Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Prelude
First Hymn:
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Guide: Lord of hope and blessing, God of peace and joy, we gather in Your sacred house to offer our praises, our prayers and petitions, knowing that You gladly hear and receive them. In the midst of our anxieties and concerns, You embrace and care for us in many mysterious and personal ways.
People: Gracious God, sometimes we struggle to overcome temptation; sometimes we fail to respect and honor You with our thoughts, words, and deeds. Forgive us when we forget to heed Your Guiding Spirit, or when we neglect to follow Your commands. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Heavenly Father, we start each day with the best of intentions, but always seem to fall short of Your expectations. Today, we seek forgiveness from our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son, whose sacrifice purchased our salvation, and whose blood cleansed our guilty past. In His Sacred Name, we make these prayers and continue with His words, saying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus confronted the people of His time with a truth that they did not always want to embrace or understand. Today, we are given the same message, which seeks to challenge and change our ways. He forgives us of all our sins, but He also expects us forgive one another. Let us rejoice in His grace and apply the same gifts in our daily lives. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung 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: Let us rejoice in God's sacred house; let us receive His strength and blessing. This is where we come, as people of God, to praise His Name and glorify His greatness.
People: We pray for His peace to come into our lives; we await His holy presence. For the sake of our family and friends, we appeal to God for their healing.
Pastor: O Lord, we seek Your mercy and grace; hear us as we pray. We need Your compassion and care; heal us, and all for whom we pray, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: May there be peace and hope, strength and recovery for each of our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 122)
Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’
Prayer for Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, You have been given to us for guidance and encouragement, for comfort and counsel. Open our hearts and minds to the message of the scriptures and enable us to apply this lesson in our daily lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Sermon & The Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication (unison):
Lord Jesus, You have risen from the dead to show us the way to eternal life. You have given us everything and we know that we can never repay our debt to You. With grateful spirits and cheerful hearts, we bring before You our tithes, treasures, talents, and time. Take each of them for the work of Your ministry and the glorifying of Your Name. Amen.
Communion
Closing Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ come into our hearts to challenge our ways and change our lives; may the Father bless us with joy and love; and may the Holy Spirit continue to refresh our souls and renew our commitment to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.
Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; & Postlude
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