Call to Worship

People of God, why are you here?
We gather to worship with our hearts and our lives.

People of God, who do you worship?
We worship God, who loves us and teaches us to love.

People of God, how do you worship?
We worship God by breaking the bonds of injustice and freeing the oppressed.

People of God, come, let us worship God, whose glory surrounds us!
May our worship demonstrate God’s glory in our neighborhood, community, and the whole earth.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2025.

Opening Prayer

God of compassion and justice,
the worship you choose for us is to loose the bonds of injustice,
to let the oppressed go free,
to share bread with the hungry,
to shelter the homeless poor.

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn
and your healing shall spring up quickly.

So, in praise and wonder, we come to worship you
not just with our words
but with our hearts and our lives.
Glory and honour be to you, O God,
Creator of a new heaven and a new earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Rev. Iona MacLean, First Presbyterian Church, Pictou, Nova Scotia, in Change is Happening, https://presbyterian.ca/pwsd/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/01/opening-prayer-worshiping-with-our-lives.html.

Prayer of Confession

God of glory,
you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world,
to reveal your love for all people.

We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light.
We turn away from the poor;
we ignore cries for justice;
we do not strive for peace.

Forgive us, God. In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin,
and baptize us once again with your Spirit,
so that, as forgiven and renewed people,
we may reflect the love and life of Jesus Christ
into our world.

Assurance of Pardon

Our God is a God of grace and mercy and love;
know that our sins have been forgiven.
May we be strengthened in all goodness.
Since we have been raised with Christ,
let us seek the things that are above,
where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Thanks be to God; Amen.

Posted on the Presbyterian Church in Canada website, http://presbyterian.ca/worship/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/08/confession-light-of-world.html.

Benediction

As you have been fed, go to feed the hungry.
As you have been set free, go to set free the imprisoned.
As you have been received – give.
As you have heard – proclaim.
And the blessing which you have received
from the Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit
be always with you. Amen.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Randall and posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website, http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/01/benediction-as-you-have-received.html.