Approaching God
Announcements and A Word of Welcome
Prelude
First Hymn:
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Guide: All-powerful and Eternal Creator, in Whose presence we gather and into Whose holiness we assemble; accept the praises we offer from our lips, and the prayers we make from our hearts. You sustain us each day and Your compassion comes to us morning after morning, therefore we dedicate this sacred time to worship and adore Your holy ways, to glorify and exalt Your wondrous deeds.
People: Gracious Father, we confess that we permit sin to sweep over our souls, which causes us to be separated from You. At times, we can be stubborn and disobedient, proud and resentful, bad-tempered and bitter against You and other people. Forgive us for being self-centered and self-destructive; pardon our faithless and foolish ways. Challenge us to change our lives, and lead us back to Your love. Hear us now as we personally make our silent confessions to You alone.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Living Lord, You have given us Jesus as the Way to forgiveness, the Truth of salvation, and the Life which leads us to restoration. In Him, through Him, and by Him, we are saved and renewed, pardoned and reunited to You forever. In the Name of Christ, we bring our confessions and prayers; and in whose holy words, we now conclude our petitions by saying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER(debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus was with humanity on Earth for only a short time, but during His life, He managed to completely obey God. He became His Perfect Son and, because of that, His sacrificial death was totally sufficient and perfectly holy to pay the complete price God demanded for our mistakes. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our One, True and Living Savior, who sets us free from our sins and restores us to God forevermore. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung in unison): 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
Choir Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord, when we are afraid or our faith is weak, help us to believe in Your promises. You are our refuge and our shield; we place our hopes in Your word alone.
People: Lord God, cast out our doubts and fears. Help us to remain focused on Your power. Sustain us with Your almighty strength; do not let our hopes be dashed.
Pastor: Uphold us by Your love and we shall be delivered; enable us to recognize Your healing ways. Keep our thoughts from being distracted by our fears. Help us to follow You faithfully. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we quietly and sincerely pray.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: Lord, we remain in Your loving presence. We stand in awe of Your amazing love and healing power. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Samekh)
Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’.
Prayer of Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to lock on to the meaning of these scriptures. Guard us from treating these holy words lightly, and enable us to open our hearts and minds to all that Christ gives through the actions of His Church and His words, both now and always. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Sermon and The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering and Offertory
Dedication(unison):
Lord Jesus, by Your Gospel, we are saved, if we hold firmly to Your sacred words. In response, we bring to You our tithes and offerings, our resources and lives. Take them for the sharing of the Gospel and the advancement of Your word in this church, community, and throughout the Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ answer all of the questions that we have about life; may the Father keep us from falling and from completing His purpose for our lives; and may the Holy Sprit enable us to freely and gladly come into the everlasting presence of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.
Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc and Postlude
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