Liturgical Resources

Call to Worship

We are chosen children of God, bound together by the Holy Spirit.
We belong to God, and through God, we belong to one another.

The Spirit empowers us to live as imitators of Christ in love of God, neighbor, self, and all creation.
We belong to God, and through God, we learn to love one another.

The Spirit inspires us to receive God’s Word with joy in a world that rejects the good news.
We belong to God, and through God, we live in joy with one another.

Come, let us worship in the assurance of God’s love that chooses us, empowers us, and inspires us to live as the family of Christ.
We come to worship God in the assurance that we belong to God, and through God, we belong to one another. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2026.

Opening Prayer

Loving, living God,
be among us now.
Show us your ways.
Guide our steps.
Live in us,
that we may be people of steadfast hope
and powerful giving.
Help us hear your words,
challenging us to give you
all the things that are yours.
Help us remember
that all we are and all we have
are gifts from you,
gifts to be shared in service and love.
Holy One among us,
help us be a holy people
who receive your word with joy
and live your message with love. Amen.

Written by Mary Scifres on the Ministry Matters website, http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/blog/entry/1779/worship-elements-october-16-2011. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/10/call-to-worship-prayer-proper-24a.html.

Prayer of Confession

God of Grace,
we know that you have chosen us,
but we often forget that you have also chosen others.
You call us to be imitators of Christ,
yet many times we are imitators of the world.
You challenge us to turn from our idols,
but we are tempted to turn back to them again and again.

Rescue us, Lord, from ourselves.
Show us your way.
Guide our every action,
that we may live as you call us to live.

Prayers of silent confession

Words of Assurance

Beloved children of God,
receive this good news:
God loves us, chooses us,
Forgives us, and renews us
to live in love and service of God and neighbor.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God! Amen.

Adapted from Amy Loving, The Worship Closet. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/10/confession-1-thessalonians-1-1-10.html.

Benediction

May God bless you with the assurance that you are chosen children of God, empowered and equipped by the Spirit to live as the Family of God in a world in desperate need of the good news. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2026.