Approaching God
Welcome and
Announcements
Prelude
Call to Worship
Pastor: God
is our refuge and our strength.
People: In
the midst of all our troubles, the Lord is constantly helping us.
Pastor: We
will not be afraid, for God is with us. Let us worship His Holy Name. Amen.
Hymn
Prayer of Adoration and
Confession
Guide: Almighty and Everlasting Lord,
Ever-present and all-powerful Creator, we come here to worship You and praise
Your Holy Name. Your ways are often mysterious to us, and yet Your deeds
declare Your Sovereignty over this world. Hear our prayers as we respectfully
approach Your Holy Throne.
People: Gracious Father, we fall short of
Your standards and keep making the same mistakes. We allow pride to strike our
hearts and greed to wound our spirits. Sometimes we have no peace in our souls
because of our guilt and sorrow, as well as our envy and resentment. We push
against our faith and deprive ourselves of Your Counsel by yielding to
temptation and falling into sin. Hear us now as we personally and silently
confess our faults to You alone.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Merciful God, Your Son Jesus
was rejected and despised by people just like us. However, He died for them and
sacrificed Himself for us. Without His death, our lives would be meaningless.
Without His grace, our existence would be hopeless. We thank You for the power
of salvation and the completeness of Christ's mission. In His Name and through
His precious words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER.” (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: All
that Jesus has promised will be fulfilled. When we receive Him in our hearts
and confess our faults sincerely, He can and will forgive us instantly. He
alone has the authority to cancel out the debt that we owe to God for our
sinful past. So let us rejoice and give thanks, for Christ's mercy and grace
remains with His people, both now and always. 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)
Praise Song
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: Let
us give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. The LORD
redeems us from our troubles and will rescue us from our fears.
People: When we worry and wander away
from God, He is constantly watching over us. When we are weak and our faith is
diminished, He is our strength and the source of our comfort.
Pastor: May
God deliver us and all of our loved ones
from illness and injury, sickness and sadness, discomfort and distress. Hear us
now, O Heavenly Father, as we bring to You our healing requests.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: May
we give thanks to the Lord and experience His unfailing love. In Jesus' Name,
we pray. Amen.
(Healing
prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 107)
Singing of
‘Sanctuary.’
Prayer for Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, may Christ offer us His grace
through these words of scripture. May our lives be filled with hope,
encouragement, and strength by all that Jesus taught and said. In His Holy
Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture
Readings
The Message
& the Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering
& Offertory
Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You have
spoken to our spirits in this sacred place and called each of us by name. We
present to You our tithes and offerings to honor Your life, ministry, and
mission. May our church flourish by the preaching of Your Word and the praising
of God's Name. Amen.
Closing Hymn
Benediction (unison): May
Christ continue to feed our souls with the word of God; may the Father cleanse
our hearts with His grace and love; and may the Holy Spirit keep us attentive
to our faith and free from stumbling into sin. To the Glory of the One, Triune,
and Living God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Doxology &
Postlude
