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
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