Approaching God
Announcements and Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Pastor: We will please the Lord from our hearts and souls by praising His Holy name.
People: We will remember God’s glorious deeds by recounting His wonderful blessings.
Pastor: Let us cheerfully glorify the Lord, who shows us love and compassion, both now and forever. Amen.
First Hymn
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Guide: Let us approach God’s Holy throne and offer ourselves as servants in His Kingdom, and as willing participants in God’s sacred dream.
All: Almighty and Everlasting God, to whom our hearts belong and through whom our lives are given meaning, You know us perfectly and we are blessed to be Your people. You know that we often make mistakes and You are completely aware of all our misdeeds. Forgive our sinful and selfish ways. Pardon our times of insensitivity and intolerance. Hear us now as we confess our sins to You alone.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Compassionate Lord, absolve us of our sinful past and cleanse us of our faithless ways. Forgive us through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, for His sacrifice has allowed us to receive Your salvation. In His holy words, we make our confessions and continue to pray, saying, “Our Father...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ knows our mistaken choices and seeks to positively change us with His Gospel. He has the power to forgive our past mistakes and restore us to God's everlasting favor. So let us thank Him for giving us His life and taking away our punishment. In His Immortal Name, we pray. 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.
Anthem
Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students, come forward)
Children leave after sermon
Encountering God
Prayers for the World
Pastor: O Creator of the Earth, hear our prayers as we lift up to You our broken world. Across our planet, millions of people are suffering from hunger and deprivation, disasters and tragedies, wars and conflicts. At times, Gracious God, we do not know what to do or even where to start to fix the world. We pray for peace, but war continues. We ask for an end to poverty, but greed still grows. We look for healing and wholeness, but our world is still damaged and fractured. How long, O Lord, will this suffering continue? How long, O Lord, will man’s inhumanity prevail?
People: Loving Lord, we know that faith, hope, and love can endure all things, but we also understand that those gifts begin with us. We pray for peace in our hearts and in our homes. We pray healing in our families and relationship. We pray for guidance in our church and community. And we ask for compassion and justice across our land, as well as throughout the Earth. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent prayer for the world. A candle is lit.
Pastor: The Lord, with His unfailing love, can make all things new. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’
Prayer of Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, grant us wisdom and an understanding of these sacred scriptures. Speak to our hearts and fill us with Christ's love. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
The Message
Response: The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication (unison – led by the pastor): Lord Jesus, You have spoken to our hearts through Your word and message. Help us to think carefully about everything You have given to us here. In loving response, we gather before You our tithes and gifts. We pray that You will receive and bless them for the ministries and missions You want our church to fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Communion – see insert at back of main Hymn book
Closing Hymn
Benediction (unison): May Christ's grace be with us each day; may the Father's peace empower our faith; and may the Holy Spirit keep us devoted to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
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