Approaching God
Welcome
and Announcements
Prelude
Gathering
Song
Call to Worship
Liturgist: Let
us come together and praise the Lord, who is our Protector and Redeemer, as
well as our Deliverer and Savior.
People: Our help is in the Name of the Lord,
the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
Liturgist: We will worship the One, True,
and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.
First
Hymn
Prayers of Adoration
and Confession
Guide:
Lord God Almighty, You
are our shield and sanctuary, our righteous rock and glorious redeemer. Look
compassionately upon Your people and lift our spirits up when we are in great
need.
People: Loving Father, we know that there
are times when we make mistakes and let our bad feelings compromise our faith.
We confess to being proud and stubborn, foolish and haughty, especially when
dealing with others who displease or disagree with us.
People:
Merciful Lord, when we
stray from Your path and follow our own ways, or when we neglect worshiping You
and devote ourselves to things that please us, forgive us for these sinful
distractions and selfish desires. Have mercy on our souls and please hear us
now as we confess to You alone.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide:
Heavenly Father, our sins
separate us from You and keep us from being good Christians. Only Jesus can return
us to Your Kingdom; only He can restore us to who and what we should be in Your
eyes. We place our lives into Christ’s hands and through His sacred words, we
continue to pray, saying "Our Father…THE LORD'S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)
Promise of the
Gospel
Guide:
Christ is the Greatest
Savior that the world has ever known. We are blessed by His obedience and saved
by His sacrifice. No matter who we think we are, we are all sinners, standing
in the need of deliverance and requiring Christ’s forgiveness. In Jesus’ Name,
we claim that pardon and salvation. 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
Anthem
Prayers for Health
and Healing
Pastor: O
Lord, if we have been foolish and disappointed You, forgive us. If we have been
sinful and angered You, be merciful to us. Sometimes we suffer sickness and
experience illness because of our selfish ways and sinful habits. Pain and
isolation, fear and anxiety, as well as guilt and worry overwhelm our spirits,
damage our souls, weaken our bodies, and stifle our minds.
People: O Lord, 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. We wait for You, O God,
and seek Your answer. We focus our
thoughts on You, looking for Your love. 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
Pastor: 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)
Unison
singing of “Sanctuary.”
Prayer of
Illumination
Reader:
Holy Spirit, come among our
assembly and bless us with Your presence. Speak to us through Christ’s words
and deeds. Let them become living words in our hearts and minds, so that we may
pass them on to those we meet. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture
Readings
The
Message and the Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Offering
& Offertory
Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You bring meaning into our lives
and give us a purpose for our faith. We depend upon You for salvation and look
to You each day for guidance. Take these gifts from our tithes and resources.
Use them for the life, work, and ministry of Your church in this community,
this country, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we
give and pray. Amen.
Closing
Hymn
Benediction
(in unison): May Christ
write His loving words in each of our hearts; may the Father stand among us and
bless our deeds; and may the Holy Spirit keep us obedient to the One, Triune,
and Living God, both now and forevermore.
Doxology
& Postlude
