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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 30)

L: I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
P: O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
L: Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.
P: For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
L: You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
P: My soul will praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

 

Call to Worship (by pulpitt in ND):

Like the Leper at the well or like Naaman of old… We’ve come to the well for healing. Just a simple touch, that is all we’re asking for: A touch to make us whole. We want to get well, and we’d rather not have to do any work to get well. We want you to do the work for us rather than the other way around. When we’re healed we can’t wait to tell others of our good fortune. Still, you call us to keep silent, for not everyone will be healed in the same way. And so, we come battered and bruised by our experiences of life. Be with us as we seek your healing for our bruised and battered souls.

 

Prayer for Wholeness (based on all lessons):
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

     God of Love and Compassion, when we pursued our selfish dreams and desires you reached out to us. On account of your incredible love, long-suffering and tender care you saved us, cleansed us from sin, and gave us new life in Jesus, your Son.  All of this you offered to us without price.  We give you praise and rejoice in your gift of salvation, healing, and our ongoing restoration to wholeness.
     Through today's lessons (the healing of Naaman and the leprous man) your heart of compassion and care for us is revealed.  You are the God of Shalom, who wants to restore his children to health and wholeness.  Lift up the spirit of all those among us who are facing fear, loneliness, tragedy, and illness.  Heal us, nourish us through your spiritual food and give us strength to do continue in the race you have set before us.
Dear God, on this day our hearts long for you and your healing touch.  Come and visit us, your children and draw us closer and close to you.  Amen.

 

Prayer for the Sick (2 Kings 5:1-14)

God of compassion, source of life and health;
strengthen and relieve your servant(s) [insert names of the sick in your community].
Give your power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that those for whom our prayers are offered
may find help in weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through him who healed the sick and is the physician of our souls, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Prayer of Confession (1 Cor 9:24-27):

L: God's love for the world has been revealed in Jesus Christ, who loved us to the uttermost and gave up everything, even his life, for you and me.  God calls us through the words of St Paul to exercise self-control in all things and to give our lives as a living sacrifice unto God. Today we confess that we have not kept our focus on God's promise, we confess that we have not run the race with all our strength. Let us confess our sin to God:

L: Merciful God, we confess that so often our discipleship has been weak . . .

• L When we have failed to serve as Jesus served;
  P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                        (silent prayer)
  
• L: When we have failed to love one another as Jesus loves us;
  P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                         (silent prayer)
  
• L: When we have been happy to proclaim our devotion to Jesus with our lips and then denied him by our actions;
• P: forgive us, o Lord.
                                          (silent prayer)
  
• L: Merciful God, empower us by your Spirit to be steady and true to you in every time of trial; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance and Pardon:

L: Jesus said: "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world "(John 12:47b) and "having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end"( John 13: 1b)  The good news therefore is this: In Jesus Christ, we are loved and we are forgiven.

All: Thanks be to God!

 

Closing Prayer:

Salvation and Wholeness is from you, o Lord, our help and our strength.  May we go forth in the comfort of the knowledge that your hand has saved us; and that you will continue to save us--no matter what may come our way.  Bless us and keep us from falling until we meet in this place of worship again.  Amen.