Father’s Day
VISUAL ARTS (PARAMENTS, GENERAL DECORATIONS, SPECIFIC DECORATIONS)
Brim: Creative Overflow in Worship Design
Banner Designs for the Church Year
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CALL TO WORSHIP
Come let us praise God who is our Creator and Parent
The God who is a Father of the fatherless
God is our Father, our Abba, and our Daddy
Who guides us with love and gentleness.
God is calling us to trust in his parenting
For God knows how to comfort and protect us.
We will trust in God as we travel in this world.
We can depend upon God to lead us on our paths.
God has called us children of God
Let us honor God by living as children of God.
We rejoice in God as our Father, our Abba, and Daddy.
We strive to be what God has called us to be.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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INVOCATION
O God, we gather to seek you out as our wise parent. You calm our fears and soothe our hearts as our heavenly parent. We come for your guidance in this mixed -up world that leaves us longing for your presence and goodness. Lead us away from our fear and gloom into that peace that “passes understanding.” Please comfort us, our Abba. Amen.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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MUSIC (HYMNS, SONGS, ANTHEMS)
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand
Come, We That Love the Lord
Come, Thou Fount
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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CALL TO CONFESSION
—based on Luke 15
Are we like the prodigal son running away from our father and living according to our own desires? Or we like the brother who keeps all the rules yet is full of spiritual pride and arrogance? We are often one or the other. Let us confess to God our willfulness and shortcomings.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God, forgive us for the times we seek to run from you so that we may indulge in our sins willfully. God forgive us for the times we are with filled self-righteousness and look down upon those who have struggled. We know at times we have acted like rebellious children. Remove our self-destructive tendencies from us. Help to love and honor others. Forgive us for the many times we have done things that we knew were wrong. Amen.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Just like in the story of the prodigal son, God rejoices in meeting us where we are. God remembers our sin no more and cheers us on when we make amends and repent. God’s forgiveness is unlimited. When we repent our sins are wiped away and God remembers them no more.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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CHILDREN’S SERMON
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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Loving God, open our hearts and minds to receive your word. Thank you for your promise of the Holy Spirit who enlightens us in all things. May we treasure and put into practice the things we learn from your word. We recognize your beloved son as the leader of the church. Amen.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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SCRIPTURE TEXTS/SERMON IDEAS
- Luke 11:11-13 Blessing and Protection of Fathers modeling God
- Luke 15:11-32 The Story of the Prodigal Son
- 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 How fathers treat their children
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS (VIDEOS, TAPED SONGS)
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
O God, you are waiting for us to communicate with you on behalf of others as well as ourselves. You always hear out petitions. We are in your presence knowing that your answers are as near as our next breath.
God, we are your children awaiting your directions on the ways in which we should go.
We lift up to you in prayer members of our church family. Some have unspoken needs; we trust that you know what those are.
We pray for our neighbors near and far. Please move on our hearts showing us how to share the gospel with them. Bring us awareness of how we may help others.
We pray for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. May we continue to be the body of Christ in all we say and do.
We pray for government: local as well as national. Grant our leaders wisdom to make the right decisions. We pray for the leaders of all governments to know you and seek your will.
May the peace we seek begin in our own hearts. May we be kind toward all creatures. Thank you for the guidance of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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LITANY
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INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
We have the opportunity to share with God from the abundance God has given us. Let us give thankfully, for everything comes from God. Let us give so we may help others who are in need.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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OFFERTORY PRAYER
God, we offer our time, talent, and monetary gifts to you. Make us wise stewards of what you have given us temporarily on this earth. Our true riches are with you. Amen.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Let us go out into the world boldly knowing that God has our back.
Go with joy and peace for our parent in heaven is guiding us.
The Holy Spirit goes with us illuminating us from within.
Let us tell the good news of Jesus Christ as we follow in his footsteps. Amen.
—Sherry Whitaker Ladd
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OTHER HELPS (COMMISSION, COMMUNION, BLESSINGS)