PRAYER & PRAISE SERVICE BASED ON AN OLD PRAYER FORMULA: ADORATION, CONFESSION, THANKSGIVING, SUPPLICATION

OPENING HYMN - PART OF THE FAMILY REFRAIN: COME IN, COME IN AND SIT DOWN. YOU ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY. WE ARE LOST AND WE ARE FOUND, AND WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY.

YOU KNOW THE REASON WHY YOU CAME, YET NO REASON CAN EXPLAIN. SO SHARE IN THE LAUGHTER AND CRY IN THE PAIN, FOR WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY.

GOD IS WITH US IN THIS PLACE, LIKE A MOTHER’S WARM EMBRACE. WE’RE ALL FORGIVEN BY GOD’S GRACE, FOR WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY.

REFRAIN: COME IN, COME IN AND SIT DOWN. YOU ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY. WE ARE LOST AND WE ARE FOUND, AND WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY.

CHILDREN AND ELDERS AND MIDDLERS AND TEENS, SINGLES AND DOUBLES AND IN-BETWEENS, STRONG EIGHTY FIVERS AND STREETWISE SIXTEENS, FOR WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY.

GREETERS AND SHOPPERS, LONG TIME AND NEW, NOBODY HERE HAS A CLAIM ON A PEW, AND WHETHER WE’RE MANY OR ONLY A FEW, WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY.

REFRAIN: COME IN, COME IN AND SIT DOWN. YOU ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY. WE ARE LOST AND WE ARE FOUND, AND WE ARE A PART OF THE FAMILY.

ADORATION LEADER: WE COME IN ADORATION OF OUR HOLY GOD! SILENCE

LEADER: HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TOGETHER AS MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY, TO OFFER YOU OUR PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING, TO HEAR AND RECEIVE YOUR HOLY WORD, TO BRING BEFORE YOU THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD, TO SEEK YOUR MERCY AND FORGIVENESS,

AND TO OFFER OUR LIVES ANEW TO YOUR SERVICE. GRACIOUSLY ACCEPT US IN YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST AND POUR UPON US YOUR ABUNDANT BLESSING TO THE GLORY OF YOUR GREAT NAME. ALL:AMEN!

LEADER: GIVE US, OUR GOD, A SENSE OF YOUR PRESENCE AS WE GATHER FOR WORSHIP. GRANT US GRATITUDE AS WE REMEMBER YOUR GOODNESS, PENITENCE AS WE REMEMBER OUR SINS, AND JOY AS WE REMEMBER YOUR LOVE. ENABLE US TO LIFT UP OUR HEARTS IN HUMBLE PRAYER AND FERVENT PRAISE; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. ALL:AMEN!

HYMN OH, WORSHIP THE KING, ALL GLORIOUS ABOVE. OH, GRATEFULLY SING HIS POWER AND HIS LOVE; OUR SHIELD AND DEFENDER, THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, PAVILIONED IN SPLENDOUR AND GIRDED WITH PRAISE.

OH, TELL OF HIS MIGHT; OH, SING OF HIS GRACE, WHOSE ROBE IS THE LIGHT, WHOSE CANOPY SPACE; HIS CHARIOTS OF WRATH THE DEEP THUNDERCLOUDS FORM, AND DARK IS HIS PATH ON THE WINGS OF THE STORM.

THE EARTH WITH ITS STORE OF WONDERS UNTOLD, ALMIGHTY, YOUR POWER HAS FOUNDED OF OLD, ESTABLISHED IT FAST BY A CHANGELESS DECREE, AND ROUND IT HAS CAST, LIKE A MANTLE, THE SEA.

O MEASURELESS MIGHT, INEFFABLE LOVE, WHILE ANGELS DELIGHT TO HYMN YOU ABOVE. THE HUMBLER CREATION, THOUGH FEEBLE THEIR LAYS, WITH TRUE ADORATION SHALL SING TO YOUR PRAISE.

READER: A READING FROM REVELATION GREAT AND WONDERFUL ARE YOUR DEEDS, O LORD GOD THE ALMIGHTY: JUST AND TRUE ARE YOUR WAYS, O SOVEREIGN OF THE NATIONS. WHO SHALL NOT REVERE AND PRAISE YOUR NAME O LORD: FOR YOU ALONE ARE HOLY.

ALL NATIONS SHALL COME AND WORSHIP IN YOUR PRESENCE: FOR YOUR JUST DEALINGS HAVE BEEN REVEALED. TO THE ONE WHO IS SEATED UPON THE THRONE AND TO THE LAMB: BE BLESSING AND HONOUR, GLORY AND MIGHT, FOREVER AND EVER. THE WORD OF THE LORD. ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.

PSALM 148 (LEADER: ODD VERSES ALL: EVEN VERSES) 1 PRAISE THE L ORD ! PRAISE THE L ORD FROM THE HEAVENS; PRAISE HIM IN THE HEIGHTS! 2 PRAISE HIM, ALL HIS ANGELS; PRAISE HIM, ALL HIS HOST!

3 PRAISE HIM, SUN AND MOON; PRAISE HIM, ALL YOU SHINING STARS! 4 PRAISE HIM, YOU HIGHEST HEAVENS, AND YOU WATERS ABOVE THE HEAVENS! 5 LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE L ORD, FOR HE COMMANDED AND THEY WERE CREATED. 6 HE ESTABLISHED THEM FOREVER AND EVER; HE FIXED THEIR BOUNDS, WHICH CANNOT BE PASSED.

7 PRAISE THE L ORD FROM THE EARTH, YOU SEA MONSTERS AND ALL DEEPS, 8 FIRE AND HAIL, SNOW AND FROST, STORMY WIND FULFILLING HIS COMMAND! 9 MOUNTAINS AND ALL HILLS, FRUIT TREES AND ALL CEDARS! 10 WILD ANIMALS AND ALL CATTLE, CREEPING THINGS AND FLYING BIRDS!

11 KINGS OF THE EARTH AND ALL PEOPLES, PRINCES AND ALL RULERS OF THE EARTH! 12 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE, OLD AND YOUNG TOGETHER! 13 LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE L ORD, FOR HIS NAME ALONE IS EXALTED; HIS GLORY IS ABOVE EARTH AND HEAVEN. 14 HE HAS RAISED UP A HORN FOR HIS PEOPLE, PRAISE FOR ALL HIS FAITHFUL, FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WHO ARE CLOSE TO HIM. PRAISE THE L ORD !

HYMN: FATHER, WE ADORE YOU, LAY OUR LIVES BEFORE YOU, HOW WE LOVE YOU.

JESUS WE ADORE YOU, LAY OUR LIVES BEFORE YOU, HOW WE LOVE YOU.

SPIRIT, WE ADORE YOU, LAY OUR LIVES BEFORE YOU, HOW WE LOVE YOU.

CONFESSION LEADER: ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. SILENCE

READER: A READING FROM 1 JOHN 1: THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND PROCLAIM TO YOU, THAT GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. 6 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM WHILE WE ARE WALKING IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT DO WHAT IS TRUE; 7 BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE HIMSELF IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS HIS SON CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN.

8 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NO SIN, WE DECEIVE OURSELVES, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. 9 IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE WHO IS FAITHFUL AND JUST WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. 10 IF WE SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT SINNED, WE MAKE HIM A LIAR, AND HIS WORD IS NOT IN US. THE WORD OF THE LORD. ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.

HYMN: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE, THOU LAMB OF CALVARY, SAVIOR DIVINE! NOW HEAR ME WHILE I PRAY, TAKE ALL MY GUILT AWAY, O LET ME FROM THIS DAY BE WHOLLY THINE!

MAY THY RICH GRACE IMPART STRENGTH TO MY FAINTING HEART, MY ZEAL INSPIRE! AS THOU HAST DIED FOR ME, O MAY MY LOVE TO THEE PURE, WARM, AND CHANGELESS BE, A LIVING FIRE!

LEADER:LET US CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD. ALL:ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL GOD, WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU, IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED. WE HAVE NOT LOVED YOU WITH OUR WHOLE HEART.

WE HAVE NOT LOVED OTHERS AS OUR SAVIOUR CHRIST LOVES US. WE ARE TRULY SORRY. IN YOUR MERCY FORGIVE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN, HELP US TO AMEND WHAT WE ARE,

DIRECT WHAT WE SHALL BECOME; THAT WE MAY DELIGHT IN YOUR WILL AND WALK IN YOUR WAYS, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR. AMEN

PRIEST:ALMIGHTY GOD, WHO PARDONS ALL WHO TRULY REPENT, FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS, STRENGTHEN YOU BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND KEEP YOU IN LIFE ETERNAL; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR REDEEMER. ALL:AMEN

HYMN: GOD FORGAVE MY SIN IN JESUS’ NAME, I’VE BEEN BORN AGAIN IN JESUS’ NAME, AND IN JESUS’ NAME I COME TO YOU, TO SHARE HIS LOVE AS HE TOLD ME TO.

HE SAID, FREELY, FREELY, YOU HAVE RECEIVED. FREELY, FREELY, GIVE. GO IN MY NAME, AND BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE, OTHERS WILL KNOW THAT I LIVE.

ALL POWER IS GIVEN IN JESUS’ NAME, IN EARTH AND HEAVEN IN JESUS’ NAME; AND IN JESUS’ NAME, I COME TO YOU, TO SHARE HIS POWER AS HE TOLD ME TO.

HE SAID, FREELY, FREELY, YOU HAVE RECEIVED. FREELY, FREELY, GIVE. GO IN MY NAME, AND BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE, OTHERS WILL KNOW THAT I LIVE

THANKSGIVING LEADER: FOR FORGIVENESS AND ALL GOD’S MANY GIFTS TO US, WE GIVE THANKS TO GOD. SILENCE

LEADER: WE THANK YOU, O LORD, FOR ALL THE GOOD THINGS WHICH ARE IN OUR WORLD AND IN OUR LIVES THROUGH YOUR GREAT LOVE AND MERCY. SAVE US FROM BEING UNGRATEFUL.

SAVE US FROM MAGNIFYING OUR TROUBLES AND FORGETTING OUR BLESSINGS. GIVE US STRENGTH OF SPIRIT TO RISE TO JOYFULNESS OF HEART; AND BY YOUR HELP MAY WE LEARN TO LIVE WITH THANKFULNESS OF SOUL; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. ALL:AMEN.

READER: A READING FROM COLOSSIANS 3: AS GOD’S CHOSEN ONES, HOLY AND BELOVED, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, AND PATIENCE. 13 BEAR WITH ONE ANOTHER AND, IF ANYONE HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANOTHER, FORGIVE EACH OTHER; JUST AS THE LORD HAS FORGIVEN YOU, SO YOU ALSO MUST FORGIVE. 14 ABOVE ALL, CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH LOVE, WHICH BINDS EVERYTHING TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY. 15 AND LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH INDEED YOU WERE CALLED IN THE ONE BODY. AND BE THANKFUL.

16 LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY; TEACH AND ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER IN ALL WISDOM; AND WITH GRATITUDE IN YOUR HEARTS SING PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS TO GOD. 17 AND WHATEVER YOU DO, IN WORD OR DEED, DO EVERYTHING IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM. THE WORD OF THE LORD. ALL: THANKS BE TO GOD.

PSALM 107 (LEADER: ODD VERSES ALL: EVEN VERSES) 1 O GIVE THANKS TO THE L ORD, FOR HE IS GOOD; FOR HIS STEADFAST LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. 2 LET THE REDEEMED OF THE L ORD SAY SO, THOSE HE REDEEMED FROM TROUBLE

3 AND GATHERED IN FROM THE LANDS, FROM THE EAST AND FROM THE WEST, FROM THE NORTH AND FROM THE SOUTH. 4 SOME WANDERED IN DESERT WASTES, FINDING NO WAY TO A CITY WHERE THEY MIGHT DWELL; 5 HUNGRY AND THIRSTY, THEIR SOUL FAINTED WITHIN THEM. 6 THEN THEY CRIED TO THE L ORD IN THEIR TROUBLE, AND HE DELIVERED THEM FROM THEIR DISTRESS;

7 HE PUT THEIR FEET ON A STRAIGHT PATH, TO GO TO A CITY WHERE THEY MIGHT DWELL. 8 LET THEM GIVE THANKS TO THE L ORD FOR HIS MERCY, AND THE WONDERS HE DOES FOR HIS CHILDREN.

HYMN: (TUNE EIDELWEIS) THANK YOU LORD ON THIS DAY FOR OUR MANY GOOD BLESSINGS. THANK YOU LORD ON THIS DAY FOR OUR MANY GREAT FRIENDSHIPS

GLORY TO GOD MAY YOU HEAR OUR PRAYER, GUIDE US ON FOREVER. THANK YOU LORD ON THIS DAY FOR OUR BLESSINGS AND FRIENDSHIPS.

SUPPLICATION LEADER: WE PRAY TO GOD FOR THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD. SILENCE LEADER: IN PEACE, WE PRAY TO YOU, LORD GOD. SILENCE

LEADER: FOR ALL PEOPLE IN THEIR DAILY LIFE AND WORK; ALL: FOR OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBOURS, AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE ALONE. LEADER: FOR THIS COMMUNITY, OUR COUNTRY, AND THE WORLD; ALL: FOR ALL WHO WORK FOR JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND PEACE.

LEADER: FOR THE JUST AND PROPER USE OF YOUR CREATION; ALL: FOR THE VICTIMS OF HUNGER, FEAR, INJUSTICE, AND OPPRESSION. LEADER: FOR ALL WHO ARE IN DANGER, SORROW, OR ANY KIND OF TROUBLE; ALL: FOR THOSE WHO MINISTER TO THE SICK, THE FRIENDLESS, AND THE NEEDY.

LEADER: FOR THE PEACE AND UNITY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD; ALL: FOR ALL WHO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL, AND ALL WHO SEEK THE TRUTH. LEADER: FOR SUE AND RON OUR BISHOPS, AND FOR ALL BISHOPS AND OTHER MINISTERS; ALL: FOR ALL WHO SERVE GOD IN THE CHURCH.

LEADER: FOR OUR OWN NEEDS AND THOSE OF OTHERS. SILENCE. THE PEOPLE MAY ADD THEIR OWN PETITIONS. LEADER: HEAR US, LORD; ALL:FOR YOUR MERCY IS GREAT.

LEADER: WE THANK YOU, LORD, FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE. SILENCE. THE PEOPLE MAY ADD THEIR OWN THANKSGIVINGS. LEADER: WE WILL EXALT YOU, O GOD OUR KING ALL: AND PRAISE YOUR NAME FOR EVER AND EVER.

LEADER: WE PRAY FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE PEACE OF CHRIST, AND FOR THOSE WHOSE FAITH IS KNOWN TO YOU ALONE, THAT THEY MAY HAVE A PLACE IN YOUR ETERNAL KINGDOM. SILENCE. THE PEOPLE MAY ADD THEIR OWN PETITIONS.

LEADER: LORD, LET YOUR LOVING KINDNESS BE UPON THEM; ALL: WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU. LEADER: AND NOW, AS OUR SAVIOUR CHRIST HAS TAUGHT US, WE ARE BOLD TO SAY,

ALL: OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,

BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN. SILENCE

LEADER: AS WE GO OUT TO DO YOUR WORK, ALL:TO YOUR CARE AND PROTECTION, O LORD, WE NOW COMMIT OURSELVES. OF YOUR GOODNESS FORGIVE US;

WITH YOUR LOVE INSPIRE US; BY YOUR SPIRIT GUIDE US; AND IN YOUR MERCY KEEP US NEAR YOU, FOLLOWING THE WAY OF JESUS YOU SON, NOW AND ALWAYS. AMEN.

LEADER: ALL OVER THE WORLD, PEOPLE ARE DECIDING TO FOLLOW JESUS. I LEARNED TO SING THIS SONG IN SPANISH THIS PAST SPRING IN THE DESPERATELY POOR REFUGEE VILLAGE OF SAN ANTONIO, GUATEMALA. THE SPANISH VERSE IS PRONOUNCE … PLEASE JOIN ME IN SINGING.

CLOSING HYMN: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS, (3X) NO TURNING BACK, NO TURNING BACK. THE WORLD BEHIND ME, THE CROSS BEFORE ME, (3X) NO TURNING BACK, NO TURNING BACK.

YOU ALL COME WITH ME, AND WE WILL FOLLOW, (3X) NO TURNING BACK, NO TURNING BACK.

HE DECIDIDO SEGUIR A CRISTO, (3X) NO VUELVO ATRAS, NO VUELVO ATRAS. I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS, (3X) NO TURNING BACK, NO TURNING BACK.