Approaching God
Welcome and announcements
Gathering and Prelude
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty Lord of power and peace, we approach You as servants and students, as devotees and disciples, and as seekers and sinners looking for Your love. You called us from the comfort of our homes to experience Your presence in this sanctuary. You have brought us to this peaceful place to touch our hearts, change our ways, and challenge our lives.
People: Heavenly Father, we know that we are imperfect and unholy; we recognize that we have weaknesses and faults. Help us to seek Your mercy and grace. Teach us to rely upon Your favor and blessing. Hear us now as we silently confess our mistakes and wrongdoing. Forgive us for neglecting our faith, ignoring Your words, and for being selfish.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Merciful God, without Christ’s passion, we could not approach You for grace. Without His brutal sacrifice, we could not stand in Your Holy Presence to ask for mercy. We dedicate our lives to Him and unite our hearts with His, through the saying of Christ’s own prayer, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ tells us that no one can come to Him unless God has enabled it to occur. Today, God has brought us to this place to be received by Jesus, renewed in spirit, and restored to the Kingdom. When we confess our sins and dedicate our lives to Christ, we are completely forgiven and totally reunited to God’s love, both now and always. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung): 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)
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: Lord, we dwell in Your shelter and rest beneath Your comforting shadow. You are our refuge and our strength, the God in whom we trust
People: We seek the Lord to free us from our fears and protect us from all evil. O Lord, cover us with Your love; heal us from all that harms us in body, mind and soul.
Pastor: The faithfulness of God grants us freedom; the passion of the Lord brings us peace. O Lord, save us from anxiety and attack, depression and disease, illness and injury. We ask this for ourselves and all our loved ones, for whom we now silently pray
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit
Pastor: The Lord is with us in times of sickness and trouble. He will deliver us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 91)
Choir Anthem
The Message: Part #1
Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, remind us that Christ’s ways are radical and that His words often challenge our ideals. Enable us to receive these holy verses into our hearts, so that we may apply this teaching throughout our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Scripture Readings
The Message: Part 2 & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication: Lord Jesus, You have once again given us a sacred opportunity to hear Your voice and to follow Your ways. We bring these gifts and tithes as a witness to the effectiveness of Your power over our lives. Take this offering and please bless it for the advancement of Your Kingdom, as well as the upbuilding of Your church on earth. In Your Holy Name we pray. Amen.
Communion
Hymn:
Benediction: May Christ judge us to be good and worthwhile servants; may the Father enable us to master our weaknesses and overcome our sins; and may the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith, so that one glorious day, we can proudly stand in the presence of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.
Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow & Postlude
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