A Service of Morning Prayer for Those Who Make Music

Theme of the Service

Welcome and Call to Worship

O Lord, open our lips,
and our mouth will proclaim your praise.

It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning 
and your faithfulness at night.

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song. 
- Psalm 92:1-2; 95:1-2

*Hymn of Praise: "For the Music of Creation" (SNC 37)

*Prayer

Creator God,
because you make all that draws forth our praise
and the forms in which to express it,
we praise you.

Because you make artists of us all,
awakening courage to look again at what is taken for granted,
grace to share these insights with others,
vision to reveal the future already in being,
we praise you.

Because you form your Word among us,
and in your great work embrace all human experience,
even death itself, inspiring our resurrection song,
we praise you. Yours is the glory. Amen.

*Psalm 148

Prayer of Confession

Lord, you have called us to worship you. We gladly gather!
As we praise you, though, our own inadequacy reminds us
of how we have broken our relationship with you.
Because we have sinned against you,
even our worship fails to be what it could.
We often treat it as a show. We simply go through motions,
failing to recognize that you want to engage us deeply.
Renew us, we pray, according to your steadfast love.
Remind us of your covenant faithfulness
and have mercy on us in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Receive the good news of the Gospel:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Alleluia!

Sung Prayer of Dedication:
Have We Any Gift Worth Giving (SNC 214)

Scripture

Old Testament:
1 Chronicles 23:1-6; and from 25:1-8
2 Chronicles 5:11-14

New Testament: 1 Peter 2:4-6, 9

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

A time for meditation in silence.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession,

Beginning with: "Take, O Take Me as I Am" (SNC 215)

Concluding with
Creator God,
you have made us in your image to reflect your goodness.
You have called us to use our gifts to build your kingdom.
As we begin this day, we seek to reflect your image.
Help us not only to focus on how to develop our creativity,
but also to seek the wisdom to use our skills to your glory,
and for the building up of the people we serve. 
In the name of Christ and through the Holy Spirit we pray, Amen.

*Hymn of Praise (text by Brian Wren)

*Closing Prayer

God of majesty,
whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: 
Be with your servants who make art and music for your people, 
that with joy we on earth may glimpse your beauty;
and bring us to the fulfillment of that hope of perfection 
which will be ours as we stand before your unveiled glory. 
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Blessing

May the blessing of God,
the giver of every good and perfect gift;
and of Christ, who summons us to service;
and of the Holy Spirit, who inspires generosity and love,
be with us all.
Amen.

Bless the Lord.
The Lord's name be praised.

SNC refers to Sing! A New Creation (CRC Publications, 2001)