Life Apart From God
Call to Worship
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
Prayer of Invocation
This morning we pull from our rich history as a church and use a prayer from Philip Melancthon in 1559
“We give thanks to thee, omnipotent, everliving God of truth, eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth, of men, and of all creatures, Sustainer of all things, Giver of all life, order, and wisdom, unfailing Source of help: And to thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Word and eternal Image: And to thy Holy Spirit, with whom thou didst endow the apostles at Pentecost. We give thanks to thee, O God of holiness, and truth, wisdom and goodness, justice and mercy, purity and loving-kindness, for with goodness and wisdom unmatched thou didst reveal thyself to us, sending thy Son into the world, destined to assume human nature and to become a sacrifice for us.
We give thanks to thee, O God, for gathering thy eternal church, for guarding the ministry of thy Word, for granting thy Holy Spirit, and for giving life everlasting. We thank thee, O God, because thou givest us all good things, because thou dost alleviate and take away the chastisement we justly deserve, because thou bestowest upon us all the blessings of soul and body. To thee be all glory, honor, praise, and thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.”
Song of Praise
Be Thou My Vision ∙ Lyrics & Video
Confession of Sin
Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is
higher than the heavens,
wider than our wanderings,
deeper than all our sin.
Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes,
our proneness to wander after the ways of this world,
our envy of those who have more than we have,
our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure,
our indifference to the treasures of heaven,
our neglect of your wise and gracious law.
Help us to change our way of life
so that we may desire what is good,
love what you love,
and do what you command,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Song of Worship
Prayer of Intercession
Take time individually to confess your sins before the Lord. Then as a family/individually pray for the church, for our leaders, for the world, for the abating of the virus, and other needs you know of. You can always look at the prayer requests in the weekly email.
Offering to the Lord
One of the ways believers worship when physically gathered is through giving. Currently we can’t do that. Many do, however, give online. If you would like to, you can do so here. Or you may mail a check to our mailing address. (Note: if you are out of work and find yourself in need - please contact our deacons).
As a song during this time: The Goodness of Jesus ∙ Video/Audio & Lyrics
Scripture Reading
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Message
“Life Apart From God”
Song of Response
My Jesus I Love Thee ∙ Lyrics & Video
Scriptural Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.