Approaching God
Welcome
& announcements
Prelude
Call to Worship
Pastor: The
Lord embraces the weak and needy; He watches over those who are poor and
oppressed.
People: God
presides over all the Earth; He judges the nations justly and fairly.
Pastor: Let
us humbly enter the presence of the One, Triune, and Living God, to give Him our
praises. Amen.
First Hymn
Guide: Lord of hope and blessing, God
of peace and joy, we gather in Your sacred house to offer You our worship and
adoration, as well as our prayers and petitions, knowing that You gladly hear
and receive them. In the midst of anxious and troubled times, You embrace and
care for us in many mysterious and personal ways.
People: Gracious God, we often struggle
to overcome temptation and there are moments when we fail to respect or honor
You with our thoughts, words, and deeds. Forgive us when we forget to heed Your
guiding Spirit, or when we neglect to follow Your commands. Hear us now as we
personally confess our sins to You.
- Silent Confessions -
Guide: Heavenly Father, we begin each
day with the best of intentions, but always seem to fall short of Your
expectations. Today, we ask forgiveness from Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son, whose
sacrifice purchased our salvation, and whose blood cleansed our guilty past. In
His Sacred Name, we make these prayers and continue with His words, saying, "Our
Father …THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors).
Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus often confronted the
people of His time with God’s Truth, which they did not always want to embrace
or understand. Today, we are given His same message, which seeks to challenge
and change our ways. Christ forgives us of all our sins, but He also expects us
forgive one another. Let us rejoice in His grace and praise His Holy Name.
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.
Anthem
Minute for Mission?
Family
Sermon (parents and all children, including Elementary school students come
forward)
Encountering God
Prayers for Health and Healing
Pastor: Let
us rejoice in God's sacred house; let us receive His strength and blessing. This
is where we come, as people of God, to praise His name and glorify His
greatness. We pray for His peace to come into our lives; we await His holy
presence.
People: O
Lord, we seek Your mercy and grace; hear us as we pray. We need Your compassion
and care. Heal us, and all for whom we pray, from all that harms us in body,
mind, heart, and soul.
Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.
Pastor: May
there be peace and hope, strength and recovery for each of our lives. In Jesus'
Name, we pray. Amen. (Healing
prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 122)
Singing of
'Sanctuary’.
Prayer for Illumination
Reader: Holy Spirit, You bless us with
guidance and encouragement, as well as comfort and counsel. Open our hearts and
minds to the message of these scriptures and enable us to apply their lessons
in our daily lives. In Jesus' Name, we
ask. Amen.
Scripture
Readings
The Message
Serving God
Offering
& Offertory
Dedication (unison – led by pastor): Lord Jesus, You have risen from the dead to show us the way to
eternal life. You have given us absolutely everything from God; we know that we
can never repay our debt to You. With grateful spirits and cheerful hearts, we
bring before You our treasures, talents, and time. Take these gifts for the
work of Your ministry, the spreading of the Gospel, and the glorifying of God’s
Name. Amen.
Communion
Closing Hymn
Benediction: May Christ
come into our hearts to challenge our ways and change our lives; may the Father
bless us with joy and love; and may the Holy Spirit continue to refresh our
souls and renew our commitment to the One, Triune, and Living God, both now and
forevermore. Amen.
Doxology &
Postlude
