CALL TO WORSHIP
When God speaks, all creation answers.
The moon cries, ‘Glory!’ and the sun sings God’s praises as it warms the earth.
When God speaks, lives are changed.
Those who endure oppression are set free; the voiceless shout the story of salvation.
When God speaks, everything is turned inside out.
The wise learn the language of grace from the meek and the strong take lessons from the powerless.
Opening Hymn This Is My Father’s World
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas– his hand the wonders wrought.
This is our Father’s world: O let us not forget
That though the wrong is great and strong, God is the ruler yet.
He trusts us with his world, to keep it clean d fair
All earth and trees, all skies and seas, all creatures everywhere.
This is my Father’s world: he shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass, he speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let heaven ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!
CALL TO CONFESSION
Prayer of Confession
God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride and see ourselves as pure when we are not. We make ourselves self-important instead of being grounded in your love. We have failed in mercy, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy on us, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to right paths that lead us to grow in faith, hope, and love. Amen
Assurance of Pardon
HUNGER OFFERING
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Lesson John 2:13-22
Sermon “Tear Down That Wall”
Moment for Reflection
Hymn of Response Near the Cross
Jesus, keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star Shed His beams around me.
[Refrain]
Near the cross! O lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day With its shadow o’er me.
[Refrain]
Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait, Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river.
[Refrain]
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed
OFFERING
Prayer
Holy God, receive these gifts and the offering of our lives. Use these gifts, work through us, that we may be a sign that you are bringing all of creation from bondage to freedom and from death to life. Amen
The Lord’s Supper
Communion Hymn We Thank You, God, for Feeding Us
We thank you, God, for feeding us
in Jesus Christ our Lord:
his body broken is our food,
our life, his cleansing blood.
Through him we offer you ourselves
our all, to be your own;
a holy, living sacrifice
to lay before your throne.
So send us out into the world
your glory to proclaim,
and in your Holy Spirit’s power
to live and praise your name.
Invitation to the Table
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God
It is right to give God thanks and praise…
Words of Institution and Holy Communion
Prayer Following Communion and the Lord’s Prayer
Hymn of Sending Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art.
Visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast.
Let us all in thee inherit, let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver, let us all thy life receive.
Suddenly return, and never, nevermore they temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation; true and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee.
Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.
Charge and Blessing
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