempt us away from God with 
		“fascinating philosophies and empty deceits”;
		let us think for a moment of what form they might take in our lives.
	
Silent reflection.....

		If you wish, name out loud some of these “philosophies and deceits” 				that divert us from God.  (e.g. Advertising promises,)

		Let us pray together Christ’s most true teaching: 
		The Lord’s Prayer

Assurance of Pardon

		Our hearts are full when we remember		 
		That God made us alive with Christ,
		forgiving us all our trespasses, and
		erasing the record that stood against us.  
		Paul tells us that God set our sin aside, nailed it to the cross.
		Rejoice together that in the company of the risen Christ 
		we are fully forgiven.

Offering Invitation

	We have been taught to pray to Creator God 
	and to join in the coming of the Kin-dom. * 
	The persistence of the work requires our generous gifts.  
	God's humble workers for compassion and justice on earth, 
	Let us offer our and gifts at this time.

Dedication

	Thank you, God, for the opportunity to do your will and 
	to co-create with you on earth as in heaven.  
	Take these gifts we bring for your purposes.  
	Thy Kin-dom Come.....

Benediction

	In the hallowed name of God, 
	let us go out with prayer and a sweet thanksgiving.  
	God calls us out into a world that is sorely in need of both.  
	Daily let us offer to the earth and its people 
	the fullness of God’s joy, justice and peace which we have in Christ.
	 
* “Kin-dom” is a term which has recently come into use as a name for the Reign of God; it suggests a time when God is all in all, and all of creation is in a relationship of justice and peace. 

Alive with God in the Mystery of Christ: Service Prayers for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost was written by the Rev. Catherine Rolling.

Copyright 2016 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.  
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