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
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