The Gathering
Tolling of the Hour
Welcome and Announcements ** Indicates, please stand.
Whether we are old or young, whether we are first-time or longtime worshipers, whether we come full of doubts or confidence, joy or sorrow, in this place we are all family, because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Welcome to all of you today!
Prelude
Prayer of Invocation
This is the day that you have made, Lord. Help us to rejoice in it and be glad! Remind us of the privileges we enjoy as your people: to come to you in these moments, to confess our sins, to receive forgiveness and give it, to pray and sing and listen, to renew our fainting spirits, to rest in all your promises. Open our eyes to see you, Lord. Open our ears to hear your Word. Visit us through your Holy Spirit and help us to celebrate our faith. Amen.
**Responsive Call to Worship Please stand in body or spirit as you are able.
In Christ, the God of heaven has made his home on earth.
Christ dwells among us and is one with us.
Highest of all creation, he lives among the least.
He journeys with the rejected and welcomes the weary.
Come now, all who thirst,
and drink the water of life.
Come now, all who hunger,
and be filled with good things.
Come now, all who seek,
and be warmed by the fire of love.
**Opening Hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel #9
Call to Confession and Silent Prayer
In spite of God’s love for us and gift of love to us, we often act in destructive and hateful ways. We close our hearts to God and disobey God’s law. In silence let us confess our sin before God.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sinfulness, our shortcomings, and our offenses against you. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are ashamed and sorry for all we have done to displease you. Forgive our sins, and help us to live in your light and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and 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. Know that you are forgiven, and be at peace.
Thanks be to God.
** Passing the Peace
The Peace of Christ be with you…
And also with you.
**Gloria Patri #579
Hearing the Word
Prayer of Illumination
God of mercy, you promised never to break your covenant with us. Amid all the changing words of our generation, speak your eternal Word that does not change. Enable us to respond to your gracious promises with faithful and obedient lives. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture
Old Testament Reading Psalm 97
Instrumental Anthem
New Testament Reading Revelation 22:16-21
Sermon Come Lord Jesus Rev. Morris
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
...using the prayer Your Son taught us to pray, Our Father...
**Hymn Of the Father’s Love Begotten #309
**Affirmation of Faith
Christ elects the church to proclaim the Word and celebrate the sacraments, to worship God’s name, and to live as true disciples. He creates this community to be a place of prayer, to provide rest for the weary, and to lead people to share in service. The Spirit calls all believers in Jesus to respond in worship together, to accept all the gifts from the Spirit, to learn from each other’s traditions, to make unity visible on earth. Here Christ is present in his world proclaiming salvation until he comes, a symbol of hope for a troubled age.
Invitation to Offering
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth. Let us be faithful stewards of our time, our talents, and our money. so that our treasure is in heaven and our giving pleases God.
Offertory
**Doxology #592
**Unison Prayer of Dedication
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us— Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
We Go Out to Serve
**Hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling #376
**Charge and Blessing
Go in peace as the reaffirmed church of Jesus Christ.
We go to be his body in a broken world.
May the grace of God and the love of Christ go with you.
Amen.
Postlude