Order of Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Meditation Passage
Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
* Apostolic Greeting
Thessalonians 1:1-2
To the church . . . in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
* God Calls His People to Worship
Psalm 98:1-4
Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
* Invocation
God Commands His People:
Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
We Confess Our Faith
The Apostles' Creed
Confession of Sin
(Silent confession followed by corporate confession)
Most merciful Heavenly Father, the source and promoter of all truth, we confess that we have not loved, preserved, and promoted the truth as you call us to do. We have harbored false thoughts about you and our neighbor in our hearts. We have spoken falsehoods with our mouths. We have not stood ready to receive a good report about our neighbor, and have all too often been willing to receive an evil report about them. We have hidden the truth when speaking it would result in our own loss. Be merciful to us for the sake of Christ Jesus your son, and forgive us for all of the ways in which we have borne false witness. Teach us to love, preserve, and promote the truth so that you may gain great glory in our lives. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Psalm 103:10-12
[The Lord] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
* We Praise God in Song
Doxology (#567)
God Speaks Through His Word
Prayer of Illumination
Sermon: The Love of God
Sermon Scripture Reference: Romans 5:5-8
Sermon Speaker: Rev. David Graves
Prayer of Consecration
Congregational Prayer (Followed by the Lord's Prayer)
Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Benediction
2 Thessalonians 3:16, 18
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.