Approaching God
Welcome & Announcements
Prelude & Gathering
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Everlasting God, to whom this world is just a footstool and the whole universe is a tapestry of Your making, we seek to serve You with our singing and hope to please You with our praises. Your power cannot be equaled and You ways can never be thwarted. We approach You as Your people, opening our hearts to Your unending love and focusing our minds upon Your gracious will.
People: Merciful Father, we know our own weaknesses and past mistakes. We have trampled on the feelings of friends and our loved ones with thoughtless words, harmful deeds, and selfish sins. We have neglected Your Word and rejected Your counsel. We have followed our own understanding and have allowed anger, arrogance and ambition to justify our self-seeking ways. Forgive us now as we humbly and sincerely confess our faults to You alone.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Gracious God, only Jesus can enrich our lives with the fountain of forgiveness that we need to cleanse our lives. Only Your Precious and Holy Son can restore us to Your Favor and reclaim our souls for Your Kingdom, therefore we make these prayers in His Name and with His words, saying: Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ speaks to us personally through His teaching and by God’s Holy Word. He calls us to repentance and seeks to save our souls by sacrificing Himself for us. Therefore, if we freely confess our sins and sincerely depend upon Him to rescue us from God’s wrath and rejection, we will be completely forgiven and eternally saved. In Christ’s Name. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung) : 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
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord, show favor to Your people and restore our health through Your holy power. Forgive our fears and diminish our doubts; strengthen our bodies and heal our minds.
People: Restore us again, O God our Savior, and place Your peace within our hearts. Show Your unfailing love to our families and friends, O Lord; grant them salvation from illness and anxiety.
Pastor: May Your love rekindle our hopes; may Your faithfulness to us restore our health. May Your righteousness speed our recovery and Your peace promote well being in our bodies, minds, hearts and souls. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our lives will experience healing and strength. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 85)
Anthem
The Message #1 – (Title Goes Here)
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, enable us to recognize and accept that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven given to us by which we must be saved. May today’s scriptures enhance our lives and advance this precious teaching. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Scripture Readings, The Message #2, & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we do not fully understand all that happens in this world but we know that Your Spirit continues to motivate many people to do good, to help the poor, and to support the weak. May our gifts be blessed and used to advance Your ministry, life and work throughout this church, our community, and across the world. In Your Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Communion
Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ’s light illuminate our hearts each day; may the Father’s love protect us from evil every day; and may the Holy Spirit daily guide and bless us to become effective servants of the One, Triune and Living God, both now and evermore. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Alternative Christmas Eve readings
The following list of alternative Christmas Eve readings emerge from a Biblical theme of winter and snow. They make an interesting collage of God’s promises and perhaps a welcome alternative to the traditional lessons that we read each Christmas. All the passages are taken from the NIV.A Promise for the Planet
Genesis 8:18-22
So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds--everything that moves on the earth--came out of the ark, one kind after another.
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.
"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
A Promise for Healing
Hosea 6:1-3
"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
A Promise of Forgiveness
Isaiah 1:15-18
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
"Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD.” Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
A Promise To Keep Us
John 10:22-33
Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The people gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
A Promise of Things to Come
Revelation 1:12-18
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
A Promise Fulfilled
Matthew 1:18-25
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means, "God with us."
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday prayers: Fourth in Advent : Advent 4 - Dec 21
Approaching God
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude & Gathering Song
Family: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:9).
People: We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
( 3 purple and the pink candle are lit)
Family: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:1–5).
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Eternal Foundation of Life, Immortal Creator of the Universe, we come before You as servants and seekers, disciples and devotees. We place our trust in You, for You are our Rock and refuge, our shield and salvation, our gracious leader and loving guide.
People: Heavenly Father, we have wandered from Your ways and rebelled against Your righteousness. We have chosen to cherish our pride and greed; we have decided to follow our fallen ideals and selfish sins. We have placed our confidence in our own strength and rejected Your truth. We have allowed ourselves to be swayed by our culture and misdirected by our misconceptions. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Merciful Lord, we regret our past mistakes and look to Jesus for salvation. We turn away from our guilty sins and seek Christ to renew our lives. Keep us in fellowship with Jesus and help us to be united with Him. In His Holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Christ was sent by our Heavenly Father to save the world from sin. He sacrificed Himself so that we might be given the opportunity to be forgiven and restored to God’s favor and grace. Without Jesus, we have no hope of avoiding the wrath of God. With Christ, we are spiritually purified and totally forgiven. We rejoice in His power and Holy Name, both now and forever. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung) : 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
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord, in the midst of this sanctuary, our souls yearn for Your Favor, our hearts cry out for healing. Bless us, Living God, for having set our hearts on You and trusting You for strength.
People: Hear our prayers, O LORD God Almighty; listen to us, O God of Jacob. Look upon us as Your people, O God, gathered here in Your Name. Look upon us with mercy and compassion.
Pastor: For You, O LORD, fill us with hope and help us through each day. Please do not withhold Your power from us; heal our loved ones from their sickness and pain, anxiety and depression, illnesses and injuries.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Leader: 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)
Anthem
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, enable us to receive into our hearts through the reading of these sacred scriptures. Heal us of the past and lead us by His presence in our lives. May we experience Christ being born in our spirits this day and forevermore. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You are the Perfect One and our lives are transformed by Your mercy and Grace. In return, we pledge to You our lives and dedicate our time, talents, and tithes to You alone. Take these gifts and bless them for Your work in the world and Your ministry among us. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ enable us to love our neighbors each day; may the Father help us to support one another with mercy and grace; and may the Holy Spirit lead us to fulfill God’s law through being servants of His Kingdom and disciples of Christ, for now and always. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sunday prayers: Advent 3 - 3rd in Advent - Dec 14
Approaching God
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude & Gathering Song
Lighting of Advent Candles
Family: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:9).
People: We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
(2 Purples and the Pink candle are lit)
Family: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people (John 1:1– 4).
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty and Everlasting God, who constantly sustains the universe and who sets the stars on their courses, we honor and bless You with our lips; we praise and worship You from our hearts. Heavenly Lord, You know and see all things. We thank You for sharing Your wonders with us; we glorify You for granting us life, learning and love.
People: Divine Majesty of Good and grace, we seek Your peace and yearn for the blessings of Your favor. We know that we are not worthy of Your devotion, for we are weak and sinful creatures, subject to fear and full of sin. We acknowledge our selfish and faithless ways. We have allowed greed to corrupt our hearts and pride to diminish our compassion. We have neglected to help other people and have declined opportunities to witness to Your Word. Forgive us for being fearful and timid servants. Hear us now as we personally confess our failings.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Loving Lord, keep us steadfast in our faith and loyal to Your Holy Son Jesus. He alone has provided for our salvation. He alone has the authority to forgive our sins and restore us to Your Favor. We pray in Jesus’ Name and through His own precious words, we unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: By accepting Jesus into our lives, we are acquitted of our sins and accepted into God’s Kingdom. By being faithful to Christ alone, we are received into His Spirit and He remains within us at all times. Let us rejoice and be glad for we are a forgiven and favored people, both now and forever. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung) : 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
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord our God, do not keep Your distance or remain inactive when we pray to You for healing. In the midst of our troubles, calm our souls and strengthen our hearts, O God.
People: When things become chaotic and fearful in our lives, be our shield and firm foundation. When we face disease and discomfort, pain and sickness, be our Comforter, Healer and Savior.
Pastor: When fears overcome our families and despair attacks our friends, bring them assurance, peace and love. By Your Power, Lord, heal us and all loved ones from all that harms the body, mind, heart and spirit. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: O LORD our God, You alone are the Most High over all the earth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 83)
Anthem
Singing of Jesus, Draw me Close.
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, call us into account for all that we do today. Let these sacred scriptures fill our hearts and minds, so that we can apply the challenges and lessons Christ gives to us this very day. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, by the giving of our tithes and offering, You enable us to fulfill the life, work and ministry of our church. You know all that You require us to do and You also know that we have been given all the resources of time, talents and money to fully support and enhance Your mission for this church. Help us to carefully and cheerfully give of ourselves and our assets to You. In Your Holy Name. Amen.
Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ help us to love one another; may the Father enable us to care for one another; and may the Holy Spirit equip us to support and bless one another; in the Name of the One, Triune and Living God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude & Gathering Song
Lighting of Advent Candles
Family: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world (John 1:9).
People: We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
(2 Purples and the Pink candle are lit)
Family: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people (John 1:1– 4).
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: Almighty and Everlasting God, who constantly sustains the universe and who sets the stars on their courses, we honor and bless You with our lips; we praise and worship You from our hearts. Heavenly Lord, You know and see all things. We thank You for sharing Your wonders with us; we glorify You for granting us life, learning and love.
People: Divine Majesty of Good and grace, we seek Your peace and yearn for the blessings of Your favor. We know that we are not worthy of Your devotion, for we are weak and sinful creatures, subject to fear and full of sin. We acknowledge our selfish and faithless ways. We have allowed greed to corrupt our hearts and pride to diminish our compassion. We have neglected to help other people and have declined opportunities to witness to Your Word. Forgive us for being fearful and timid servants. Hear us now as we personally confess our failings.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Loving Lord, keep us steadfast in our faith and loyal to Your Holy Son Jesus. He alone has provided for our salvation. He alone has the authority to forgive our sins and restore us to Your Favor. We pray in Jesus’ Name and through His own precious words, we unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: By accepting Jesus into our lives, we are acquitted of our sins and accepted into God’s Kingdom. By being faithful to Christ alone, we are received into His Spirit and He remains within us at all times. Let us rejoice and be glad for we are a forgiven and favored people, both now and forever. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung) : 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
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord our God, do not keep Your distance or remain inactive when we pray to You for healing. In the midst of our troubles, calm our souls and strengthen our hearts, O God.
People: When things become chaotic and fearful in our lives, be our shield and firm foundation. When we face disease and discomfort, pain and sickness, be our Comforter, Healer and Savior.
Pastor: When fears overcome our families and despair attacks our friends, bring them assurance, peace and love. By Your Power, Lord, heal us and all loved ones from all that harms the body, mind, heart and spirit. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: O LORD our God, You alone are the Most High over all the earth. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 83)
Anthem
Singing of Jesus, Draw me Close.
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, call us into account for all that we do today. Let these sacred scriptures fill our hearts and minds, so that we can apply the challenges and lessons Christ gives to us this very day. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings & Sermon & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, by the giving of our tithes and offering, You enable us to fulfill the life, work and ministry of our church. You know all that You require us to do and You also know that we have been given all the resources of time, talents and money to fully support and enhance Your mission for this church. Help us to carefully and cheerfully give of ourselves and our assets to You. In Your Holy Name. Amen.
Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ help us to love one another; may the Father enable us to care for one another; and may the Holy Spirit equip us to support and bless one another; in the Name of the One, Triune and Living God forevermore. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sunday prayers: Second in Advent - Advent 2 - Dec 7
Approaching God
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude & Gathering Song
Family: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
People: We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
2 Purple Advent candles are lit.
Family: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being (John 1:1–3a).
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: All Seeing and All Knowing God, who watches over all Creation and who understands our thoughts and fears; open our hearts to Your Holy Presence and enhance our spirits to experience Your Living Power. In this sacred place of prayer, may we know Your peace. As we gather in Your Name, may we sense Your Precious Love.
People: Lord of Righteousness and Perfection, we confess our failings and weaknesses. We are sinful and selfish creatures. We are bitter and resentful beings. We are greedy and stubborn people. We are careless and faithless servants. Have mercy on our souls and deliver us from Your wrath. Forgive us of our past mistakes, shameful acts, and broken promises. Restore us through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus, our Lord. Hear us now as we personally pray.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Compassionate Father, we thank You for Jesus. His obedience and service, crucifixion and death have paid the penalty due for our sins. We are completely in His debt and totally grateful for His Grace.
People: We make our confessions in Christ’s Name, and through His Sacred words, we unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: The sacred body and holy blood of Christ atone for our sins and He acquits us of our guilt. We are set free from God’s condemnation and given the perfect opportunity to be returned to His Favor. We cannot do this on our own. Only Jesus can completely restore us to God’s Kingdom, both now and forever. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung) : 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
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: God presides over our lives, sustaining our bodies, and nurturing our spirits. May the Lord defend us against disease and discomfort; may His favor grant us hope and health.
People: In the midst of our weakness, may God grant us strength. When fear affects us, He enhances our faith. Lord, we pray that You will rescue us from pain and suffering. Attend to our loved ones and answer all our prayers.
Pastor: Loving God, grant us patience and understanding. Free us from worry and reinforce us with Your peace. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: May the Lord rise up and grant all of our requests. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 82)
Anthem
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, fill us with Your sacred presence and rule over our hearts and minds. Let Christ’s teaching be personally experienced by all of Your people gathered here today. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings, Sermon, & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication: (unison) Lord Jesus, Your love never fails and we are blessed by Your grace. We gather these tokens in Your Holy Name and ask for Your blessing upon them. These tithes and offerings are the gifts of grateful people. We pray that You will enable us to honor God’s Kingdom by using them to proclaim the Gospel, help the needy, and serve God’s Kingdom in this community and throughout the world. In Your Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Communion
Hymn:
Benediction: (unison) May Christ enable us to honor our daily debts to Him; may the Father keep us loving one another; and may the Holy Spirit fulfill our lives through continuous service to the One, True and Living God, both now and throughout eternity. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude & Gathering Song
Family: The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
People: We light these candles as a sign of the coming light of Christ.
2 Purple Advent candles are lit.
Family: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being (John 1:1–3a).
Hymn:
Confessional Prayer
Guide: All Seeing and All Knowing God, who watches over all Creation and who understands our thoughts and fears; open our hearts to Your Holy Presence and enhance our spirits to experience Your Living Power. In this sacred place of prayer, may we know Your peace. As we gather in Your Name, may we sense Your Precious Love.
People: Lord of Righteousness and Perfection, we confess our failings and weaknesses. We are sinful and selfish creatures. We are bitter and resentful beings. We are greedy and stubborn people. We are careless and faithless servants. Have mercy on our souls and deliver us from Your wrath. Forgive us of our past mistakes, shameful acts, and broken promises. Restore us through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus, our Lord. Hear us now as we personally pray.
- SILENCE -
Guide: Compassionate Father, we thank You for Jesus. His obedience and service, crucifixion and death have paid the penalty due for our sins. We are completely in His debt and totally grateful for His Grace.
People: We make our confessions in Christ’s Name, and through His Sacred words, we unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: The sacred body and holy blood of Christ atone for our sins and He acquits us of our guilt. We are set free from God’s condemnation and given the perfect opportunity to be returned to His Favor. We cannot do this on our own. Only Jesus can completely restore us to God’s Kingdom, both now and forever. Amen.
Gloria Patri (sung) : 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
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: God presides over our lives, sustaining our bodies, and nurturing our spirits. May the Lord defend us against disease and discomfort; may His favor grant us hope and health.
People: In the midst of our weakness, may God grant us strength. When fear affects us, He enhances our faith. Lord, we pray that You will rescue us from pain and suffering. Attend to our loved ones and answer all our prayers.
Pastor: Loving God, grant us patience and understanding. Free us from worry and reinforce us with Your peace. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor: May the Lord rise up and grant all of our requests. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 82)
Anthem
Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, fill us with Your sacred presence and rule over our hearts and minds. Let Christ’s teaching be personally experienced by all of Your people gathered here today. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings, Sermon, & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory:
Dedication: (unison) Lord Jesus, Your love never fails and we are blessed by Your grace. We gather these tokens in Your Holy Name and ask for Your blessing upon them. These tithes and offerings are the gifts of grateful people. We pray that You will enable us to honor God’s Kingdom by using them to proclaim the Gospel, help the needy, and serve God’s Kingdom in this community and throughout the world. In Your Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Communion
Hymn:
Benediction: (unison) May Christ enable us to honor our daily debts to Him; may the Father keep us loving one another; and may the Holy Spirit fulfill our lives through continuous service to the One, True and Living God, both now and throughout eternity. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
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