Liturgical Resources

Call to Worship

We live in a world that entices us with influence, power, and accolades.
We choose to press on toward the prize of the heavenly call.

Sometimes we find ourselves wishing for heaven without working to bring heaven to earth.
We choose to press on toward the prize of the heavenly call to live righteously here and now.

Other times, we find ourselves exhausted by working for the gospel, wondering if anything we do is making a difference.
We remind one another to press on toward the prize of the heavenly call, leaning on Christ as the source of our perseverance and hope.

Beloved, God calls us not to escape this world but to build the kingdom of God in this place and in this time.
We choose to press on toward the prize of the heavenly call to embody God’s mercy and justice as we build God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

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

Prayer of Intercession

Holy God, bless our lives, sanctify us,
and in your way, grant us our hearts’ desire.
Anoint us with your grace, that what we desire is also what you desire.
Help us to understand that our hearts’ true desire is the love of you.
May the love of Christ urge us on; may we walk by faith.
Thank you, God, for all our blessings.

Holy God, bless those who govern –
Bless the leaders of nations, countries, towns, and cities.
And those who lead in all manner – social, political, and religious –
Bless us all. Fill the hearts of all with your wisdom.

Guide us in the way of justice and integrity for all.
Guide us to walk by faith.

Holy God, tend to those who suffer in mind, body, and spirit.
Tend to the tired, the dying, the poor and the hungry.
Help us to follow the love of Christ, a love which urges us on.
Help us to seek and serve Christ in others, bringing forth a new creation.

Holy God, we ask all this in the name of Christ, our redeemer.
Holy God, we ask all this by the Holy Spirit who activates your love in us.
Holy God, we ask all this that your love may be like seed scattered—

manifesting in small and unexpected ways—the greatness of You.

May your love take root in our lives, that we may walk by faith. Amen.

Written by Rev. Terri C. Pilarski, on the Words Matter.Episcopal site, http://expansivelanguage.blogspot.ca/. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/search?q=Terri+C.+Pilarski.

Prayer of Confession

Loving God, present and near.
You are beyond our words and our understanding.

Help us to remember that You are at once
infinite, boundless, timeless, and eternal,
but, at the same time, intimately entwined with our lives.
You are with us no matter where we find ourselves.

When we have forgotten You,
Lord, have mercy.

When we have failed to speak words of love,
Lord, have mercy.

When we have neglected the need of another,
Lord, have mercy.

Loving God, present and near,
help us to recognise Your presence and nearness with us
as we worship together.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Written by Thomas Sutcliffe and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Weekly Worship website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/weekly_worship/. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/10/prayers-of-approach-and-confession.html

Benediction

Disciples of Christ, may God bless you with perseverance, that together we may persist in following the way of Christ toward the heavenly call by embodying God’s mercy and justice here now. Amen.

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