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WORSHIP LEADER GUIDE (First Service, September 23, 2007) (Leader) WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS * Opening Songs # 98, “Rock of My Salvation” # 31, “Give Me Thy Heart” CONFESSION OF SINS Invitation to Confession Let us confess our sins to Almighty God first in silence and then in unison…
Silent Prayer Prayer of Confession: Everyone: God of love, in the wrong we have done and in the good we have not done, we have sinned in ignorance; we have sinned in weakness; we have sinned through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry. We repent and turn to you. Forgive us and renew our lives through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon Leader: For the sake of Christ’s reconciling work, God will no more remember our sins or the sinfulness with which we have to struggle all our life long; but that he graciously imparts to us the righteousness of Christ so that we never come into condemnation. (from the Heidelberg Catechism) Everyone: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
Act of Praise * Song # 92, “Fill My Cup” The Peace 1
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(Leader): As God has given us peace through Christ, so let us pass the peace of Christ to each other. (Ask people to please sign the Friendship Pad as it is passed down the row). CHILDREN’S MESSAGE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE– Minister…”Let that be our prayer”. People’s response… “Amen” PASTORAL PRAYER FOLLOWED BY THE LORD’S PRAYER (Page # 16 of the regular print Hymnal. Traditional version) (Juan) PRESENTING OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS OLD TESTAMENT READING: GENESIS 17:9-13 (Page # 14) NEW TESTAMENT READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-4 (Page #1134) (JUAN) PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD: “SIGNS OF THE COVENANT: THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM” (# 3 in the Reformed Confessions Series)
(JUAN) AFFIRMATION OF THE FAITH OF OUR CHURCH: Leader: Since, then, faith alone makes us share in Christ and all his benefits, where does such faith originate? Everyone: The Holy Spirit creates it in our hearts by the preaching of the holy gospel, and confirms it by the use of the holy Sacraments. Leader: What are the Sacraments? Everyone: They are visible, holy signs and seals instituted by God in order that by their use he may the more fully disclose and seal to us the promise of the gospel, namely, that because of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross he graciously grants us the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
* Closing Song # 115, “The Trees of the Field” COMMISSIONING AND BLESSING
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