The following are LITURGICAL resources for use in a service of emphasis on concerns of countries in the Eastern European sphere. For specific prayer concerns at the time of use, please visit our Facebook page for the Eastern Europe Partnership Network.
For ADVOCACY resources, please go to the ENGAGE section of this toolkit.
Call to Worship
Psalm 138
Leader: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing your praise.
People: I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your steadfast love and faithfulness; for you have glorified your name and your word above all things.
Leader: When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me.
People: All the rulers of the earth will praise you, O Lord,
when they have heard the words of your mouth.
Leader: They will sing of the ways of the Lord, that great is the glory of the Lord.
People: The Lord is high, yet cares for the lowly, perceiving the haughty from afar.
Leader: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.
People: You will make good your purpose for me; O Lord, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands.
Leader: Compassionate God, you look with favor upon the lowly. Keep us safe
in the midst of trouble, make known your love in our words and deeds,
and bring us to new life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Opening Prayer/Prayer of Petition
Reconciling God, we give you thanks that through the gift of our baptism you have broken down dividing walls and made us members of your house.
By the power of your Holy Spirit, build us up to be your holy temple, a place of peace and welcome for all; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Suggested Hymns: Glory to God, 2013
#22 God of the Sparrow
#39 Great is Thy Faithfulness
#79 Light Dawns on a Weary World
#177 I Will Come to You
#307 God of Grace and God of Glory
#340 This is My Song
#346 For the Healing of the Nations
#378 We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom
#547 Go, My Children, with My Blessing
#664 Morning Has Broken
#753 Make Me a Channel for Your Peace
#756 O God of Every Nation
#785 In Deepest Night
#823 Shall Tribulation or Distress
Call to Confession
Our Lord Jesus can sympathize with us in our weakness, since in every respect he was tempted as we are, yet without sin. Thus, we may approach with boldness the throne of grace, to receive mercy and grace in times of need. Let us confess our sin against God and our neighbors in every place.
Prayer of Confession
Almighty God, you love us, but we have not loved you. You call, but we have not listened. We walk away from neighbors in need, wrapped in our own concerns.
We condone evil, prejudice, warfare and greed.
God of grace, help us to admit our sin, so that as you come to us in mercy, we may repent, turn to you and receive forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Thanks be to God.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession Psalm 90:14
Leader: Satisfy us with your love in the morning,
and we will live this day in joy and praise.
People: Eternal God, we praise you for your mighty love given in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and the new life we have received by his resurrection.
Especially we thank you for ministries of teaching and pastoral care,
those who work to help and heal, sacrifices others have made for our benefit,
opportunities for our generous giving, and the presence of Christ
in our weakness and suffering.
Leader: People of God, for what else do we pray?
People: God of grace, let our concern for others reflect Christ’s self-giving love, not only in our prayers, but also in our practice.
Especially we pray for the church in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia; and for our mission partners in these regions.
We pray for a right relationship between humans and the earth,
those who are wounded or face death, those who keep watch over the sick and dying, and all who speak up and take action for what is right.
We most especially pray for victims of war and for those made homeless by violence. We pray your grace on those who seek to help them.
Leader: People of God, for what else do we pray?
People: These things we petition and pray in the name of the one who taught us to pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
Suggested Scripture Readings
Psalm 23
Psalm 82
Psalm 146
Isaiah 2:3–4
Isaiah 43:19–21
Matthew 5:1–16
Matthew 5:43–48
Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34; Luke 10:25–28
Romans 12:9–21
Galatians 6:2–10
Ephesians 3:14–21
Philippians 4:4–9
Revelation 21:1–6
Revelation 22:1–5
Affirmation of Faith (from The Brief Statement of Faith)
People: I live and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom along we worship and serve.
*
We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God; preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.
*
With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Charge and Blessing
Leader: Go out into the world in peace. Have courage and hold on to what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak and help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of God’s Spirit. Amen.
Additional resources:
Litany for the Church
Almighty God, creator of all;
Jesus Christ, head of the church;
Holy Spirit, bond of peace;
O triune God, eternal love:
Have mercy on us.
By your ministry of healing and forgiveness;
by your seeking and saving the lost;
by your words of eternal life:
Have mercy on us.
By your calling and training of the apostles;
by your promise to build up your church;
by your institution of the holy sacraments:
Have mercy on us.
By the love shown in Christ’s crucifixion;
by the power of his resurrection and ascension;
and by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit:
Have mercy on us.
Strengthen your church in every place
and unite your people in faith, hope and love:
Help us, O Lord.
Teach us to strive not for our own safety
but for the salvation of the world
and the righteousness of your realm:
Help us, O Lord.
Empower us to proclaim good news to all
and to make disciples of all people:
Help us, O Lord.
Grant us wisdom, power and love,
and call us to the work of ministry:
Help us, O Lord.
Give us grace to know and trust your word
and to show our faith in our lives:
Help us, O Lord.
Strengthen us in body and soul
through the grace of your sacraments:
Help us, O Lord.
Remove all hatred and prejudice from us
so that we may rejoice in all that you reveal:
Help us, O Lord.
Guide us when we are perplexed,
so that we may hold fast to our faith:
Help us, O Lord.
Lead us to worship you in spirit and truth,
regardless of the world’s praise or contempt:
Help us, O Lord
Almighty God, as we pray for the Church universal,
we pray for your blessing on the church in this place.
Here may the faithful find salvation,
and the careless be awakened.
Here may the doubting find faith,
and the anxious be encouraged.
Here may the tempted find help,
and the sorrowful comfort.
Here may the weary find rest,
and the strong be renewed.
Here may the aged find consolation
and the young be inspired;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Compiled by:
Rev. Ralph Clingan
Rev. Connie Weaver
Resources:
Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal, 2013
Book of Common Worship, 2018
Book of Common Worship, 1993