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á Hymn Praise To The Lord, The Almighty (#858 vs. 1, 3, 4)
Neander, Winkworth,
1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear now to his temple draw near,
joining in glad adoration!
3 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
if with his love he befriend you.
4 Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again.
Gladly forever adore him!
Confession and Forgiveness
P Blessed be the holy Trinity:
the Father, the ☩ Son, and the Holy Spirit.
C Amen
P Sisters and brothers,
bear with one another in love,
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,
and take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness,
but instead expose them. Let us confess our sin
in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Holy and Gracious God,
C we confess that we have not led a life worthy of the calling to which we have been called. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not acted according to your will.
We have grieved your Holy Spirit. Have mercy on us. Forgive us according to the riches of your grace. Make us holy and blameless before you in love,
so that we might live to the praise of your glory. Amen.
P In the mercy of almighty God, ☩ Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake God forgives you all your sins. You who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
C Amen
Hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful
Refrain: All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.
Each little flow’r that opens,
each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
God made their tiny wings. Refrain
The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky; Refrain
The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden,
God made them, ev’ry one. Refrain
Greeting
L The blessing of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious grace freely bestowed in the Son, and the power of the promised Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
L Let us pray…
C O God, you call us to live a life of love – love of others, and love of You. Renew our hearts today. Renew our love for you. You have blessed us richly, you suffered for us, and you are with us day by day. May we welcome you into our lives and hearts anew this day. Amen.
Reading Exodus 20:1-11
Then God spoke all these words: 2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me.
4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
L This is the Word of the Lord
C Thanks be to God
Gospel Matthew 22:34–40
L The Holy Gospel from Matthew in the 22nd Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn Come Now Is The Time To Worship
Doerksen
Refrain: Come now is the time to worship
Come now is the time to give your heart
Come just as you are to worship
Come just as you are before your God
Come
One day every tongue
Will confess You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure remains
For those who gladly choose You now Refrain
Recognition of Scholarship Recipients
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
á Apostles Creed (Back of hymnal)
Offering Prayer
P Let us pray…
C Holy God, you open the doors of heaven,
giving us every generous and perfect gift from above.
Lift our eyes from the food that perishes,
and nourish us now with the food that endures for eternal life,
Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.
Prayers of Bethlehem
During the prayers, there will be an opportunity for you to lift up a thanksgiving, a prayer concern, the name of someone on your mind today. All are encouraged to join in this time of public prayer.
L … Lord in your mercy …
C … Hear our prayer.
Meal
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
Words of Institution
á Lord’s Prayer
C 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,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
P Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
C Thanks be to God
Distribution of Holy Communion
We believe that Jesus is truly present in the elements of communion – and all are welcome to receive Jesus in this food and drink.
Communion in the Pews
Prepackaged communion will be available in pews and as you enter worship. Please open and receive this sacrament after the Words of Institution.
Communion at the Table
Those who wish to receive Holy Communion at the tables in front of the sanctuary will be invited to come forward using the pulpit side aisle, and return to their seat using the piano side aisle.
As you come forward, one at a time, there will be two tables prepared for you. Wafers will be placed on plates on the first table for you to pick up and receive the Body of Christ. Cups of wine or grape juice will be placed on the second table for you to receive the Blood of Christ. Cups can then be placed in a bin.
Children not communing may come forward for a blessing.
á Post Communion Prayer
P Let us pray…
C Gracious God, in this meal
you have rained down the true bread from heaven,
the body and blood of your beloved Son.
So by his promise bring us to abide in him, and he in us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Blessing
P Know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
áHymn Rise Up O Saints of God (#669 vs. 1, 2, 3, 4)
Forness
1 Rise up, O saints of God!
From vain ambitions turn;
Christ rose triumphant that your hearts
with nobler zeal might burn.
2 Speak out, O saints of God!
Despair engulfs earth’s frame;
as heirs of God’s baptismal grace,
the word of hope proclaim.
3 Rise up, O saints of God!
The kingdom’s task embrace;
redress sin’s cruel consequence;
give justice larger place.
4 Give heed, O saints of God!
Creation cries in pain;
stretch forth your hand of healing now,
with love the weak sustain.
Dismissal
P Go in peace. Serve the Lord
C Thanks be to God!