Approaching God
Prelude
Welcome and announcements
Gathering Song
Call to Worship
Pastor: May the Lord remember His promises to all His people, for we are given hope through them.
People: In the midst of our troubles, we are comforted by the Lord. His words reassure us throughout our lives.
Pastor: Let us come to God, with our worship and praises. Let us glorify His Holy Name. Amen.
First Hymn:
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Guide: Gracious God, each day we turn to You for guidance and try to live our lives by keeping Your commands. At the end of the day, we look to You to pardon our sins, for we will have failed to perfectly keep Your words. Merciful Lord, if we try to ignore Your presence, we are only fooling ourselves. If we think that we can hide our secrets from You, we are deluded.
People: Loving Lord, You gave each of us life, so that we may enjoy the works of Your creation and delight in Your ways. Forgive us for wasting this precious gift, and for straying from Your holy paths. We regret disappointing You, hurting other people, and neglecting our faith. We are sorry for allowing sin to affect our decisions, ruin our relationships, and damage our souls. Hear us now as we silently confess our faults to You alone.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Almighty Father, we are eternally indebted to Your Son Jesus Christ. His sacrifice has saved our souls; His grace has generated faith within our hearts. Christ is the Lord of our lives, the Head of the Church, and the Healer of the World. In His Holy Name, we make our confessions, and through His sacred words, we continue to pray, saying, "Our Father...THE LORD'S PRAYER" (debts/debtors)
Promise of the Gospel:
Guide: Everything that Jesus tells us in the scriptures leads us to experience the love of His Father in Heaven. Because Christ compassionately loves us, He listens to our confessions and forgives all of our mistakes. We are completely washed in His sacred blood and joyfully restored to God's favor, both now and forever. 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, as we abide in Your sanctuary, may Your Holy Spirit descend upon us. As we await Your sacred presence, may Your righteousness cover all our sins.
People: Speak to our hearts, Loving Father, and let Your truth comfort our souls. When we are hurting, heal our pain. When we are grieving, grant us grace. When we are fearful, fill us with faith.
Pastor: Gracious Lord, we depend upon Your promises to sustain us in times of trouble, worry, and stress. Hear our prayers, Holy Lord. Heal our loved ones, and us, from all the harm and ill health that damages our hearts and minds, as well as our bodies and souls. Hear us now as we quietly pray.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: The Lord keeps His word, so we shall not be shaken. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 15)
Singing of “Jesus Draw Me Close."
Prayer of Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, You descend among us to inspire our hearts and minds with Christ's teachings and God's love. Enable us to receive God's message for today. Help us to apply His words throughout the coming week. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
The Message & the Apostles' Creed
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we are only Christians by the grace of God. We cannot earn salvation, nor pay our way into heaven. We owe You absolutely everything. From the fruits of our labors and the resources of our lives, we present to You our tithes and gifts. Accept them for the continuing work of Your church, the preaching of the Gospel, and the proclaiming of God's Name, both in this community and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn:
Benediction (unison): May Christ write His words within our hearts; may the Father grant us a better understanding of His ways; and may the Holy Spirit fill us with an eternal hope in the One, Triune and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.
Doxology May God's Blessing & Postlude
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