Approaching God
Welcome
and Announcements
Prelude
Gathering
Song
Call to worship
Liturgist: Your
word, O LORD, brightens our lives and guides our paths.
People: May our praises be acceptable to
You, O God, as You teach us from the scriptures.
Liturgist: Your ways are our gift forever;
they are the joy of our hearts, so we will worship and glorify You, O Living
God.
Hymn
Prayer of Adoration
and Confession
Guide: Lord God and King of the
Universe, whose gracious words sustain the nations and whose power is almighty,
we gather in Your Holy Name and offer our simple praises to Your Everlasting Majesty.
Your divine ways cross over into our human lives and affect our decisions each
day. All of our thoughts and deeds are known to You. All of our personal
mistakes and secret sins are not hidden from You.
People: Eternal
God, we are guilty of being selfish and proud, stubborn and bitter, as well foolish
and sinful. We regret the self-centered choices that we have made, and the
times when we have neglected our faith. We are ashamed of those occasions when
we have disappointed You, and of those careless moments when we have dishonored
the Name of Jesus. Forgive us, Father God, and hear us now as
we personally confess our faults and sins to You.
-
SILENCE -
Guide: Compassionate Lord, we praise
You for hearing our prayers and accepting our pleas for forgiveness. We thank
You for Your Son Jesus Christ and for His Sacrifice upon the Cross of Shame,
which has given us hope, as well as the unequaled opportunity of being restored
to Your favor and grace forevermore. In the Precious Name of Jesus, we pray
together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
Promise of the
Gospel:
Guide: Jesus knew that He had to die
on the Cross for us. He also knows that we are severely tested by temptation
and troubled by weaknesses throughout our lives. He is willing to forgive our
sins when we come to Him freely, honestly, and sincerely. So let us exalt His
Holy Name and rejoice in His favor forever. Amen.
Gloria
Patri
Children’s
sermon
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health
and Healing
Pastor: Heal
us, O LORD, and enable us to lead faithful lives; help us to trust in You
without wavering. Look kindly upon us, LORD; pacify our troubled hearts and
ease our anxious minds.
People: Your love is always with us; we
gain strength from Your Saving Power and Eternal Truth. Heal us from all that
harms us so that we may proclaim aloud your praise and tell of all your wonderful deeds. Hear us
now, as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is
lit
Pastor: May
we lead faithful lives and be grateful for the mercy and compassion of the One,
True and Living God. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing
Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 26)
Prayer for
Illumination
Reader
: Holy Spirit, do not
forsake us or cause our faith to diminish. Encourage us through Christ’s words
and build up our beliefs with His teaching. Open our hearts to His precious
ways, and our lives to His Will. 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 are the Head of our church
and at the center of our lives. All of the ministries and missions, programs
and projects, as well as the experiences and events that we share, are
sustained by Your Will and fulfilled through Your Love. Bless this offering so
that these tokens may be used to enhance Your Kingdom in this community, and to
glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.
Communion
Hymn
:
Benediction (unison): May
Jesus continually encourage and embrace us; may the Father forgive us and reconcile
us to His ways; and may the Holy Spirit make us acceptable in the sight of the
One, Triune, and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.
Postlude
