Approaching God
Welcome
& Announcements
Prelude
& Gathering Song
Lighting of First
Advent Candle
Herald: Hear us, O
Shepherd of Israel and Christ of our People, come among us and save us.
People: Restore
us, O God, to Your Kingdom and renew the Hope that we have in Jesus, Our Lord.
Lighting of 1 candle
Herald: O God
Almighty, let Your face shine upon us as we worship and glorify Your Holy Name.
Amen.
Hymn
Prayer of Adoration
and Confession
Guide:
Immortal and Almighty
Lord, we come here to sing of Your greatness and praise Your magnificent ways.
Your ways are undiminished and Your words are always fulfilled; we seek Your
Holy Presence here and devote ourselves to worshiping You alone.
People: Lord
of Salvation and Grace, we are sinful and selfish people. We are sometimes distracted
and become unworthy servants. We follow our own desires and damage our faith
with pride, greed, and neglect. Tear down the walls of stubbornness and foolishness
that we have built against You. Come into our hearts and help us to seek Your forgiveness.
Hear us now as we personally pray.
-
SILENCE -
Guide:
Loving Father, without
Jesus we would have no way of ever being forgiven. Without His sacrifice, we
would have no salvation. We thank You for this opportunity to sincerely confess
our sins, to acknowledge our guilt, so that we may be pardoned by Your grace
and favor. We make our prayers in Jesus’ Name and through His holy words, we
unite our hearts together, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER.”
(debts/debtors).
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: When
we come to the Lord and rely upon His words, He releases us from the wrath of
God. When we ask Jesus to cleanse us by His blood, He restores us to God’s
holiness. So let us truly rejoice and give thanks, for Christ is our Savior and
we are completely forgiven, from this day forth 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.
Family
Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come
forward)
Encountering God
Anthem
Prayers for Health
and Healing
Pastor:
Let
us declare our joy to God, who is our strength; let us proclaim His great and
mighty works! Gracious Lord, remove our burdens from us; release us from our
deepest worries and concerns. In the midst of our sickness and illnesses, at
the time when we are weak and helpless, we look to You, O Living God to answer
our prayers.
People:
Loving God, give us
patience to wait for Your response; grant us mercy to all of our requests.
Subdue
our fears and protect us from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and
spirit. Merciful Father, heal us and all our loved ones with Your gracious power.
Hear us now as we silently pray.
Silent
Prayers for ourselves and others. A candle is lit
Pastor:
The
Lord will bless us with recovery and strength; with His goodness and grace, we
shall experience healing, hope, and salvation. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing
Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 81)
Singing
of ‘Sanctuary.’
Prayer for
Illumination
Reader:
Holy Spirit, bring us into Christ’s Presence
and let Him answer all of our questions about life. Show us how powerful God’s
love is, and enable us to apply these lessons of faith in our daily lives. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture
Readings
The
Message & the Apostles’ Creed
Serving God
Offering
& Offertory
Dedication:
(unison – led by pastor) Lord Jesus,
there have been many times when this church has become a sanctuary to us and we
have been supported by the love of Your people. We trust You to work among us
each week, and we hope that we serve You faithfully, diligently, and sincerely.
Take our tithes and offerings and bless them for the life, work, and ministry
of this church, to help our congregation reach out to the wider community. In
Your Name, we give and pray. Amen.
Hymn
Benediction:
(unison) May we give thanks to Christ each day for all that we personally
owe Him; may we respect and revere God’s work throughout today’s world; and may
we honor the guidance and counsel, the power and direction of the Holy Spirit,
in this life and the one to come, to the glory of the One, Triune, and Living
God, both now and always. Amen.
Doxology
& Postlude
