Service for the Lord's Day

Praise with music
Let us praise God in every place, every language, with every people around the world!  Listen to the Lord’s Prayer— Baba Yetu— sung in Swahili, by the Gospel Choir in Dar-Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Call to Worship    
L:    Forgive our sins, O Lord,
C:    As we forgive our neighbors.
L:    Show us your compassion,
C:    Because our lives are broken.
L:    Lift us up again
C:    To live as faithful people.

Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness

Guiding God, you have shown us how to live a good life, yet we think we can do better on our own. We do not honor you or our neighbors, instead choosing to follow our selfish desires. We long to be free and yet hold others’ wrongs against them. Release us from this endless cycle of guilt and poor choices. Restore us to yourself again, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(time of silent confession)

Now with eyes forward, hear the good news!
We are God’s beloved children and we have been forgiven! Now live in the joy which this grace provides, and share the good news with others.

Psalm 103: 1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and do not forget all his benefits--
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Luke 11: 1-4
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
    Your kingdom come.
3  Give us each day our daily bread.
4  And forgive us our sins,
      for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
      And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

Skit

Message

Music and Offering
During this time, or after our prayers, you may make an offering to John Knox by going to our homepage and scrolling to the bottom where you will see a link to online giving.  When you give this way, consider giving a little extra to defray the cost of this service.  If you prefer, you may mail you offerings to the church directly.  Even though we are far apart, the church's expenses remain the same.  We give out of pure gratitude for what God has done.

Listen to this offertory music, an arrangement of The Lord’s Prayer, by Malotte, sung at the Mid-American Union Music Festival in 2018.

Prayers of the People
We pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.
    Admitting our faults is risky, O Lord, and we are not eager to do it. Humble us that we might be open to the blessings which mercy offers and live more fully as your people. Forgiving God, hear our prayer.
    Bless all workers and those who strive to keep employment fair and sustainable. We give you thanks for people who do necessary jobs which we ourselves would rather not do, and we pray that all would find joy and satisfaction in their daily activities and those with whom they interact. Forgiving God, hear our prayer.
    It is difficult to face the extent of the damage we have done to this planet, and how much effort is necessary to begin restoring it. Give us repentant hearts so that we can move forward responsibly and in full awareness of the consequences of our actions. Forgiving God, hear our prayer.
    Extend the same healing to us which Jesus granted to those whose souls he mended by pardoning their sins, that we might know a renewed and closer relationship with you. Send your Spirit to those who need it this day, especially as we experience fear, hostility, and defensiveness around others. May your love and grace grant us peace and openness. Forgiving God, hear our prayer.
    Your saints were not perfect people, and neither are we. We thank you for using us in the midst of our shortcomings, to carry out the good work of your kingdom on earth. Forgiving God, hear our prayer.
    For these and other things which we need but for which we do not yet know how to pray, we ask you, O Lord, in your infinite wisdom and mercy, in the name of Jesus our savior, Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
And now with confidence as the children of God, let us pray as Jesus taught his disciples:  Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, now and forever.  Amen.


Benediction: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and bring you peace.  Amen.



Next week:  Luke 11: 1-4  “Do not bring us to the time of trial”

Today’s music:
Baba Yetu, by the Gospel Choir in Dar-Es Salaam, Tanzania, produced by African SolarRise.
The Lord’s Prayer, by Albert Malotte, arranged by Carl Reis and Carl Weinrich, directed by Dr. Ricky Little at the 2018 Mid-American Union Music Festival, Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Today’s prayers are from
Clergy Stuff Worship Resources, Bloomington, Minnesota, 2016-2019.