Approaching God
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude
Call to Worship
Pastor: The LORD is worshiped across all the nations and is exalted throughout the heavens.
People: Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high?
Pastor: From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the LORD is to be praised. Amen.
First Hymn
Prayers of Adoration and Confession
Guide: Loving Creator, whose mighty deeds have blessed Your people, and whose sacred power sustains our lives; we humbly gather in Your presence to joyfully praise Your Holy Name. Your compassionate ways cheer our hearts, and Your Word strengthens our spirits. We gladly place our lives into Your hands, to do Your bidding and serve Your Kingdom.
People: Gracious Father, we try to do our best, but sometimes our sins diminish our faith and our selfish mistakes damage our souls. Forgive us for making choices that are wrong, as well as going against Your commands when we seek to fulfill our own desires. Hear us now as we humbly confess and inwardly pray.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Everlasting God, Your Holy Son Jesus has taken upon Himself the punishment due for our sins. Without His sacrifice, we would remain unforgiven; without His suffering, we would be unsaved. In His Name, we make our confessions and continue to pray, saying, “Our Father...THE LORD’S PRAYER” (debts/debtors).
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus judges us correctly because He knows us completely. We cannot make excuses before Him, nor can we ever justify our sinful choices. He alone stands with the Father, who sent Him to us. When we sincerely confess our sins to Christ and earnestly repent of our selfish ways, Jesus receives our prayers, reclaims our lost souls, and restores us to God's everlasting favor, both now and forever. 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.
Gathering Song
Family Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students, come forward)
Choir Anthem
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: King of all the nations, we come to You for healing and ask that You hear our prayers. In Your sacred presence, we pray that You will anoint us with Your Holy Spirit. Help us to cast off our worries and set aside our anxieties. Smile upon us and bless us with Your comfort; favor us with Your grace and mercy.
People: Loving Lord, heal the sicknesses in our hearts and minds, as well as the injuries of our bodies and souls. Install Your holiness within us and all our loved ones. Grant us recovery and remission, strength and sustenance; health and healing. Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: God speaks to us and calls us His children. He hears our prayers and remains our Loving Father forever. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Singing of ‘Sanctuary.’
Prayer of Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to set aside our personal issues as we approach, read, and listen to God's sacred word. Inspire us with Christ's teaching and then send us into our community with the gifts of faith, hope, and love. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture Readings
The Message
The Apostles' Creed (Traditional version – page 14 of Blue Hymn Book)
Serving God
Offering & Offertory
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, help us to embrace Your commands and joyfully apply Your teaching. You claim us as Your own and we are blessed to have You as our Sovereign and King. At this sacred moment, we give our tithes and offerings, asking for Your blessing, so that we may obediently use them for the continuing ministry of Your Church in this congregation and throughout the world. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully give and pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn
Benediction (unison): May Christ send us out into the world to gladly share God’s love; may the Father strengthen our church so that we may serve Him faithfully; and may the Holy Spirit bind us together with all the saints, in Heaven and on Earth, to glorify, worship, and praise the One, Triune, and Living God, forever and ever. Amen.
Doxology & Postlude
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