Sing A New Song

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye Heav'nly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Great is your faithfulness, your mercies are new every morning. I say to myself, the Lord is my inheritance, I will place my hope in the Lord. Amen.

Great and Gracious God, quiet our hearts as we come to you in prayer: Grant, almighty God, that all who confess your name may be united in your love. That we may live worldwide in your grace and goodness and in so doing reveal your glory. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Guide the people of our nation and of all nations in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your creation, that we may use its' resources frugally in service of others and to your honor and glory. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as Christ loves us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and guide us to be agents of creative service to lift their burdens. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

We offer these prayers and now join together in silence to lift to you private prayers we hold in our hearts [silence] Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

God of Hope and New Life, enliven our spirits to your Word, as it is spoken in and through the reading of your holy scriptures today. That we might hear and receive all you have for us, with joy! Amen.

¹I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. ²He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. ³He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. ⁴Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods. ⁵You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted. ⁶Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. ⁷Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. ⁸I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” ⁹I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. ¹⁰I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.

This week: How can you sing a New Song? How can you meet God in a new way with a burden you have been carrying? What can you do to bring hope to one other person this week? May God bless you as you do it.

As we offer our gifts this day, may we have vision for all the needs God will meet through our giving. Let us celebrate ministry accomplished in Christ’s name in and through our church!

Gracious God, we praise you, for you are the source of hope! When our hope falters, your Spirit lifts us to new heights. We thank you for the privilege of participating in your uplifting hope shared through these gifts to those both near and far. We praise you in the Name of Christ, the great giver of New Life. Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. And it may pour over all you meet. Go now in peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.