WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE                “Aria”                 Nicholas Bowden

*CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 25

Let us reach out with heart and soul to the Lord.

O Lord, our God, in You we place our trust.

Let us ask the Lord to lead us.

Help us, O Lord, to find the paths we should take.

Lead us in Your truth, O God,

and we shall rejoice in Your love and goodness forever!

*PRAYER OF THE DAY

*HYMN 634          To God Be the Glory  

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                     

Holy God, you are coming to make all things new.  We long for you to make us new.  Sin has stained and scarred us and has become so familiar to us.  We have worshiped you with our lips, but not with our hearts.  We have followed you with our words, but not with our lives.  We have developed habits of convenience; our ways have become well-worn.  Forgive us.  Make us new.  Start afresh with us, so that we might faithfully follow in the way of Jesus Christ…

Silent Prayers of Confession

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS 

The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. 

May the God of mercy, who forgives us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.  Amen.

THE LAW OF GOD – page 36 

*GLORIA PATRI     “Glory Be to the Father” – Hymn 581

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: 

Exodus 20:13; Psalm 139:14b-16; Matthew 5:21-22

SERMON              “Embracing Life”      Rev. Barrett Ingram 

Text: “ You shall not murder.” -Exodus 20:13

*HYMN 39 Great Is Thy Faithfulness  

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed         pg. 35

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.  

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY       “O Look and Wonder”            (Hymn 397 for text)      

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

* DOXOLOGY

         “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” – Hymn 606 

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 837        What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine      

*BENEDICTION  

       May the love of God enfold us.

    May the grace of God uphold us.

    May the power of God set us free

    to love and serve all God’s people.

    Now to God, who by the means of the power working in us

    is able to do so much more than we can ask or even think,

    to God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all       

    times, for ever and ever.

    Amen. 

*POSTLUDE       “Praise the Lord!  Ye Heavens Adore Him”                                                              Lani Smith