Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Prelude,
Gathering
Acclamation (based on words from Psalm 5)
Pastor: As we take refuge in You, O Lord, let us be glad; let us ever sing for joy.
People: May You love and embrace us, O Lord, as we rejoice in Your Name.
Pastor: O Lord, bless us and surround us with Your favor throughout this sacred time. Amen.
First Hymn:
Prayers of Confession
Guide: Life Giver and Law Maker of the universe, we come to You with our praise and prayers.
People: Creator and Sustainer of love and life, we bless You with our worship; we exalt You above all else.
Guide: Gracious God, You grieve our sinful ways and are displeased with our selfish deeds.
People: Merciful Father, You mourn our wasted moments and shameful experiences. We silently come to You with our confessions and humbly ask for grace.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Loving Lord, our faith withers and diminishes when we are weak and deceitful. Our hearts and souls are restored to You through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Through Christ alone, we have forgiveness; with Him, we are saved from sin. In His holy words, we continue to pray, saying “Our Father... (THE LORD'S PRAYER” debts/debtors) (Isaiah 33:9)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ makes us see the error of our ways and reveals to us God’s mercy and grace. He alone has the power to cleanse our tarnished souls, and He sanctifies us as God’s children. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Christ is our King and everlasting Savior, for ever and ever. Amen. (John 9:25)
Gloria Patri: 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)
Commissioning of Sunday School teachers
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: We cry out to God for help; we call upon Him to hear us and help us.
People: In the midst of our distress, we seek the Lord; when we experience anxiety and discomfort, we look for the Lord to heal us.
Pastor: O God, we remember You and recall Your great works. When we are weak and faint, be our strength and salvation.
People: When we are too troubled to speak, let us hear Your peaceful voice; when we are tired and exhausted, bring rest to our bodies and comfort for our souls.
Pastor: Almighty Father, fill us with Your love and heal us by Your grace. Rescue and restore our loved ones from all that harms them in body, mind, heart and spirit.
People: May Your healing mercy and loving compassion touch all those in need of freedom from pain and recovery from illness. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 77)
Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close." (Choir leads this)
Prayer of Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, enable us to follow Christ through these scriptures. Reveal to us the lessons of faith that we must learn, and the sacred things that we can apply in our every day lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 8:11)
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Dedication: Lord Jesus, we go through our lives with Your presence among us each day. In times of trial and trouble, You carry us. In moments of joy and celebration, You bless us. We gladly gather our tithes and gifts before You. Take and bless them for the life, work, and ministry of this church that You have called us to accept and accomplish. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully give and faithfully pray. Amen. (1 Corinthians 16:5)
Closing Hymn:
Benediction: May Jesus be our Strength when we are weak; may the Father shield us from sin and protect us from despair; and may the Holy Spirit be our Guide and Comforter throughout our days, leading us to that moment in everlasting glory when we will truly worship the One, Triune, and Living God both now and always. Amen. (2 Corinthians 4:8)
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude
No comments:
Post a Comment