Liturgical Resources

Call to Worship

As we gather and as we disperse, as we rise and as we sleep, as we eat and play and work,
We offer God praise.

As we wash our car, scrub the dishes, rinse the grime of the day from our hands,
We offer God praise.

As we feel the tips of the grass on our feet, the wind against our face, the sun on our backs,
We offer God praise.

Come, let us worship God who creates, redeems, and sustains us to live out our praise in all we do!
We come as people formed by grace to offer God praise with our whole selves now and in all the ordinary moments of our lives! Amen.

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

Opening Prayer

Awesome and majestic God,
your creative power, your glory and holiness
were experienced by your people of old
as clouds and fire guiding them to freedom.
They believed that no one could see your face and live.
How blessed, therefore, are we,
for you have revealed your face to us in Jesus—
the human face of your love.
You also equip us for our journey through life and beyond,
by breathing new and everlasting life into our very beings,
through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
These people of old believed that it was your presence with them
which made them a chosen and special people.
We praise and adore you, O God, for making our lives so special,
by choosing to share your life with us in and through Jesus.
May this time of worship and the service of our lives
reveal our thanksgiving and our wonder that you should so care for us.
This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Written by Moira Laidlaw and posted on her Liturgies Online website. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/10/call-to-worship-prayer-october-16.html.

Prayer of Confession

O God,
listen to our prayer of confession,
for we would speak honestly before You.

We confess that we haven’t always done what is right;
that some of our attitudes and actions have hurt others and ourselves,
and have grieved You.

Forgive us.
In Your mercy, look deeply into our hearts.
Examine our thoughts and our actions.
Test our motivations.
Bring to light all the things in our lives that dishonor You.

We want to follow You with integrity,
to obey the commandments You have given us,
and to walk in ways that bring honor to Your name.

Words of Assurance

Siblings in Christ,
our God never fails to hear us when we call.
Trust in God’s forgiveness and unfailing love,
and be at peace,
for God rescues all who take refuge in God. Amen.

Adapted from “Confession & Assurance: Psalm 17” on the re:Worship blog,https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/07/confession-assurance-psalm-17.html.

Benediction

Beloved, may God bless you with the discernment to stop and notice God at work all around you, the inspiration to offer up praise in the middle of the busyness of life, and the peace that comes from beholding the face of God and knowing deep in your bones that we are not alone—God is with us. Amen.

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