New Year Devotions: Happy New You

Like everyone else, I try to make resolutions at the beginning of the new year. Like most people, I fail to live up to my own expectations. This year I'm going to try something different. I've written a new e-book called "Happy New You," which contains 31 short daily devotions for the month of January. My plan is to read and reflect on God's Word each day and try to get closer to Christ right at the beginning of the year.

I believe that if I do this, then I will make God the focus of my 2014 journey. Would you like to join me? If so, then you can also do this by getting the e-book for your kindle, PC, Mac, or mobile device. The link to the book is contained in the box below.

God bless you all. May 2014 be a year where your hopes and dreams are all fulfilled in Christ!

Jigsaw Nativity by Stushie

Advent devotions for Kindle

Advent is now upon us and many Christians are looking for devotions to help them through each day of this very special season. Over the past three years, hundreds of people have used my Advent devotions on Kindle. This year, my Kindle Advent devotion book is called "Holding On To Hope."

It contains 25 new daily devotions with Bible verses, prayers, questions for reflection, as well as my own specially created pieces of digital artwork.

The Kindle book only costs 99 cents and, with the new free Kindle app for all laptops and mobile devices now available, any one can get to purchase a copy and join the growing number of people who use these books.

Advent 4 Sunday Prayers - Dec 22

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship: Advent Four

Pastor:                 Isaiah 7:14          Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Family:                  Love is the theme of the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Love is what we all seek from our families and friends. The scriptures tell us that God is love, and that He loved the world so much, He allowed His Son Jesus to come among us. Love is at the heart of our faith and will continue beyond our mortal lives, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lighting of Four Advent Candles, including the Pink Joy Candle.

Family:                  May the love of God be experienced by all in our worship today.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.               Singing of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

Hymn

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal Foundation of All Life, Everlasting God and Creator of the Universe, we come before You as servants and seekers, as well as disciples and people devoted to You. Living Lord, You are our Rock and refuge, our shield and salvation, and also our gracious leader and loving guide.

People:                 Heavenly Father, we have sometimes wandered from Your ways and pushed against Your righteousness. We have chosen to embrace our pride and greed; we have followed after false notions and selfish sins. Forgive us for being unfaithful, unholy, and unworthy. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful Lord, we regret our past mistakes and look to Jesus for salvation. We turn away from our guilty sins and seek Christ to renew our lives. Keep us in fellowship with Jesus and help us to remain united to Him. In His Holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Christ was sent by our Heavenly Father to save the world from sin. He sacrificed Himself so that we may be given the opportunity to be forgiven of all things and restored to God’s favor and grace. Without Jesus, we have no hope of receiving the love of God. With Christ, we are spiritually purified and totally pardoned. We rejoice in His power and Holy Name, 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

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                 O Lord, in the midst of this sanctuary, our souls yearn for Your Favor, and our hearts cry out for healing. Bless us, Living God, for we set our hopes on You and trust You for our strength.

People:                 Hear our prayers, O LORD God Almighty; listen to us, O God of Jacob. Look upon Your people, gathered here in Your Name. Look upon us with mercy and compassion, for You alone, O LORD, can fill us with hope and help us through each day.

Pastor:                 Gracious God, do not withhold Your power from us; please heal our loved ones from their sickness and pain, their anxieties and depression, as well as their illnesses and injuries. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                 O LORD Almighty, blessed are those who trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 84)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                 Holy Spirit, enable us to receive God’s word into our hearts through the reading of these sacred scriptures. Lead us with Christ’s teaching and presence in our lives. May we experience Him being born in our spirits this day and forevermore. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You are the Perfect One and our lives are transformed by Your mercy and grace. In return, we pledge to You our lives and dedicate our time, talents, and offering to You alone. Take these gifts and bless them for Your work in the world, as well as Your ministry among us. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen. 

Hymn

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to love and support our neighbors each day; may the Father help us to treat one another with mercy and grace; and may the Holy Spirit lead us to fulfill God’s law through being servants of His Kingdom and disciples of Christ, for now and always. Amen.

Doxology & Postlude

Advent 3 Sunday Prayers - Dec 15

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship: Advent Three

Pastor:                 Isaiah 35:1-2                      The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Family:                  Joy is the theme of the Third Sunday in Advent. Joy refreshes our spirits in times of trouble and emptiness. Jesus Christ is the everlasting joy of our loving hearts. We look forward to that glorious day when He will return among us, so that the whole Earth may rejoice with Him forevermore.

Lighting of Three Advent Candles, which includes the Pink Joy candle.

Family:                  May the joy of Christ be present in our lives as we worship Him as our King.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.               Singing of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

Hymn   

               

Prayer of Confession and Adoration

Guide:                  Almighty Lord, whose power cannot be limited and whose will can never be diminished; we applaud Your majestic works of creation and praise Your deeds of deliverance throughout history.  You sustain the Universe through mercy and grace. You watch over our lives with great care and compassion. Who are we to receive such blessings? What are we that You should love us so perfectly?

People:                 Living God, the Earth belongs to You and everything in it. We joyfully seek to serve You all of our days, but sometimes we fail and make mistakes. We hurt other people with our foolish words and thoughtless deeds. We neglect the real needs of other people and cast aside our faith at times. Forgive our selfish ways and sinful choices. Help us to turn to Jesus for the mercy that we require, as well as for the grace that we do not deserve. Hear us now as we pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Loving Father, thank You for sending Jesus into our world to give us the joyful opportunity of being restored to Your Favor and Kingdom. We praise You for His perfect obedience and sacred sacrifice which have brought us complete and eternal salvation. In His words, we now pray:  “Our Father….The Lord’s Prayer (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus is the evening and morning star of our lives. He gives us purpose and meaning so that we can follow His ways and walk in his paths. When we are disobedient to God and sinfully selfish, He forgive our sins and helps us through His wisdom, teaching, and Spirit to change our lives and restore us to God. So let us truly rejoice and give thanks, for Jesus is our Savior and we are blessed through the riches of His grace and the wonders of His love. 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  We trust in You, O Lord, for You are good and we live to enjoy Your strength and salvation. We delight in You, and we pray that You will grant us the desires of our hearts.

People:                 We commit ourselves and our loved ones to You, O Lord, for we trust that You will help us and heal us from all harm. You brighten our lives with the promises of Your love. We pray that You will listen to our concerns and allay our fears through the power of faith.

Pastor:                  Let us be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for His grace. May our loved ones also await the Lord and abide in His way. May He bless them with hope, healing, and strength.          

               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  Salvation comes from the Lord, for He is our stronghold in time of trouble. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.                (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 37)

Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, challenge us to change our lives through the scriptures we read today. Enable us to be worthy of Christ’s Name by applying the lessons we learn from the Bible. Grant us the gift of Your Spirit in our lives and enhance our understanding of God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory     

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor)                   Lord Jesus, we feast from Your blessings and quench our spiritual thirst with Your teaching and truth. In response, we gather and present this offering, recognizing that there are ministries and missions which You have called upon our church to support, strengthen, and fulfill. May we glorify You through these gifts, as well as the giving of our lives. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn                                   

Benediction (unison):    May Christ keep us free from ignoring His wonders and ways in our lives. May the Father eliminate conceit in our hearts and replace it with compassion; and may the Holy Spirit deepen our faith and prepare us for the joyous time when all things will be reconciled to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology            

Postlude

Advent 2 Sunday Prayers - Dec 8

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship: Advent Two

Pastor:                 Isaiah 11:6-7      The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Family:                  Peace is the theme of the Second Sunday in Advent. Peace is what we all long for in our lives and the scriptures tell us of a wonderful day when all of nature will be at peace forever. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and we welcome His sacred presence in the world.

Lighting of Two Advent candles

Family:                  May Christ’s peace descend upon our hearts and souls during this time of praise.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.               Singing of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

Hymn   

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Eternal Majesty, whose riches and resources are unlimited; whose power is absolute and abounding with holiness; we gather before You in this place of praise, peace, and prayer. You have set apart this time in our lives to worship and adore You. We have responded to Your call and we continue to bless Your Holy Name.

People:                 Gracious Father, we confess our sins to You. We have stored up bitterness in our hearts. We have allowed pride to damage our souls. We have hurt other people with our words and disappointed You with our deceptions. We have fulfilled our own desires and cast aside Your commandments. Forgive us, Merciful God, as we repent of our sinful ways and selfish deeds. Hear us now as we personally seek Your pardon.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Compassionate Lord, who permits us to call upon Your Son for help, healing, and wholeness, we praise You for the promises of salvation through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus. Without His obedience to You, we would remain unforgiven. Through His sacrifice, we are pardoned and restored to Your favor forever. Hear us now as we pray in Christ’s words, saying, “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus is the King of Creation and the Lord of our lives. We did not give this honor to Him. Through His complete devotion and perfect obedience, God bestowed upon Jesus all authority on Earth and in heaven to forgive our sins, to restore us to God’s favor, so that we may be welcomed into His Eternal Kingdom. Let us rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our One, True, and Only Savior, both now and always.  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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Your healing love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens; Your faithfulness to the skies. Your strength is like the mighty mountains; Your justice is deep and unfailing.

People:                 O LORD, we pray that You will preserve our lives and loved ones. How precious is Your constant love and mercy to us! May our families and friends find refuge in Your presence and healing from all that harms them.

Pastor:                  May we all regain our health and strength from the abundance of Your power; may You grant our petitions and delight us with Your grace. Hear us now as we pray.

                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Leader:                 Living and Gracious Lord, continue Your love to those who need You, and Your healing to those most cherished in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 36)

Singing of Sanctuary

Prayer for Illumination

Reader :               Holy Spirit, challenge and change us through the truths that these sacred scriptures reveal. Move our hearts and show us how to fulfill Christ’s message in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory     

Dedication (unison – led by pastor)                        Lord Jesus, You know us completely and perfectly understand everything about our lives. We often fail to fulfill our service and devotion to You, and yet You still allow us to receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. With humble and sincere thanks, we offer You our time, talents, and money. Take these tokens of our gratitude and bless them for the continuing life, work, and ministry of Your Church in this community, across this nation, and throughout the world. In Your Precious Name, we pray. Amen.  

Hymn                   

               

Benediction (unison):    May Christ protect us from our sinful nature and keep us on His Holy path; may the Father continually cultivate our faith through His Love and Grace; and may the Holy Spirit enable us to branch out into the world to effectively witness to God’s kingdom, glory, and power. Both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology

Postlude

Advent 1 Sunday Prayers - Dec 01

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship: Advent One

Pastor:                 Isaiah 2:3            Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Family:                  Hope is the theme of the First Sunday in Advent. Hope reminds us that our future is in God’s safe hands and that His promises will always be fulfilled. He teaches us His ways through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lighting of First Advent candle.

Family:                  We are blessed by Christ’s Birth and redeemed through His Resurrection.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.               Singing of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

Hymn   

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, whose deeds are constantly remembered and faithfully celebrated by every generation; whose power knows no limitations, and whose kingdom never ends; we gather before You to honor Your historic acts and to worship Your wonderful ways.

People:                 Gracious Lord, we have constantly known and experienced Your Wisdom and Love. Across the span of our lives, You have never forsaken or failed us. However, we have plainly rebelled and sinned against You. We have led fallen lives and made foolish mistakes. We have succumbed to selfish ways and surrendered to temptation. Forgive us, Merciful God, and hear our personal confessions.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Holy God, without Christ’s grace, we have no hope of forgiveness. Without Christ’s mercy, we could not be restored to Your favor and kingdom. Thank You for His sacrifice. Thank You for His Ministry among us. Thank You for reconciling us to You through Him. For we make our prayers in Jesus’ Name, and through His own Holy words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  We recognize Jesus as God’s True and Holy Son. Only Christ has the authority on Earth to forgive our foolish ways and pardon our personal sins. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus came into our world to reconcile all things to God, through His Obedience, Sacrifice, and Love. 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  Contend, O LORD, with those things which harm us; defend us against all things which weaken our bodies, minds, and spirits. Listen to our heartfelt prayers and pleas for healing; arise, Heavenly Father, and come to our aid.

People:                 Brandish Your power against those viruses and diseases, sicknesses and cancers which threaten our health. Grant peace for our troubled minds and bring strength to our souls by becoming our complete and holistic salvation.

Pastor:                  Permit our loved ones to also rejoice in Your healing, LORD;  let them recover through Your total deliverance. Enable us to give You thanks in this congregation for answered prayers; from the depths of our souls, we bring You our concerned pleas and personal petitions for hope, health, and healing.                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May we and all our loved ones say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of His people." In Jesus’ Name.             Amen.                  (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 35)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, assure us, as we go through life, that God has made Jesus our Savior, Redeemer and Lord. Reveal to us, through these sacred scriptures, the meaning of Christ’s message and ministry for us today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:    

Dedication (unison – led by pastor)                        Lord Jesus, Your grace gives us hope and we are blessed by Your promises of salvation. With our time and talents, as well as our resources and gifts, You can enhance the ministries and missions of this church. Take these tokens from our labors and savings, and bless them for Your work in this congregation, community, and around the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn                                   

Benediction (unison):    May Christ keep us constant in our daily faith; may the Father continue to involve us in His work of reconciliation; and may the Holy Spirit continually inspire our spirits, nourish our souls, and provide us with many opportunities to witness to the glory, kingdom, and power of the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and forever. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Sunday Prayers: Christ is King Sunday - Nov 24

Approaching God

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Leader:                 Let us come before the Lord with our songs of gratitude and prayers of thanksgiving.

People:                 We will gratefully worship the God of all goodness and the Creator of all compassion.

Leader:                 O Living Lord, hear us as we praise You for the gifts of life and love in our lives. Amen.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Everlasting God, Whose powerful words of creation brought forth light and life, we adore You for being our Creator and we serve You for being our King. Throughout the world, people are gladly praising Your Holy Name and we rejoice with them at this holy and sacred time.

People:                 Almighty Lord, You have guided our paths and clarified our thoughts. You have given us peace in the midst of our troubles and protection during times of trial. You have sustained us by Your grace and love, so we are truly thankful for Your presence and influence in our lives.

Guide:                  Gracious Lord, we know that we have sinned. We confess to being shallow people at times and faithless Christians. We have hurt loved ones with words of anger and disappointed others with our mistakes. We have fallen into temptation too many times and have allowed sin to blemish our souls and character. Forgive us, Lord, for the misdeeds of our lives and for the good deeds we have neglected. Hear us now as we humbly pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Merciful God, we are eternally grateful for Your Son Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and our Savior. His blood has cleansed our souls; His broken body has painfully paid the price for our sins. We are thankful for His perfect obedience and almighty sacrifice. In Him, through Him, and by Him alone, we are saved and restored forever. Hear us now as we pray His wonderful words, saying, “Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus gathers us to Himself and fills us with His grace and love. He takes the broken pieces of our sinful lives and heals us of all our past and personal sins. Let us therefore rejoice and be truly thankful, for Jesus is our Savior, both now and forevermore. 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the Earth is full of His unfailing love. The plans of the LORD stand firm forever; the purposes of His heart are sustained through all generations.

People:                 O Living God, who formed the hearts, minds, and bodies of us all, consider our present troubles and provide for our personal needs. Your eyes are constantly on us; You know our worries and fears. We place our lives into Your hands and put our hopes in Your unfailing love.

Pastor:                  You are our help and shield, O Lord. We wait for Your mercy and ask that You heal us, our families, as well as our friends of all our hurts, harms, and hindrances. For we trust in Your Holy Name and we humbly ask that You hear our heartfelt petitions and       personal prayers.

                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You and Jesus’ Name.                 Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 33)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, descend upon us and open our hearts to God’s message. Grant us understanding of these scriptures and give us opportunities to apply these sacred words in our daily lives. For the sake of our Savior and in Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

The Message and the Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison – led by pastor)                   Lord Jesus, through Your death, You made a new covenant with humanity, which we gratefully acknowledge and fully proclaim. We therefore freely give our lives to You in service of Your Everlasting Kingdom. Take these gifts that we offer, and bless them for the ministries and missions that You would have our church undertake, support, as well as fulfill to the glory of God and the preaching of His Word. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.  

Hymn                   

Benediction (unison):                    May Christ deliver us from God’s wrath and enable us to do His will; may the Father spare us from temptation and reclaim us as His own; and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide, counsel, and comfort us, both now and forevermore. Amen.

Doxology and Postlude

Blue Christmas Service Outline

Blue Christmas Service Outline

Prelude: As the Deer

Call to Worship

Psalm 42:1-3      As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

Hymn:   In the Bleak Midwinter

Prayer (unison):                               Gracious God, You know us perfectly and You understand what we are presently experiencing. Our lives have been tainted by hurt and sorrow, disappointment and loss. We are weak and frail, so we depend upon Your love to support and sustain us. Carry the burden of our hearts and help us to overcome our troubles. When we feel lonely and vulnerable, be our strength and shield. When we experience isolation and confusion, be our peace and tranquility. Hear our prayers, both spoken and unspoken. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.

Reading: Psalm 13:1-6

Poem: Blue Christmas: Part 1

There's no room at Christmas for sadness,
There's no place for hearts that are blue.
All the world wants to hear
Is a word full of cheer,
Not a sigh, not a tear, not from you.

There's no room at Christmas for loneliness,
There's no place for your emptiness and grief.
All the world wants is peace,
Mistletoe and Christmas trees,
Not a heartache that mars its beliefs.

There's no room at Christmas for sickness,
There's no place or time to be ill.
All the world wants is health,
Prosperity and wealth,
Not a pain that can spoil its goodwill.

There's no room at Christmas for Jesus,
There's no place for His family, too,
All the world would not share,
No one seems to really care,
A stable will just have to do.

Silence

Reading: John 6: 60-69

Hymn:   What Child Is This?

Homily

Prayer:                 Lord Jesus, You knew what it was like to be rejected and forsaken, wounded and hurt by other people. You understand the pain that we feel and the sadness that we carry. Help us to share our hearts and tears with You. Embrace us in our weakness; strengthen us in our plight. For we pray this in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Poem: Blue Christmas: Part 2

Yes, there's room at Christmas for sadness,
There's a place in God's heart for you.
For He knows pain and loss,
Which He felt on the cross,
So this candle is lit here for you,

For Christ knows what it's like to be blue.

Lighting of Blue Candle

Revelation 7:16-17          Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Quiet dismissal

Advent Candle Readings 2013

Advent One

Pastor:                 Isaiah 2:3            Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Family:                  Hope is the theme of the First Sunday in Advent. Hope reminds us that our future is in God’s safe hands and that His promises will always be fulfilled. He teaches us His ways through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lighting of First Advent candle.

Family:                  We are blessed by Christ’s Birth and redeemed through His Resurrection.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Advent Two

Pastor:                 Isaiah 11:6-7      The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

Family:                  Peace is the theme of the Second Sunday in Advent. Peace is what we all long for in our lives and the scriptures tell us of a wonderful day when all of nature will be at peace forever. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and we welcome His sacred presence in the world.

Lighting of Two Advent candles

Family:                  May Christ’s peace descend upon our hearts and souls during this time of praise.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Advent Three

Pastor:                 Isaiah 35:1-2                      The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Family:                  Joy is the theme of the Third Sunday in Advent. Joy refreshes our spirits in times of trouble and emptiness. Jesus Christ is the everlasting joy of our loving hearts. We look forward to that glorious day when He will return among us, so that the whole Earth may rejoice with Him forevermore.

Lighting of Three Advent Candles, which includes the Pink Joy candle.

Family:                  May the joy of Christ be present in our lives as we worship Him as our King.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Advent Four

Pastor:                 Isaiah 7:14          Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Family:                  Love is the theme of the Fourth Sunday in Advent. Love is what we all seek from our families and friends. The scriptures tell us that God is love, and that He loved the world so much, He allowed His Son Jesus to come among us. Love is at the heart of our faith and will continue beyond our mortal lives, through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lighting of Four Advent Candles, including the Pink Joy Candle.

Family:                  May the love of God be experienced by all in our worship today.

All:                         Glory be to God on high! Amen.

Christmas Eve

Pastor:                 Isaiah 9:6-7        For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Family:                  On this holy night, Christ will be born among us and our spirits will be at one with Him. He came into the world to offer us salvation. He will return again and meet us face-to-face, when we, as Christian believers, will be restored to God’s favor forevermore.

Lighting of all four candles, plus the white Christ candle in the center.

Family:                  May we all know the blessing of Christ in our hearts and homes this night. May His blessings of hope, peace, joy, and love be with us and all our loved ones, both near and far.

All:         Glory be to God on high and on Earth, peace and goodwill to everyone. Amen.

Sunday Prayers for Ordinary 31c - Nov 03

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Gathering Song

Call to Worship

Liturgist:               Almighty God, Your promises have always been fulfilled and we have been constantly blessed by them.

People:                 Gracious Lord, Your righteousness is everlasting and Your Words are forever true.

Leader:                 Heavenly Father, Your teachings are always right; they give us a better understanding so that we may live in Your Presence forever. Amen.

Hymn

               

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Guide:                  Almighty Father, Who created the land, sea and air, we worship Your wonderful ways and praise Your everlasting Name. You are the King of Glory, Whose words produce Life and Whose thoughts uphold the Universe. You have filled history with Your deeds of deliverance and sustained our people with Your Love. You have directed our destinies and determined the paths that we should follow.

People:                 Merciful God, we have sought safety in Your plan of salvation and refuge in Your acts of  redemption. You have become a haven of healing and a harbor of holiness for our minds, our hearts, and our souls. Become a river of life for us, cleansing us of our past mistakes, freeing us from our vilest sins, as well as pardoning us of our selfish ways. We acknowledge that we have disappointed You with our false choices and feeble faith. Hear us now as we personally confess our sins to You.

- SILENCE -

Guide:                  Father God, without Jesus, we have no hope of forgiveness. Without His sacrifice, we have no way to be forgiven. We place our sinful selves into His Hands and pray that His power will restore us to Your Favor and Eternal Kingdom. For we ask this in our Precious Savior’s Name and through Christ’s own words, we pray, saying,

“Our Father….THE LORD’S PRAYER.” (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel

Guide:                  Jesus alone has the authority to forgive our sins, to feed our souls, and to give us God’s blessings. When we truly believe that He is the Son of God and place our lives into His Keeping, we are guaranteed forgiveness for our sins and receive God’s everlasting love. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our One, True, and Living Savior, both now and always. 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.

Children’s Sermon

Encountering God

Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor:                  We will worship you, O LORD, for You lift us out of the depths of despair and will not let our troubles overwhelm us. We call to You for help, for You alone can truly heal us.

People:                 We feel secure in Your Presence and safe in Your Love. Strengthen our faith and diminish our fears. Fill us with peace and free us from pain. O LORD, show Your favor to our friends and families. Grant them health and healing; release them from dismay and depression. Bring to them hope and happiness. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

                               

Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit

Pastor:                  May our hearts sing to You and never be silent. May we give thanks to You forever. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.                (Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 30)

Prayer for Illumination

Reader:                                Holy Spirit, You know what lies ahead of each of our lives. You know the joys we will celebrate and the problems we will encounter. Prepare our hearts and minds for those future times by enabling us to hear Christ’s words, receive them in our hearts, and apply them in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings                         

Message

The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory

Dedication (in unison):                                 Lord Jesus, may we primarily give of our lives to Your ministry in this church, community, and nation. May we freely give to You of our time, talents, and resources in ways and means that will honor and glorify Your Name. May You favorably bless these tokens and pledges, these gifts and offerings for the life, work, and mission of Your church at Erin, as well as throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen. 

Hymn                   

Benediction (unison):    May Christ enable us to branch out into the world in service, ministry, and mission; may the Father establish strong and firm roots of faith in our hearts, souls, and minds; and may the Holy Spirit empower us with godly gifts, so that we may witness to Christ’s grace, God’s love, and the Spirit’s compassion, both now and always. Amen.