Calls To Worship
(Psalm 66:1-4)
Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah
(Psalm 96:8-13)
Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; The world also is firmly established, It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.” Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; Let the sea roar, and [d]all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.
(Psalm 96:1,2: Responsive)
Oh Sing to the Lord a new Song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
( Psalm 5:7-8)
But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; Make Your way straight before my face.
(Psalm 84: Responsive)
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul long, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
(Isaiah 55:6, 7)
Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
(Matthew 11:28-29)
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
(Psalm 95:6, 100:3: Responsive)
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people,
and the sheep of his pasture.
( Responsive)
Leader: Christ the Lord is risen!
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Leader: O sing unto the Lord, for he has done excellent things.
( Responsive)
Leader: Jesus our Lord is risen.
All: Lord, may we experience
the power of your resurrection
And live by it.
Leader: The call of freedom
Has been sounded.
All: Lord, may we respond
As the community of the free.
Leader: It concerns every one of us personally,
In our place, in our humanity,
In this world.
All: Lord, may the spirit and gift of your freedom Break the spell of our fears and send us away Obedient rebels, lovers of life’s depths, And your disciples for ever. Amen.
( Responsive)
Leader: The work of the Creator is visible.
All: Let us respond with praise.
Leader: The example of Jesus is apparent.
All: Let us respond with obedience.
Leader: The wind of the Spirit is blowing
All: Let us respond with joy.
Leader: The word of God is calling.
All: Let us worship in spirit and in truth.
(Read Together)
God of grace, you have given us minds to know you, hearts to love you and voices to sing your praise. Fill us with your Spirit that we may celebrate your glory and worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Corporate Confessions of Sin
(Read Together)
Most Holy and merciful Father, We admit and confess before you our sinful nature. We are prone to evil, and lazy in doing good. We confess all of our shortcomings and offenses. You alone know how often we have sinned: in wandering away from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. Nevertheless, You, O Lord, have mercy upon us, who are ashamed and sorry for all we have done to displease you. Teach us to hate our errors; cleanse us from our secret faults; and forgive our sins, for the sake of your dear Son. And, O most holy and loving Father, help us, we beg you, to live in the light and walk in Your ways, according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Read Together)
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and soul and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
(Read Together)
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is nothing good in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent; according to Your promises declared unto men in Christ Jesus our Lord. Grant that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life; to the glory of His name. Amen
(Read Together)
Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our head before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.
(Read Together)
Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
(Read Together)
Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son.
(Read Together)
Lord Jesus, I have sinned times without number, and been guilty of pride and unbelief, and of neglect to seek you in my daily life. My sins and shortcomings present me with a list of accusations, but I thank you that they will not stand against me, for all have been laid on Christ. Deliver me from every evil habit, every interest of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of your grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in you. Amen.
(Read Together)
Jesus Christ, our risen Lord, We rejoice, for you, O Lord, are King! It is in our hearts and on our tongues that we confess your lordship and we commit to your graces our shortcomings.
(Responsive)
Leader: Lord, I have betrayed you By following my own way.
All: I have denied you By fearing to follow yours.
Leader: And I have mocked you By not taking your death seriously.
All: Lord, I am lost. Let your forgiveness find me.
Leader: Hold me in your strong arms And give me your new life.
All: Live in me and with me day by day, That together we may
make a world That is new.
(Responsive)
Minister: Blessed Jesus, you offered us all your blessings when you announced Blessed are the poor in spirit
People: but we have been rich in pride.
Minister: Blessed are those who mourn
People: but we have not known much sorrow for our sin.
Minister: Blessed are the meek
People: but we are a stiff-necked people.
Minister: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
People: but we are filled to the full with other things.
Minister: Blessed are the merciful”
People: but we are harsh and impatient.
Minister: Blessed are the pure in heart
People: but we have impure hearts.
Minister: Blessed are the peacemakers
People: but we have not sought reconciliation.
Minister: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness
People: but our lives do not challenge the world.
Minister: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me
People: but we have hardly made it known that we are yours.
Minister: Your Law is holy and your benedictions are perfect, but they are both too great for us. You alone are blessed.
People: We plead with you to forgive our sins and give us the blessing of your righteousness.
Declarations of Pardon
(Psalm 103:8-12)
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
(Romans 5:1)
MINISTER:
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
(John 3:16-18)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
(John 8:12)
MINISTER:
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Let us now come to that Light, for in Jesus Christ, we are restored and forgiven.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
(Joel 2:12-13)
MINISTER:
“Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
(1 John 1:4-7)
MINISTER:
And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
MINISTER:
Hear the good news!
Christ died for us,
Christ rose for us,
Christ reigns in power for us,
Christ prays for us.
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.
The old life has gone; a new life has begun.
Believe the good news of the gospel:
In Jesus Christ you are forgiven.
People: Thanks be to God!
MINISTER:
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Let us now come
to that Light, for in Jesus Christ, we are restored and forgiven.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
MINISTER:
Almighty God, Who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; cancelling all our sins, and cleansing us from an evil conscience, through the perfect sacrifice of Christ our Lord; and keep us forever in the peace and joy of a holy life, that we may love and serve Him always; in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
MINISTER:
Wash yourself, make yourself clean; put away the evil of your doings before My eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
MINISTER:
Hear the gracious words of our Lord Jesus Christ to all that truly repent and turn to Him: “come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
PEOPLE:
Thanks be to God!
Benedictions
(Numbers 6:24-26)
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” Amen.
(Philippians 4:7)
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:16-21)
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Psalm 23:6)
Leader: Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow – all the days of our lives.
All: And we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Romans 15:13)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 13:14)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
(Hebrews 13:20-21)
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
(Colossians 3:15-17)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
(Read by Pastor)
All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy, the God of all consolation. Do not rely on yourselves alone, but put your trust in him. For the God who can raise the dead to life again will also deliver you!
(Read by Pastor)
May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, equip you with all you need for doing His will. May He produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, all that is pleasing to Him. Jesus is the great Shepherd of the sheep by an everlasting covenant, signed with His Blood. To Him be glory forever and ever: Amen.