Approaching God
Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Prelude
First Hymn:
Prayer of Adoration & Confession
Guide: Lord of all living and God of all grace, we come into Your presence, seeking to please You with our praises and wanting to delight You with our devotion. You have planted seeds of faith in our hearts and blessed them. You have produced good works in our lives that have helped other people and brought glory to Your Son’s Name.
People: Merciful Lord, sometimes You have had to plow through our stubborn pride and sinful ways. Sometimes we have hindered Your work by ignoring Your words and setting aside Your commands. Gracious Father, when we break faith with You, forgive us. When we harrow and hurt others with anger, disappointment and selfishness, pardon us. Hear us now as we pray.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Loving God, You take away the sins of our lives through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus. Without Him, we have no defense against Your wrath. Without His forgiveness, we have no way of being saved from everlasting punishment. We humbly thank You for our salvation through Christ’s grace. In His Great Name, we make our confessions and continue praying in His words saying, "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: We believe in Jesus, whose streams of living water flow within us. When we reach out to Him, confess our sins, and ask forgiveness of Him, He answers our prayers and restores us to God's Kingdom. Let us rejoice and be glad in His wonderful ways and glorious Name. 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: Look upon us, O Lord, and deliver us, for we have not forgotten Your healing words. Shield and defend us, preserve and sustain us, according to Your promises of love.
People: Your compassion is great, O Lord; strengthen us by Your grace and mercy. In the midst of our troubles and worries, we will remain faithful to Your ways.
Pastor: Look upon those who are sick among us and known to us, our loved ones and friends, our neighbors in need and our colleagues at work. We love Your presence in our lives and humbly ask that You will send forth Your Holy Spirit to heal us, and all for whom we personally pray.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: Almighty God, all Your words are true and Your promises are everlasting. In Jesus' Name, we bring these prayers. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 119:Resh)
Singing of 'Jesus, Draw Me Close.’.
Prayer for Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to remember that these scriptures were once forbidden, and that messengers of Christ's Gospel lost their lives for these sacred words. Even today, in other lands, people are suffering beatings and imprisonment, harassment and torture for Christ's sake and His teaching. Prevent us from taking these readings for granted and help us to apply their teaching throughout our lives In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Sermon & The Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication (unison):
Lord Jesus, long ago, You appeared to all the apostles, so that they could spread the Good News of Your Resurrection and God's Everlasting Love. We are the present-day heirs to that message of hope, so we bring before You our tithes and offerings, asking that You will receive them and then bless them for the continuing life, work and ministry of Your Church on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn:
Benediction(unison): May Christ graciously allow us to do His bidding; may the Father constantly share His blessings of grace amongst us; and may the Holy Spirit inspire us to believe, serve, and love the One Triune and Living God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; & Postlude
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