Approaching God
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering Song
Call to Worship
Pastor: The LORD is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.
People: Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high?
Pastor: From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the LORD is to be praised. Amen.
First Hymn:
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Guide: Living Lord and Divine Creator, whose mighty deeds have delivered Your people, and whose sacred power sustains our lives; we humbly gather in Your presence to joyfully praise Your Holy Name. Your mysterious ways challenge our lives, and Your plans are never thwarted. We place our lives at Your disposal, to do Your bidding and serve Your Kingdom.
People: Heavenly Father, we confess that our sins bring shame upon us, and that our selfish mistakes damage our souls. Forgive us for choosing to do wrong, and for deserting Your commands when we seek to fulfill our own desires. Here us now as we pray.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Everlasting God, You have laid the disgrace of our deceits and the humiliation of our iniquities upon Jesus. You have made Him the scapegoat for our sins and the victim of our vices. Without His sacrifice, we would remain unforgiven. Without His suffering, we would be unsaved. In His Name , we make our confessions and continue to pray, saying, "Our Father....THE LORD’S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus judges us correctly because He knows us completely. We cannot make excuses before Him, nor can we justify our sinful choices. He alone stands with the Father, who sent Him to us. When we sincerely confess our sins to Christ and earnestly repent of our foolish ways, Jesus receives our prayers, reclaims our lost souls, and restores us to God's everlasting favor, both now and forever. 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: King of all the nations, we come to You for healing; may our prayers not be in vain. We gather together in Your holy presence, and ask that You anoint us with Your Healing Spirit.
People: O LORD, throw off the fetters of our fears; cast aside our worries that chain us to despair. Smile upon us and bless us with Your comfort; favor us with Your grace and mercy.
Pastor: Rebuke the sicknesses in our hearts and minds; heal the injuries of our bodies and souls. Loving God, install Your holiness within us and all our loved ones. Grant us recovery and remission, strength and sustenance; health and healing. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: God speaks to us and calls us His children. He hears our prayers and remains our Loving Father. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 2)
Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.” (twice)
Prayer of Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to leave behind our personal issues as we approach God's sacred word. Inspire us with Christ's teaching and send us into our community with faith, hope, and love. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
The Message and the Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we cannot ignore Your commands, nor set aside Your teaching. You claim us as Your own and we need to respect You as our Master and King. We give of our lives and resources, our tithes and offerings, asking for You to bless them, so that we may sacredly use them for the continuing ministry of Your Church in this congregation and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ send us out into the world to do God's will; may the Father strengthen our church so that we may serve His ways; and may the Holy Spirit bind us together with all the saints to glorify, worship and praise the One, Triune and Living God forever and ever. Amen.
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude
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