Approaching God
Welcome & announcements
Gathering Song & Prelude
First Hymn:
Prayers of Confession
Guide: All-powerful and Eternal Creator, in whose presence we gather, and into whose holiness we assemble; accept the praises we offer from our lips, and the prayers we make from our hearts.
People: Immortal God, who sustains us each day and whose compassion comes to us morning after morning, we dedicate this sacred time to worship and adore Your holy ways, to glorify and exalt Your wondrous deeds.
Guide: Gracious Father, we confess that we permit sin to sweep over our souls, which causes us to be separated from You. Forgive us for being self-centered and self-destructive; faithless and foolish, hard-hearted and dishonest at times. Challenge us to change our ways, and lead us back to Your love. Hear us now as we personally make our silent confessions to You alone.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Merciful Lord, You have given us Jesus as the Way to forgiveness, the Truth of salvation, and the Life which leads us to restoration. In Him, through Him, and by Him, we are saved and renewed, pardoned and reunited to You forever. In His Name, we continue to pray saying: Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus was with us on earth for only a short time, but during His life He managed to completely obey God. He became His Perfect Son and because of that, His sacrificial death was totally sufficient and perfectly holy to pay the complete price God demanded for our mistakes. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our One, True and Living Savior, who sets us free from our sins and restores us to God forevermore. 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.
Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come forward)
Encountering God
Choir Anthem
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: O Lord, when we are afraid or our faith is weak, help us to look to Your promises. You are our refuge and our shield; we place our hopes in Your word alone.
People: Cast out our doubts and fears. Help us to remain focused on Your power. Sustain us with Your almighty strength; do not let our hopes be dashed.
Pastor: Uphold us by Your love and we shall be delivered; enable us to recognize Your healing ways. Keep our thoughts from being distracted by our fears. Help us to follow You in faith. Heal us and all our loved ones from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul. Hear us now as we quietly and sincerely pray.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: Lord, we remain in Your loving presence. We stand in awe of Your amazing love and healing power. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Samekh)
The Message: Part 1
Singing of ‘Jesus Draw Me Close.’
Prayer for Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to lock on to the meaning of these scriptures. Guard us from treating these holy words lightly, and enable us to open our hearts and minds to all that Christ gives through His actions and words, both now and always. Amen.
Scripture Readings
The Message: Part 2 & The Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication(unison): Lord Jesus, according to Your gospel, we are saved if we hold firmly to Your sacred words. In a loving response, we bring to You our tithes and offerings, our resources and lives. Take them for the good of the gospel and the work of Your word in this church, community, and throughout the earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn:
Benediction(unison): May Christ answer all the questions we have about life; may the Father keep us from falling and being hindered from completing His purpose in us; and may the Holy Sprit enable us to freely and gladly come into the everlasting presence of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and always. Amen.
Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; & Postlude
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