Hold on to Faith
Service Prayers for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
November 6, 2016

Haggai 1:15b-2:9 and Psalm 145:1-5, 17-2 with 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 and Luke 20:27-38

Call to Worship

One: 		The Holy One is here in this community of faith:	
Women:	Great is our God and greatly to be praised!	
One:	        	Let us bless the Holy Name forever and ever
Men:		Great is our God and greatly to be praised!	
One:		Let us meditate on God’s wondrous works
Choir:	 	Great is our God and greatly to be praised!
One:    		Let us bless and praise God’s name forever and ever	
All:    		Great is our God and greatly to be praised!	 			

Invocation

Holy One, you have promised to be with us, 
And long ago sent your Spirit to abide among us
and guide us to a future of goodness and hope.  
We come seeking your truth, your justice, your kindness.
O God, you are with us this morning. 
Let us feel your presence and 
welcome you into our lives. 
Come and fill these desires of our hearts.											
Prayer of Confession

O God, we long to rest in you, 
to trust in your goodness, in your care for us, 
in your abundant life.
But we don’t know how to rest 
And we have forgotten how to trust:
We seek material goods that we don’t really need.  
We befriend people not always out of love.  
We ask questions of you like the Sadducees did of Jesus, 
questions that try only to prove our point,
not to grow in understanding of your desires for us.
Slow us down, Holy One. 
Attend to us, Holy One,  
And show us that you are our salvation and our resting place.

Silent confession.....

Assurance of Pardon

God is God of the living.  
The Holy One will make a place for you 
that is full of life and love, forgiveness and humility, kindness and justice.  
Your belonging to God is your salvation.  
You may rest in that truth.

Offering Invitation

Standing firm and holding to the tradition we were taught, 
let us offer to God tithes, offerings and gifts from our grateful hearts 
in order for the work of love and justice 
to continue in our community and in our world.  

Dedication

The gifts that sometimes seem, in our sight, to be nothing, O God, 
You bless and increase to fill your house with splendor.  
Where you dwell, where your Spirit abides, prosperity will abound.  
We are happy to offer these gifts to you. 

Benediction

Now may Jesus Christ and 
God our Father/Mother, 
who loves us and through grace 
gives us eternal comfort and good hope,
give joy to your hearts 
and strengthen them in every good work and word.  

Hold on to Faith: Service Prayers for the Twenty-fifth 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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