WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE “Just as I Am” arr. Dale Wood

*CALL TO WORSHIP –Psalm 100

Leader: Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

People: Serve the Lord with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

Leader: Know ye that the Lord he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

People: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Leader: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

People: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Leader: For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;

People: and his truth endureth to all generations.

*HYMN #634 “To God Be the Glory”

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name…

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE – John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Leader: Friends, believe the good news.

People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

*GLORIA PATRI “Glory Be to the Father” #581

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen, amen.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSONS I John 5:1-6 & John 15:9-17

SERMON “No One Has Greater Love Than This”

Rev. John Goodman

*HYMN #703 (vss. 1 & 3) “Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me”

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed

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.

*“catholic” (little c) is translated as “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

OFFERTORY “As A Chalice Cast of Gold”

(to meditate on words, see hymn 429)

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN #366 (vss. 1 &4) “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “Postlude on ‘Dix’” arr. Michael Burkhardt