Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service

Prelude: 

Call to worship:

Pastor:                                                            Psalm 89:50-51           

Remember, Lord, how your servant has been mocked,

how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,

the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O LORD,

with which they have mocked every step of your Anointed One.

HYMN:  O Jesus I Have Promised......................................... No. 388 vv1-3

 

Prayer of Confession:

 

Guide:             Lord Jesus Christ, just like Your disciples, we know that our faith is weak.  We say that we will follow You, but our choices are not always Christian. Christ, have mercy.

People:            Lord, forgive us.

Guide:             When we neglect our prayers, and choose to ignore Your teaching: Christ, have mercy.

People:            Lord, help us.

Guide:             When we are challenged by the world and pressured into compromising our beliefs: Christ, have mercy.

People:            Lord, strengthen us.

Guide:             When we hide our faith or avoid being known as Christians, Christ, have mercy;

People:            Lord, pardon us.

Guide:             When we cast aside Your Cross and disconnect our sins with Your sacrifice, Christ have mercy.

People:            Lord, cleanse us.

                        Remove our sins with Your precious blood, and graciously restore us to Your service; for Your sake and glory.  Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING:                                            Psalm 55:12-21

 

HYMN:  An Upper Room Did Our Lord Prepare............................... No. 94

OLD TESTAMENT READING:............................................. Psalm 109:1-5

 

ANTHEM: 

NEW TESTAMENT READING:........................................... James 1:12-18

HYMN:  O Sacred Head Now Wounded........................................... No. 98

NEW TESTAMENT READING:                                               John 13:1-17

HOMILY:        Anointed and Attacked                                  Rev. John Stuart

OFFERING & DEDICATION

All:      Lord Jesus, You sacrificed Your life for us, so there is nothing that we can do or give which will ever be equal to Your precious gift.  We gather these tokens and ask that You will bless them for ministry and mission, pastoring and preaching, church planting and faith sharing.  In Your Holy Name. Amen.

COMMUNION  - at the appropriate time, the congregation come forward to receive the bread and wine. After this, the elders will come to those who wish to take communion where they are seated.

Congregational Prayer:         God our Father, Your Son Jesus Christ has left to us this meal of bread and wine in which we share His body and His blood. As we keep the feast of His redeeming love may we feed on Him by faith, receive His grace, and find fullness of life: through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN:  Go to Dark Gethsemane....................................................... No. 97

NEW TESTAMENT READING:                                                 John 18:1-7

 

Congregation Exits Silently

Sunday Prayers - Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday

Approaching God

Welcome & announcements

Gathering Song & prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: LORD God Almighty, Creator of the Universe and Sustainer of our lives, we come to You with our prayers and petitions, our cares and concerns. You have called us by name to come into Your House. You have welcomed us to this sanctuary of praise and peace, holiness and healing.

People: Loving God, in the midst of our troubles, we call upon Your Name. We look for Your help and inspiration; Your patience and forgiveness; and Your mercy and grace. We have sinned against You by allowing ourselves to be overcome by temptation. We have neglected our faith and cast aside Your words. Forgive our foolish ways and selfish choices. Hear us now as we silently pray.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful Father, You lovingly allow us to approach Your Holy Son Jesus to seek forgiveness, absolution, and acquittal for our sins. We praise You for sending Him to us and for His perfect sacrifice, which restores us to Your everlasting Favor. In Christ’s Name and through His words, we continue to pray, saying, “Our Father,…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: We believe and know that Christ is the Holy One of God. His Passion and obedience, His Crucifixion and sacrifice, have given us the glorious opportunity of remitting our sins, renewing our lives, and restoring us to God's love and kingdom forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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)

Baptism

Encountering God

Minute for Mission

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: Come, let us pray for healing from the LORD; let us voice our concerns to the Rock of our salvation. We come before God with personal pleas; we pray to Him sincerely and faithfully.

People: The LORD is the great God, the great King above all. He will hear our prayers and answer our needs. O Lord, from Your hands comes the power of healing; have mercy upon us, as we belong to You.

Pastor: We are His, for He made us; He shapes our lives and has the power to save our souls. Almighty God, we bow down before You; heal us and all our loved ones from sickness and despair; pain and anxiety; suffering and depression. Hear us now as we quietly pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The LORD is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 95)

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, let the words and ways of Jesus touch our hearts today. May His miracles and messages challenge our lives so that we may change our church, community and country. To the glory of God forever. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we express our faith and thanksgiving through these tithes and offerings. Bless them for the life, work and ministry of Your church, as well as the preaching, teaching and proclaiming of Your Gospel. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Communion

Hymn

Benediction (unison): May Christ be the Lord of our lives throughout our days on earth; may the Father enhance our faith and life through His loving ways; and may the Holy Spirit keep us serving the One, Triune and Living God, in this world and the next. Amen.

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

Sunday worship prayers: 5th Sunday in Lent - Lent 5 - 29 Mar

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer
Guide: Lord of all the Earth and King of every nation, we applaud Your glorious deeds and exalt Your Name above all others. Your power has been praised by every generation. You have enhanced our lives with hope and faith.

People: Glorious God of the Universe, we seek to serve You in this sacred sanctuary; we look to laud and honor You with our hearts and lives. Merciful Father, You know everything about us. You have seen us sin and have watched us yield to temptation. We crave Your forgiveness of all our faults and we plead for pardon of our past mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Gracious Lord, Your sovereignty extends over all our lives. You are above and beyond all that we can ever experience or know. Without Your mercy, our lives are meaningless. Without Your Son, we have no salvation. We make these petitions in the Name of Jesus, the Holy One whose sacrifice cleanses our sins. In His own words, we now pray, saying, “Our Father…THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: We can only go to Jesus for forgiveness, for He alone has the authority to restore us to God; He alone has the words of eternal life. So let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus is our Savior and Lord forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung): 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

Minute for Mission – Nominations

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: O LORD, You teach us lessons of faith in times of trouble. Hear us now as we pray. O God, grant us relief from sickness and suffering; help us to hold on to hope and courage.
People: In the face of fear, never forsake us. In times of isolation, be our Comforter. Help us and heal us, O Lord. Strengthen and support us, console our spirits and lighten our burdens.

Pastor: Loving Lord, when we are overcome with worry or weariness, grant us peace of mind and rest for our souls. Gracious God, when we are anxious about our families and friends, bring them wholeness and healing to generate joy in their lives. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The LORD is our fortress of faith and the rock, in whom we take refuge. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 94)

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Sanctuary’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, may we continue to praise God for all that happens in these scriptures. May these stories and events draw us closer to His ways and enable us to share our faith with other people. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2 & The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, You have clearly called us to be here today. We have learned of Your ways and studied God's Word. Bless these offerings and tithes to Your continuing work in this world. May our gifts enhance Your mission to spread the Gospel throughout our community and all over the earth. In Your Holy Name, we give and pray. Amen.

Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ enable us to live each day for Him alone; may the Father free us from fear and keep us in His constant care; and may the Holy Spirit bolster our faith, so that we may belong to the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 4th Sunday in Lent - Lent 4 - 3/22

Approaching God

Announcements & A Word of Welcome
Gathering Song & prelude


First Hymn:

Guide: Loving Lord, whose mighty acts and wondrous deeds reveal to us Your power, creativity and sovereignty over the entire universe, we praise and adore You as our Creator and King. Your ways have been known to our people across the centuries and throughout all nations; we approach You with awe and reverence, dedication and devotion.

People: Gracious God, each day of our lives, You seek to instruct us and guide us by Your holy counsel. Sometimes we rebelliously ignore Your advice and seek to do our own sinful and selfish things.
Forgive our foolish and faithless ways. Pardon us for making wrong choices and self-centered mistakes. Hear us now as we silently confess our sins to You alone.

- Silent Confessions -

Guide: Merciful Father, You have given us Jesus, Your Holy Son, to reclaim our lives, to teach us Your ways, and to save our souls. His obedience and sacrifice has won our salvation. We thank You for restoring us to Your everlasting love, and in the words of Christ, we continue praying, "Our Father, …THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)


Promise of the Gospel

Guide: Jesus is the Christ of our lives, the Anointed and Holy One of God. He alone has the authority to forgive our sins and by His grace, we are cleansed of our sinful past and returned to God's favor. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, now and forever. Amen. (John 7: 41)

Gloria Patri: 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

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: We call upon the Lord, in the midst of all our troubles, and He answers us. Save us, O Lord, from false ways and self-deception. Help us to cling to Your truth.

People: O Lord, You are the source of all our hope; You are the One who brings us healing. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for we are frail and fearful. Grant us strength and renewal.

Pastor: In Your Holy Presence, Lord, we live our lives. We need Your help and long for deliverance from sickness and suffering; pain and discomfort; anxiety and stress. We seek Your peace and pray that You will heal us, and each of our loved ones, from all that harms us in body, mind, heart, and soul.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit.

Pastor: Loving Lord, speak Your peace to us this day and fill our hearts with hope. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.
(Healing prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 120)

Choir Anthem

The Message: Part #1

Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw Me Close.’

Reader: Holy Spirit, may Christ speak to our hearts and may God resurrect our hopes through these scriptures. May we receive and share the blessings of faith, strength and love that we encounter throughout these biblical texts. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The Message: Part #2 & The Apostles' Creed

Serving God
Offering & Offertory

Dedication:

Lord Jesus, all that we are has been fulfilled and accomplished by Your grace. Take these tithes and gifts that we freely offer to You, and use them for the preaching of Your Word, the enhancement of Your Church, and the glorifying of Your Name Amen.


Closing Hymn:

Benediction: May Christ urge and inspire us to fulfill His ministry in our lives; may the Father's great and everlasting love be treasured in our hearts and explicit in our deeds; and may the Holy Spirit keep us loving and serving the One, Triune and Living God, both now and evermore. Amen.

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude

Sunday prayers: 3rd Sunday in Lent - Lent 3 3/15

Approaching God

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering & Prelude

Hymn:

Confessional Prayer

Guide: Lord of Life and Creator of the Universe, we proclaim You as our One, True and Holy God. We serve You as Your called and chosen people. We revere Your wonderful ways and are constantly amazed by Your powerful deeds.

People: Heavenly Father, we seek to please Your heart and follow Your will. Yet we allow pride and bitterness, prejudice and anger to hurt other people, to have our own way, and to fulfill our selfish desires. When we fall into temptation, we separate ourselves from Your Love and deaden our spirits to Your commands. Forgive us for rejecting Your words and damaging our faith. Hear us now as we humbly confess our sins to You alone.

- SILENCE -

Guide: Merciful God, You graciously have given Your Son Jesus to die for our failures, faults and fallen ways. By His wounds, we are healed. By His sacrifice, we are forgiven and restored to You. We bring these prayers in Christ’s Name and through His own words, we unite our hearts with Him, saying, “Our Father, … THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)

Promise of the Gospel
Guide: Jesus saves us from sinful destruction and the eternal wrath of God. He wants us to choose life over death, faith over fear, and obedience over defiance. When we sincerely come to Him for forgiveness, He grants us mercy and grace. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus our Savior rescues us forever. Amen.

Gloria Patri (sung) : 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)

Minute for Mission

Encountering God

Choir Anthem

Prayers for Health and Healing

Pastor: The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. God establishes our world and sustains our lives.
People: Eternal God, we are finite and frail, in need of help, healing and wholeness. We lift up our voices of prayer to You, from our weary hearts and troubled minds.

Pastor: Mighty Redeemer, have mercy upon us and heal us of all that harms us in body, mind, heart and spirit. We also bring to You our families and friends, colleagues and neighbors who need Your Loving touch and holy healing. Hear us now as we pray.

Silent Prayers for others and ourselves. A candle is lit

Pastor: The LORD is merciful and holy; just and faithful. He hears our prayers in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(Healing Prayer based on words & phrases from Psalm 93)

The Message: Part #1
Singing of ‘Jesus, Draw me Close’

Prayer for Illumination:
Reader: Holy Spirit, help us to see what Christ is doing amongst us. Enable us to hear His words from these holy passages. Teach us His ways so that we may tell others of His ministry, mission and kingdom. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

Scripture Readings, The Message Part #2, and The Apostles’ Creed

Serving God

Offering & Offertory:
Dedication (unison): Lord Jesus, we have worshipped You in song and praised You with our music. We have gathered our tithes and offerings and placed them before Your throne. Take these lifeless tokens and bless them, so that they may bring life to Your words by ministering in our congregation, across our community, and throughout this country. In Your Holy Name, we freely give and pray. Amen.

Hymn:

Benediction (unison): May Christ remind us that our lives are not our own, but chiefly belong to Him; may the Father bestow His favor upon all that we do; and may the Holy Spirit reside in our hearts, so that we may die to sin and live for faith in the One, Triune and Living God, both now and always. Amen.

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; etc & Postlude