Approaching God
Prelude: Welcome & Announcements
Call to worship ( based on Psalm 123)
Leader: Let us lift up our eyes to the Lord, whose throne is in heaven
People: Let us look to the LORD our God, for He shows us mercy.
Leader: In all that we experience or endure, the Lord is with us. Let us praise and glorify God.
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Eternal God, whose ways are mysterious and whose words are meaningful; whose judgments are incontestable and whose justice prevails; we approach You as Your servants, called to worship in Your presence and chosen to praise Your Holy Name.
People: Gracious Father, You anoint us to be priests and prophets, heralds and messengers of Your Holy Will. You count upon us to be faithful witnesses of Christ’s Gospel and living examples of His teaching in our community and neighborhoods.
Guide: Merciful Lord, despite Your sacred counsel and holy guidance, we often follow our own sinful paths and make selfish decisions. Instead of bowing to Your Will and accepting Your ways, we choose to fulfill our own desires and complete our own plans.
People: Loving God, forgive us for neglecting our service to Your Kingdom. Have mercy upon us when we are sinful and selfish, deceptive and disloyal, argumentative and arrogant, peace hating and proud. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You alone.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Eternal Lord, we regret our past mistakes and ask that You will unite us to Christ’s Spirit. His sacrifice assures us of Your mercy. His resurrection restores us to Your Kingdom. We praise You for giving us this opportunity to begin again; to serve You once more.
People: We make our confessions in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, and through His own Holy Words, we sincerely pray, saying, “Our Father, etc...
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: We travel through life at times without giving thought to its direction, purpose or meaning. We set off on a journey of hope and opportunity, only to be frustrated by hindrances and obstacles. Thankfully, Jesus joins us and will rescue our souls from the damage that sinful and selfish ways inflict upon our spirits. He does this because He is God’s Anointed Son and the One, True and Only Savior of humankind. Let us therefore rejoice and praise His Name forevermore. Amen.
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.
Children’s Sermon
(No anthem this Sunday)
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Leader: O LORD, if we have been foolish and disappointed You, forgive us. If we have been sinful and angered You, be merciful to us.
People: Gracious Father, sometimes we suffer sickness and experience illness because of our selfish ways and sinful habits.
Leader: Pain and isolation, fear and anxiety, guilt and worry can overwhelm our spirits, damage our souls, weaken our bodies and stifle our minds.
People: Sometimes our faith is feeble and our confidence is crushed. We need You Lord to save us from all that diminishes us and heal us from all that harms us.
Leader Let us wait for the LORD and seek His answer. Let us focus our thoughts on Him and look for His love.
People: May You also remember our loved ones, Lord, and never forsake them in the midst of their troubles. Hear us now as we pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Leader: Come quickly to us and help us, O Lord our God and Savior. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 38)
Anthem
Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts for the holy promises of God which are revealed to us through these sacred scriptures. Help us to accept the wisdom of God’s ways, so that we may apply these lessons to our lives and teach them to each succeeding generation in this church and community. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings :
Sermon
The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication : Lord Jesus, despite our weaknesses, You still love us. Despite our failings, You still forgive us. In response to the riches of Your Grace, we gather before You these gifts of gratitude and tithes of thanksgiving. Accept and bless them for the holy work of this church. Sanctify these gifts for the ministries and missions that You have called us to undertake, support and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Hymn :
Benediction (in unison) May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; One God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology
Postlude
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