Approaching God
Prelude: Welcome & Announcements
Call to worship ( based on Psalm 123)
Leader: Let us lift up our eyes to the Lord, whose throne is in heaven
People: Let us look to the LORD our God, for He shows us mercy.
Leader: In all that we experience or endure, the Lord is with us. Let us praise and glorify God.
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Eternal God, whose ways are mysterious and whose words are meaningful; whose judgments are incontestable and whose justice prevails; we approach You as Your servants, called to worship in Your presence and chosen to praise Your Holy Name.
People: Gracious Father, You anoint us to be priests and prophets, heralds and messengers of Your Holy Will. You count upon us to be faithful witnesses of Christ’s Gospel and living examples of His teaching in our community and neighborhoods.
Guide: Merciful Lord, despite Your sacred counsel and holy guidance, we often follow our own sinful paths and make selfish decisions. Instead of bowing to Your Will and accepting Your ways, we choose to fulfill our own desires and complete our own plans.
People: Loving God, forgive us for neglecting our service to Your Kingdom. Have mercy upon us when we are sinful and selfish, deceptive and disloyal, argumentative and arrogant, peace hating and proud. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You alone.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Eternal Lord, we regret our past mistakes and ask that You will unite us to Christ’s Spirit. His sacrifice assures us of Your mercy. His resurrection restores us to Your Kingdom. We praise You for giving us this opportunity to begin again; to serve You once more.
People: We make our confessions in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, and through His own Holy Words, we sincerely pray, saying, “Our Father, etc...
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: We travel through life at times without giving thought to its direction, purpose or meaning. We set off on a journey of hope and opportunity, only to be frustrated by hindrances and obstacles. Thankfully, Jesus joins us and will rescue our souls from the damage that sinful and selfish ways inflict upon our spirits. He does this because He is God’s Anointed Son and the One, True and Only Savior of humankind. Let us therefore rejoice and praise His Name forevermore. Amen.
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.
Children’s Sermon
(No anthem this Sunday)
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Leader: O LORD, if we have been foolish and disappointed You, forgive us. If we have been sinful and angered You, be merciful to us.
People: Gracious Father, sometimes we suffer sickness and experience illness because of our selfish ways and sinful habits.
Leader: Pain and isolation, fear and anxiety, guilt and worry can overwhelm our spirits, damage our souls, weaken our bodies and stifle our minds.
People: 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.
Leader Let us wait for the LORD and seek His answer. Let us focus our thoughts on Him and look for His love.
People: 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
Leader: 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)
Anthem
Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, prepare our hearts for the holy promises of God which are revealed to us through these sacred scriptures. Help us to accept the wisdom of God’s ways, so that we may apply these lessons to our lives and teach them to each succeeding generation in this church and community. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings :
Sermon
The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication : Lord Jesus, despite our weaknesses, You still love us. Despite our failings, You still forgive us. In response to the riches of Your Grace, we gather before You these gifts of gratitude and tithes of thanksgiving. Accept and bless them for the holy work of this church. Sanctify these gifts for the ministries and missions that You have called us to undertake, support and fulfill. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Hymn :
Benediction (in unison) May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; One God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology
Postlude
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday Prayers: Advent 4
Approaching God
Welcome & Announcement
Prelude & Gathering
Call to Light the Advent Wreath
Family: The season of Advent continues. Today we shall be lighting the candle of love.
Congregation: No other word so completely describes what we know of our God. For God so loved the world that a child was given....God's love in human form.
Family: We wait in hope and peace, and with joy.
The two purple candles and the pink candle are lit
Family: We light the candle of love to proclaim that God's love is revealed in the Child born in Bethlehem.
Congregation: We are challenged to proclaim and reveal that same love as we live out our faith here in ….
The purple candle is lit
Family: We give thanks for a love that passes our human understanding.
Congregation: We await once more the birth of God's enduring love this Christmas. In Christ’s Sacred Name, we hope, wait, love, and pray. Amen
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Lord of Love and Life, we come before You as Your people, hoping to please You with our praises and seeking to delight You with our worship.
People: Almighty God, in whom our lives are lived, and by whom our days are sustained, we place our faith, hope, and love in You alone.
Guide: Gracious Father, we know that we have allowed temptation and sin to over rule our spirits. We have succumbed to our selfish desires and made poor choices.
People: Benevolent Majesty, forgive us for taking Your grace for granted and for setting You aside. Pardon us for disrespecting Your ways and disavowing Your words with our sinful actions. Hear us now as we inwardly confess our sins.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Merciful God, only Your Son Jesus Christ can save us from our sins. Only He can bridge the gap that we have created through our sinful deeds and wicked ways.
People: We place our lives and souls into Christ’s hands. We ask for redemption and restoration through His precious blood. In His Holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father, etc.
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: When Jesus came into our world, He brought God’s everlasting grace with Him. By living a life of true obedience, He has enabled us to be given an eternal hope from God. We are no longer cast away from God. We are restored to His throne and returned to His Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord. Amen.
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)
Anthem
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord, in this holy sanctuary, our souls yearn for Your Favor, and our hearts cry out for healing.
People: Bless us, Living God, for we have set our hopes in You, and trust You with all our strength.
Pastor: Hear our prayers, O LORD God Almighty; listen to us, O God of Jacob.
People: Look upon Your people, O God, gathered here in Your Name. Look upon us with mercy and compassion.
Pastor: For You, O LORD, fill us with faith, and You help us through each day.
People: Gracious God, do not withhold Your power from us. Heal us and all our loved ones from sickness and pain, anxiety and depression, illness and injury.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: O LORD Almighty, blessed are those who trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 84)
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, teach us God’s plan for our lives through the reading and receiving of these sacred words. Challenge and change our ways, so that we may become true witnesses of Christ’s Gospel. In His Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication: Lord Jesus, we bring before You an offering made up of our tithes and gifts, resources and wealth. We pray that it may honor and glorify You. We humbly ask that You bless this offering for the spreading of the Gospel, the mission of the Church, and the praising of God’s Name, both now and always. Amen.
Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; One God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
Welcome & Announcement
Prelude & Gathering
Call to Light the Advent Wreath
Family: The season of Advent continues. Today we shall be lighting the candle of love.
Congregation: No other word so completely describes what we know of our God. For God so loved the world that a child was given....God's love in human form.
Family: We wait in hope and peace, and with joy.
The two purple candles and the pink candle are lit
Family: We light the candle of love to proclaim that God's love is revealed in the Child born in Bethlehem.
Congregation: We are challenged to proclaim and reveal that same love as we live out our faith here in ….
The purple candle is lit
Family: We give thanks for a love that passes our human understanding.
Congregation: We await once more the birth of God's enduring love this Christmas. In Christ’s Sacred Name, we hope, wait, love, and pray. Amen
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Lord of Love and Life, we come before You as Your people, hoping to please You with our praises and seeking to delight You with our worship.
People: Almighty God, in whom our lives are lived, and by whom our days are sustained, we place our faith, hope, and love in You alone.
Guide: Gracious Father, we know that we have allowed temptation and sin to over rule our spirits. We have succumbed to our selfish desires and made poor choices.
People: Benevolent Majesty, forgive us for taking Your grace for granted and for setting You aside. Pardon us for disrespecting Your ways and disavowing Your words with our sinful actions. Hear us now as we inwardly confess our sins.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Merciful God, only Your Son Jesus Christ can save us from our sins. Only He can bridge the gap that we have created through our sinful deeds and wicked ways.
People: We place our lives and souls into Christ’s hands. We ask for redemption and restoration through His precious blood. In His Holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father, etc.
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: When Jesus came into our world, He brought God’s everlasting grace with Him. By living a life of true obedience, He has enabled us to be given an eternal hope from God. We are no longer cast away from God. We are restored to His throne and returned to His Kingdom through Jesus Christ, our Savior, Redeemer, and Lord. Amen.
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)
Anthem
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord, in this holy sanctuary, our souls yearn for Your Favor, and our hearts cry out for healing.
People: Bless us, Living God, for we have set our hopes in You, and trust You with all our strength.
Pastor: Hear our prayers, O LORD God Almighty; listen to us, O God of Jacob.
People: Look upon Your people, O God, gathered here in Your Name. Look upon us with mercy and compassion.
Pastor: For You, O LORD, fill us with faith, and You help us through each day.
People: Gracious God, do not withhold Your power from us. Heal us and all our loved ones from sickness and pain, anxiety and depression, illness and injury.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: O LORD Almighty, blessed are those who trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 84)
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, teach us God’s plan for our lives through the reading and receiving of these sacred words. Challenge and change our ways, so that we may become true witnesses of Christ’s Gospel. In His Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication: Lord Jesus, we bring before You an offering made up of our tithes and gifts, resources and wealth. We pray that it may honor and glorify You. We humbly ask that You bless this offering for the spreading of the Gospel, the mission of the Church, and the praising of God’s Name, both now and always. Amen.
Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; One God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
Monday, December 10, 2007
Worship prayers: 3rd Sunday Advent
Approaching God
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude and Gathering
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Family: Today - the third Sunday in Advent, we hear from the writer of thePsalm and the prophet Isaiah
Congregation: of a world where even the desert sings, rejoices andblossoms.
Family: A world where eyes will see and ears will hear; where everyone will want to dance and sing for joy. We watch and wait for these signs of the in-breaking of God's kingdom.
Congregation: We wait in hope and peace, and with joy.
(Two purple candles are relit)
Family: The God in whom we rejoice, prepares our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We light the candle of joy.
(The pink candle is lit)
Family: God of grace and truth, may our spirits rejoice in the forthcoming birth of Christ, our Savior, in whom we are privileged to experience Your mercy and see Your glory.
Congregation: May this house of prayer become a sanctuary of joy. May our hearts and spirits be lifted up through the praising and glorifying of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is yet to come amongst us again. Amen.
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Lord of Life, who sustains the universe and who keeps all creation in order, we glorify and praise Your Holy Name.
People: Lord of Love, who knows everything about our lives and from whom we can never hide, thank You for granting us grace and giving us Your blessing.
Guide: Gracious Lord, we seek Your mercy and favor. We ask for pardon and forgiveness of all our sins.
People: Loving Father, we have failed to be truly faithful. We have allowed pride and stubbornness to withhold our confessions. We have allowed greed and insecurity to diminish our compassion. Hear us now as we silently pray to You.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Eternal God, we owe our salvation to Your Son Jesus Christ. In Him, we can find forgiveness and grace, mercy and restoration.
People: Hear our confession, given to You in Christ’s Name. In His own words, we unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father, etc.
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus Christ is our One and Only Savior. When we place our lives into His Hands, He accepts us fully into God’s Kingdom. We are pardoned and forgiven, redeemed and reassured. Let us rejoice and thank Him forevermore. Amen.
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)
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord our God, come near to us and grant us strength when we pray to You for healing.
People: When we are troubled, calm our souls and strengthen our hearts, O God.
Pastor: When we are fearful and afraid, become our shield and firm foundation.
People: When we face disease and discomfort, pain and sickness, be our Comforter, Healer and Savior.
Pastor: When anxiety overcomes our families and despair attacks our friends, grant them assurance, peace, and love.
People: By Your Power, Lord, and in the Name of Christ, we ask that You heal us and our loved ones from all that harms our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: O LORD our God, You alone have the power to heal all the earth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 83)
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, keep us focused on God’s message for today. Let these sacred scriptures fill our hearts and minds, so that we can apply the challenges and lessons Christ gives to us. In the Name of Jesus, we earnestly pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication: (in unison) Lord Jesus, You have called us to support Your life, ministry and mission through the resources of this congregation. In Your Holy Name, we gather before You our tithes and gifts. Bless for everything that we seek to do to glorify, honor, and proclaim You as the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Amen.
Hymn:
Benediction: (in unison) May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; One God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude and Gathering
Lighting of the Advent Candle
Family: Today - the third Sunday in Advent, we hear from the writer of thePsalm and the prophet Isaiah
Congregation: of a world where even the desert sings, rejoices andblossoms.
Family: A world where eyes will see and ears will hear; where everyone will want to dance and sing for joy. We watch and wait for these signs of the in-breaking of God's kingdom.
Congregation: We wait in hope and peace, and with joy.
(Two purple candles are relit)
Family: The God in whom we rejoice, prepares our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We light the candle of joy.
(The pink candle is lit)
Family: God of grace and truth, may our spirits rejoice in the forthcoming birth of Christ, our Savior, in whom we are privileged to experience Your mercy and see Your glory.
Congregation: May this house of prayer become a sanctuary of joy. May our hearts and spirits be lifted up through the praising and glorifying of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is yet to come amongst us again. Amen.
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Lord of Life, who sustains the universe and who keeps all creation in order, we glorify and praise Your Holy Name.
People: Lord of Love, who knows everything about our lives and from whom we can never hide, thank You for granting us grace and giving us Your blessing.
Guide: Gracious Lord, we seek Your mercy and favor. We ask for pardon and forgiveness of all our sins.
People: Loving Father, we have failed to be truly faithful. We have allowed pride and stubbornness to withhold our confessions. We have allowed greed and insecurity to diminish our compassion. Hear us now as we silently pray to You.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Eternal God, we owe our salvation to Your Son Jesus Christ. In Him, we can find forgiveness and grace, mercy and restoration.
People: Hear our confession, given to You in Christ’s Name. In His own words, we unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father, etc.
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus Christ is our One and Only Savior. When we place our lives into His Hands, He accepts us fully into God’s Kingdom. We are pardoned and forgiven, redeemed and reassured. Let us rejoice and thank Him forevermore. Amen.
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)
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord our God, come near to us and grant us strength when we pray to You for healing.
People: When we are troubled, calm our souls and strengthen our hearts, O God.
Pastor: When we are fearful and afraid, become our shield and firm foundation.
People: When we face disease and discomfort, pain and sickness, be our Comforter, Healer and Savior.
Pastor: When anxiety overcomes our families and despair attacks our friends, grant them assurance, peace, and love.
People: By Your Power, Lord, and in the Name of Christ, we ask that You heal us and our loved ones from all that harms our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: O LORD our God, You alone have the power to heal all the earth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 83)
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, keep us focused on God’s message for today. Let these sacred scriptures fill our hearts and minds, so that we can apply the challenges and lessons Christ gives to us. In the Name of Jesus, we earnestly pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication: (in unison) Lord Jesus, You have called us to support Your life, ministry and mission through the resources of this congregation. In Your Holy Name, we gather before You our tithes and gifts. Bless for everything that we seek to do to glorify, honor, and proclaim You as the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Amen.
Hymn:
Benediction: (in unison) May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; One God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Sunday Prayers: 12-09-07
Approaching God
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude & Gathering
Call to Light the Advent Wreath
Family: Today - the second Sunday in Advent - we hear about Isaiah's
vision of a new and transformed world.
Congregation: A world where all creatures live together in harmony and peace.
Family: We wait with hope for this vision to become reality.
Congregation: The God of hope fills us with joy and peace in believing. We light the candle of hope.
(The first purple candle is relit)
Family: We proclaim our belief in God's faithfulness in keeping promises, as we light the candle of peace.
( A second purple candle is lit)
Family: God of all faithfulness - Isaiah's vision paints a picture of a world shaped in accordance with Your will and Your design.
Congregation: He tells of One so enlightened by your Spirit that he would open eyes and ears and hearts to a new understanding of your will and your design for the world. Isaiah described the one for whom the people waited - the Messiah .
Family: We wait also, but we wait in the joyful knowledge that the Messiah has come in the form of your beloved Son.
Congregation: We wait in faith, praying that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus - Prince of Peace - will be born anew in our hearts and in our lives. Amen
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Eternal Majesty, whose riches and resources are unlimited; whose power is absolute and abounding with holiness; we gather before You in this place of praise, peace and prayer. You have set apart this time in our lives to worship and adore You. We have responded to Your call and we continue to bless Your Holy Name.
People: Everlasting Lord, whose deeds of deliverance and almighty acts have been declared and announced by countless generations, we seek to serve You with our lives and love You with our souls. We want to devote ourselves to following Your ways and fulfilling Your Will.
Guide: Precious Father, we confess our sins to You. We have stored up bitterness in our hearts. We have allowed pride to damage our souls. We have hurt other people with our words and disappointed You with our deceptions. We have fulfilled our own desires and cast aside Your commandments.
People: Holy God, we have tampered with our faith by falling into temptation. We have neglected our devotion to Your Son by satisfying our dreams and needs. Forgive us, Gracious God, for we repent of our reckless ways and diminished faith. Hear us now as we personally seek Your pardon.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Compassionate Creator, who permits us to call upon Your Son for help, healing and wholeness, we praise You for the promises of salvation through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. Without His obedience to You, without His agonizing death on the Cross, we would be unforgiven and forever doomed to be eternally cast out from Your Sacred Presence and Everlasting Love.
People: In the abundant grace of Jesus and through His own precious words , we now pray, saying, “Our Father, etc.”(Isaiah 23v18)
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus is the King of Creation and the Lord of our lives. We did not give this honor to Him. Through His complete devotion and perfect obedience, God bestowed upon Jesus all authority on earth and in heaven to forgive our sins, to restore us to God’s favor and to be welcomed into His Eternal Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our One, True and Only Savior, both now and always. Amen.
(John 6v14)
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.
Children’s Sermon
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Leader: Your healing love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
People: Your strength is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.
Leader: O LORD, we pray that you will preserve our lives and loved ones. How precious is your unfailing love and mercy to us!
People: May our families and friends find refuge in Your presence and healing from all that harms them.
Leader May we all regain our health and strength from the abundance of Your power; may You grant us our petitions and delight us with Your grace.
People: For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light; through Your peace, we are released from pain; by Your love we are set free from our fears. Hear us now as we pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Leader: Living and Gracious Lord, continue Your love to those who need You, Your healing to the most cherished of our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 36)
Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, challenge and change us through the truths that these sacred scriptures reveal. Move our hearts and show us how to fulfill Christ’s message in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 2:37)
Scripture Readings :
Sermon
The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication : Lord Jesus, You know us completely and perfectly understand everything about our lives. We often fail to fulfill our service and devotion to You, and yet You still allow us to receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. With humble and sincere thanks, we offer You our time, talents and money. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for the continuing life, work and ministry of Your Church in this community, across this nation and throughout the world. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.
( 1 Cor 11v28)
Hymn :
Benediction: May Christ protect us from our sinful nature and keep us on His Holy path; may the Father continually cultivate our faith through His Love and Grace; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to branch out into the world to effectively witness to God’s kingdom, glory and power. Both now and forever. Amen. ( Romans 11v24)
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
Postlude
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude & Gathering
Call to Light the Advent Wreath
Family: Today - the second Sunday in Advent - we hear about Isaiah's
vision of a new and transformed world.
Congregation: A world where all creatures live together in harmony and peace.
Family: We wait with hope for this vision to become reality.
Congregation: The God of hope fills us with joy and peace in believing. We light the candle of hope.
(The first purple candle is relit)
Family: We proclaim our belief in God's faithfulness in keeping promises, as we light the candle of peace.
( A second purple candle is lit)
Family: God of all faithfulness - Isaiah's vision paints a picture of a world shaped in accordance with Your will and Your design.
Congregation: He tells of One so enlightened by your Spirit that he would open eyes and ears and hearts to a new understanding of your will and your design for the world. Isaiah described the one for whom the people waited - the Messiah .
Family: We wait also, but we wait in the joyful knowledge that the Messiah has come in the form of your beloved Son.
Congregation: We wait in faith, praying that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus - Prince of Peace - will be born anew in our hearts and in our lives. Amen
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Eternal Majesty, whose riches and resources are unlimited; whose power is absolute and abounding with holiness; we gather before You in this place of praise, peace and prayer. You have set apart this time in our lives to worship and adore You. We have responded to Your call and we continue to bless Your Holy Name.
People: Everlasting Lord, whose deeds of deliverance and almighty acts have been declared and announced by countless generations, we seek to serve You with our lives and love You with our souls. We want to devote ourselves to following Your ways and fulfilling Your Will.
Guide: Precious Father, we confess our sins to You. We have stored up bitterness in our hearts. We have allowed pride to damage our souls. We have hurt other people with our words and disappointed You with our deceptions. We have fulfilled our own desires and cast aside Your commandments.
People: Holy God, we have tampered with our faith by falling into temptation. We have neglected our devotion to Your Son by satisfying our dreams and needs. Forgive us, Gracious God, for we repent of our reckless ways and diminished faith. Hear us now as we personally seek Your pardon.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Compassionate Creator, who permits us to call upon Your Son for help, healing and wholeness, we praise You for the promises of salvation through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. Without His obedience to You, without His agonizing death on the Cross, we would be unforgiven and forever doomed to be eternally cast out from Your Sacred Presence and Everlasting Love.
People: In the abundant grace of Jesus and through His own precious words , we now pray, saying, “Our Father, etc.”(Isaiah 23v18)
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus is the King of Creation and the Lord of our lives. We did not give this honor to Him. Through His complete devotion and perfect obedience, God bestowed upon Jesus all authority on earth and in heaven to forgive our sins, to restore us to God’s favor and to be welcomed into His Eternal Kingdom. So let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our One, True and Only Savior, both now and always. Amen.
(John 6v14)
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.
Children’s Sermon
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Leader: Your healing love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.
People: Your strength is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.
Leader: O LORD, we pray that you will preserve our lives and loved ones. How precious is your unfailing love and mercy to us!
People: May our families and friends find refuge in Your presence and healing from all that harms them.
Leader May we all regain our health and strength from the abundance of Your power; may You grant us our petitions and delight us with Your grace.
People: For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light; through Your peace, we are released from pain; by Your love we are set free from our fears. Hear us now as we pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Leader: Living and Gracious Lord, continue Your love to those who need You, Your healing to the most cherished of our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 36)
Prayer for Illumination :
Reader : Holy Spirit, challenge and change us through the truths that these sacred scriptures reveal. Move our hearts and show us how to fulfill Christ’s message in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. (Acts 2:37)
Scripture Readings :
Sermon
The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication : Lord Jesus, You know us completely and perfectly understand everything about our lives. We often fail to fulfill our service and devotion to You, and yet You still allow us to receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. With humble and sincere thanks, we offer You our time, talents and money. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for the continuing life, work and ministry of Your Church in this community, across this nation and throughout the world. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.
( 1 Cor 11v28)
Hymn :
Benediction: May Christ protect us from our sinful nature and keep us on His Holy path; may the Father continually cultivate our faith through His Love and Grace; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to branch out into the world to effectively witness to God’s kingdom, glory and power. Both now and forever. Amen. ( Romans 11v24)
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
Postlude
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