WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE              “Be Thou My Vision”      Dale Wood                                                                              

*CALL TO WORSHIP adapted from Psalm 32

Leader: Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, all you people of God,

and shout for joy, because your heart seeks God.

People: Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

*PRAYER OF THE DAY

*HYMN 268          Crown Him with Many Crowns 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION – Clement of Rome, AD 96

What shall I render to you, my Creator, for all your blessings to me? You will accept only my whole self, all that I have and all that I am. But I cannot shake off the fear which tempts me to hoard my life. So, I ask only for your mercy. Fill me with such pure and heavenly love that all my narrow selfishness may be done away, lost in the expanse of your love…

Silent Prayers of Confession

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS          

Leader:   By awesome deeds, you answer us with deliverance, God of our salvation; (Psalm 65:5) and perhaps the most awesome deed of all was the gift of your only Son to the world you so love, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) The great good news, therefore, is this: in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. 

All:  Thanks be to God!

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

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: Genesis 50:15-21; Matthew 18:21-35

SERMON        “The Value of Forgiveness”         

 Rev. Maryellen Robeson  

*HYMN 819                      Be Still, My Soul 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed           Page 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 ANTHEM      “How Can I Keep from Singing”

                                                                                 Arr. John Barnard        

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*DOXOLOGY – Hymn 606 

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 687          Our God, Our Help in Ages Past 

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE         “Fugue”                          Johann Pachelbel