Sunday prayers - 29 July, 2007

Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude, Gathering

Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 1)
Pastor: May the Lord bless us as we come into His presence, to honor and praise His Name.
People: We will delight in the Lord and focus on being faithful to Him throughout this holy time.
Pastor: May all that we do here please Him. May our songs and supplications bring glory to our God. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Confession
Guide: Exalted and Almighty God, we have come into Your house to acknowledge Your authority over our lives and to proclaim You as the Ruler of the universe.
People: Immortal and Everlasting Lord, You fill our hearts with strength and love; You sustain our lives with mercy and grace.

Guide: Heavenly Father, we know that we are imperfect and our souls are tarnished because of spiteful sins, selfish deeds, and mistaken choices.
People: Merciful God, we have displeased You with dishonorable deeds and wicked words. We have followed our own ways and forgotten Your commands. We are guilty of being faithless servants and sinful followers. To You alone, we bring our silent confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Righteous Lord, Your justice is merciful and Your judgments are compassionate. You have given us Your Son to be our Savior. You have promised us forgiveness through His sacrifice at Calvary.
People: In Christ alone we are forgiven; by His authority, we are restored to God. In His words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors)
(Isaiah 33:5)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide: We have no need to be afraid of God’s eternal wrath because Jesus redeems us with His life and restores us through His grace. When we acknowledge Christ as our Savior and King, our souls are cleansed and reconnected to God, both now and forevermore. Amen. (John 9:21)

Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)

Baptism
Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: O Lord, when our hearts are full of grief and fear, bring to us Your goodness and faith.
People: When we are beset with worry and overcome with chaos, grant us peace and restoration.
Pastor: You are always with us, Lord; come near to us now and embrace our spirits.
People: Guide us and counsel us, O God; comfort and strengthen us in the days ahead.
Pastor: In You alone, we place our faith. To You alone, we bring our prayers.
People: Heal us and all our loved ones from all that causes our flesh to fail and our hearts to fear. Hear us now we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor: The Lord is our Sovereign and our refuge. It is good to be near Him. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 73)
Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to pay close attention to these scriptures today. May God’s message penetrate our hearts and minds, so that we may receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord. In His Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:6)

Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Dedication: Lord Jesus, we are privileged to be Your people and honored to do Your work. We have gathered our tithes and gifts before You. We ask that You will receive and bless them, so that Your appointed ministries and missions may be accomplished by our congregation in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 16:1)

Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ open our eyes to His work in today’s world; may the Father brighten our spirits with the hope of the Gospel; and may the Holy Spirit keep us for the glory of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forever. Amen. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude