Easter Sunday Worship service - Sunday April 24

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Gathering & Prelude

Call to Worship

Pastor:             Christ is Risen!

People:            He is Risen indeed!

Pastor:             Jesus, Savior of the World, we worship and adore You. We honor and glorify You forever. Amen.

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Wonderful King and Eternal Savior, this is Your Holy Day and we are delighted to be called Your disciples and servants. You are the Righteous Son of God and our Everlasting Lord.
People:            Lord Jesus, You are the King of all Creation and the Redeemer of the Universe. You have gloriously overcome sin and death, bringing to us promises of life and love that last forever.

Guide:                         Gracious Jesus, we confess that our sins caused Your wounds at Calvary. We crucified You to the Cross because of our stubborn, rebellious, and selfish ways. Precious Lord, forgive our foolish mistakes and grave errors. Pardon our hateful words and shameful deeds. Hear us now as we confess to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                         Victorious Savior, Your blood has cleansed our sinful souls and has restored us to God’s favor. Without You, our lives are wasted and pointless. With You, our hopes are completely fulfilled and made eternal. Hear our prayers, given in Your Holy Name. We unite our spirits to You, by saying "Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Jesus is the Only One who can save our souls from everlasting destruction. His Name alone has the power to forgive our sins and to release us from death and despair. Therefore, let us rejoice and celebrate the victory of our Lord and King forevermore. Amen.

Gloria Patri(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)

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:             The LORD reigns, He is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. God establishes our world and sustains our lives.

People:                        Eternal God, we are finite and frail, in need of help, healing and wholeness. We lift up our voices in prayer to You, with all that is on our hearts and in our anxious minds.

Pastor:             Mighty Redeemer, have mercy upon us and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. We also bring to You our families and friends, our colleagues and neighbors who need Your Loving touch and holy healing. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor:             The LORD is merciful and holy; just and faithful. He hears our prayers in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

                        (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 93)

Singing of '"Jesus Draw Me Close"

Prayer of Illumination:

Reader:            Holy Spirit, impact our lives with the power of the Gospel. Let the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection bring joy, healing and strength to our souls. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen. 

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):  Lord Jesus, You have given everything for our salvation. You have sacrificed Your life so that we may live forever in God’s eternal presence. We can never repay the debt that we owe You, but we can support the work and ways of Your church with our tithes and gifts. Take this offering and bless it, so that others may hear the Gospel, through the preaching of the Word and the glorifying of God’s Name. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the almighty and amazing love of the Father, and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit be with us now and always. Amen.

Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude

Maundy Thursday/ Tennebrae Worship service - April 21, 2011

Maundy Thursday Service

PRELUDE: 

CALL TO WORSHIP:

Pastor:            “My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.” Psalm 31 v 15

HYMN:  Come Sing to God................................................................................................. No. 181

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Guide:             O Lamb of God, have mercy upon us. On this fateful night, we remember Your betrayal and it reminds us of how often we fail to follow You.

People:            O Sacrificial Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Guide:             We remember with shame the sinful secrets of our lives. We recall our past mistakes and most deepest regrets.

People:            O Perfect Lamb of God, shield us from God’s wrath and cleanse us with Your blood.

Guide:             Do not turn away from when we are desperate for Your help. Do not cast us aside for we fear the darkness of death and the loneliness of life.

People:            O Holy Lamb of God, we cling to You and seek Your pardon.

Guide:             Help us to be free of former things that have chained us to our sins. Take our lives and change them. Accept our tainted souls and purify them.

People:            O Sacred Lamb of God, without Your grace we have no goodness. Without Your acceptance, we have no absolution.

Guide:             Prevent us from wasting our lives and squandering our faith. Protect us from temptation and cancel out our sins

People:            O Passover Lamb of God, grant us forgiveness and mercy, holiness and sanctification. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING:................................................................................... Psalm 31:1-8

HYMN:  Go To Dark Gethesemane........................................................................................ No. 97

OLD TESTAMENT READING:................................................................................. Psalm 31:9-18

HYMN:  Were You There? ................................................................................................. No. 102

OLD TESTAMENT READING:............................................................................... Psalm 31:19-24

Choir Anthem:....................................................................................................................................

HYMN:  As Deer Long for the Streams................................................................................ No. 189

NEW TESTAMENT READING:....................................................................... Revelation 20:11-15

HOMILY:                                            Redeem Me, O Lord                                  Rev. John Stuart

OFFERING: 

DEDICATION

All:      Lord Jesus, we have betrayed You many times and afflicted You with our sorrows. We have caused You to die on the Cross because we are sinful and selfish. We can never repay our debts to You, for what can we offer that will pay for absolute forgiveness and eternal life?  We give You these gifts, that others may hear and read Your Words, and that souls may be saved, both near and far. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

COMMUNION  - At the appropriate time, the congregation shall come forward to receive the bread and wine.  After this, the elders will come to those who wish to take communion where they are seated.

Congregational Prayer:         Lord Jesus, You have given everything of Yourself so that we may share in the eternal glories of Your Kingdom. Thank You for Your amazing love and the experience of Your grace this night. In Your Almighty Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

HYMN:  When I Survey the Wondrous Cross....................................................................... No. 101

NEW TESTAMENT READING:................................................................................ 2 Peter 3:3-10

Congregation Exits Silently

Sunday Worship Prayers - Lent 5A - Fifth Sunday in Lent - April 10

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome

Prelude

First Hymn:

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                         Lord God Almighty, whose counsel is perfect and whose wisdom is unlimited, we gather together as Your people to worship and bless Your Sacred Name. Your ways are full of mercy and compassion, therefore we seek to please You with our songs and honor You with our prayers.

People:                       Loving Father, we know that our lives are imperfect and that we constantly make mistakes. We disappoint other people and neglect to fulfill our purposes as Christians. Forgive us for failing to complete our God-given tasks and wasting our opportunities to witness to Christ our Savior. Hear us now as we silently pray to You.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide:                         Gracious God, we thank You for Jesus; for His grace and compassion; for His sacrifice and blessings. Without Him, we would remain separated from You forever; without His peace, we would have no everlasting hope. In Christ's Name, we have made our confessions and now continue to pray in His words, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                         Jesus suffered for our sake and laid down His life on the Cross, so that we might be restored to God. Christ alone faced cruel opposition, unjust torture, and a painful death, but He endured it all, so that we might be cleansed of our shameful and imperfect ways. He is the Only Savior of humankind. Let us rejoice and be glad for the seeds of His success have become the fruits of our salvation.  Amen.

Gloria Patri(sung 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:             Let us lift up our prayers to the Lord, whose throne is in heaven. As servants and children, we look to our God for help and healing.

People:                        Have mercy upon us, O Lord, and compassionately answer our petitions. In the midst of all suffering and sickness that we endure, embrace and comfort us.

Pastor:             O Lord, hear us as we voice our concerns and make known to You all of our worries. Heal us, our loved ones, and all for whom we personally pray, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart and soul.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.

Pastor:             May the Lord restore us to health and strength, by giving us hope and healing. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 123)

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer of Illumination

Reader:            Holy Spirit, make us aware of the lessons of these scriptures, which were once rejected by others, but are now gladly received by God's people. Open our hearts and minds to the preaching of the Gospel and the praising of Christ's Name.  Amen

Scripture Readings

Sermon & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (unison):

Lord Jesus, without Your resurrection from the dead, there would be no point to our faith. We are truly grateful for the almighty power of God, which raised You back to life, so that we might be given an eternal hope. Cheerfully, we gather before You our tithes and offerings, praying that You will bless them for the continuing life, work, and ministry of Your church here on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn:

Benediction(unison): May Christ grant us focus and strength for each and every day; may the Father bless us with hope and peace; and may the Holy Spirit continue to counsel and direct us, so that we may praise and glorify the One, Triune and Living God, forevermore.  Amen.

Doxology        Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; & Postlude