Approaching God
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering Song
Call to Worship
Pastor: Let us praise the Lord for every good thing He brings into our lives.
People: May He open our eyes that we may see His glorious deeds; may He open our hearts that we may truly worship Him.
Pastor: May our souls be consumed with His love; may our spirits delight in His presence. Amen.
First Hymn:
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Guide: Almighty Father, each week we collectively worship in Your Holy House; each day, we walk in Your Holy Presence. You have given us life and granted us faith. You have blessed us with hope and filled us with Your love.
People: Gracious God, our sins create a wall between us; our faithless ways separate us from Your sacred and holy kingdom. We are sorry for our past mistakes and personal failings. We regret allowing temptation to overcome our spirits, causing our faith to collapse, and our souls to be damaged. Hear us now as we silently and sorrowfully make our confessions to You.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Everlasting God, we owe everything to You, especially our salvation. You have given Jesus as the joy of our lives and the Savior of our souls. Without His grace, our faith is groundless; without His mercy, our lives are meaningless. We therefore pledge our hearts to Christ our King and seek to serve Him all of our days. In His sacred words, we continue to pray saying, "Our Father, Who art in heaven...THE LORD'S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Jesus teaches us that unless we believe in Him, we will die in our sins. Because we have come to Him today, to seek His pardon and to look for His mercy, Jesus receives our confessions and restores us to God's pleasure. Let us rejoice in Christ, for He is our Eternal Savior and King, 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: In the Lord, we will take our refuge. In His love, we will be encouraged and endure. The Lord sees our trouble and knows of our afflictions. He confronts our fears and seeks to calm our worries.
People: Sometimes Lord, our faith is assailed by sickness and our doubts cause us to question You; please hear our prayers and listen to our pleas. From on high, You watch over us. You examine our plight and understand our pain.
Pastor: God knows His people and He preserves us. He alone has the power to heal us with peace, strength, and love. O Lord, we bring before You our prayers for healing. Come amongst us and touch us with Your loving hands. Be with our loved ones and heal them from all that harms them. Hear us now as we pray.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: The Lord is righteous and He loves justice. He hears our prayers in Jesus' Name. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 11)
Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close.”
Prayer of Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, we have heard that Christ has the words of eternal life and that He is the true source of all that can nourish our souls, and spirits. Let His words and ways enter our hearts and minds, so that we may accept and apply His Gospel teaching each day of our lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
The Message & the Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You built Your church upon the faith and experiences of all Your followers. Today, we are the heirs of Your ways and the messengers of Your words. Take our tithes and gifts and bless them for the continuing work of Your church here in this place, this nation, and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we faithfully give and pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ remain within our hearts and encourage us each day; may the Father enable us to depend upon His blessings; and may the Holy Spirit raise and enhance our faith, so that we may cheerfully, lovingly and thankfully serve the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude
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