ORDER OF WORSHIP
PRELUDE
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God, you have set before us the path, but we have wandered on our own to try to find our way. Sometimes we are like toddlers, and we hear your call and come back. Other times, we are children testing boundaries, ignoring your call until fear finally makes us look back. And still other times we are full of youthful rebellion, demanding to be cut loose and set free, not knowing how much we still need to seek your wisdom and guidance. But most of all, too often we think we are adults and have figured it all out and know our own way, only to stumble and stray so far. Remind us, parental God, that we are always your children, that we are never fully grown up in your sight, and that we always have much to learn. Help us to seek you every day, to acknowledge that we need your wisdom and guidance, and help us to return to the path and walk with you. We pray in the name of Christ, who is our companion on this journey of faith. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain)
Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain)
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Hebrews 5:5-10
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
SCRIPTURE John 12:20-33
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
This is the Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God!
SERMON
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
CELEBRATING OUR GIFTS
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him all creatures here below.
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
HYMN OF PRAYER Glorify Thy Name
Father, we love You, we worship and adore you, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Jesus, we love You, we worship and adore you, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Spirit, we love You, we worship and adore you, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name in all the earth.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN OF PROMISE Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow
I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling, "Take thy cross and follow, follow me."
Refrain:
Where he leads me I will follow, where he leads me I will follow,
where he leads me I will follow; I'll go with him, with him all the way.
I'll go with him through the judgment, I'll go with him through the judgment,
I'll go with him through the judgment, I'll go with him, with him all the way. (Refrain)
BLESSING
POSTLUDE
PRELUDE
OPENING PRAYER
Almighty God, you have set before us the path, but we have wandered on our own to try to find our way. Sometimes we are like toddlers, and we hear your call and come back. Other times, we are children testing boundaries, ignoring your call until fear finally makes us look back. And still other times we are full of youthful rebellion, demanding to be cut loose and set free, not knowing how much we still need to seek your wisdom and guidance. But most of all, too often we think we are adults and have figured it all out and know our own way, only to stumble and stray so far. Remind us, parental God, that we are always your children, that we are never fully grown up in your sight, and that we always have much to learn. Help us to seek you every day, to acknowledge that we need your wisdom and guidance, and help us to return to the path and walk with you. We pray in the name of Christ, who is our companion on this journey of faith. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain)
Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain)
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Hebrews 5:5-10
So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
SCRIPTURE John 12:20-33
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
This is the Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God!
SERMON
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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
CELEBRATING OUR GIFTS
DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him all creatures here below.
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
HYMN OF PRAYER Glorify Thy Name
Father, we love You, we worship and adore you, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Jesus, we love You, we worship and adore you, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Spirit, we love You, we worship and adore you, glorify thy name in all the earth.
Glorify thy name, glorify thy name, glorify thy name in all the earth.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN OF PROMISE Where He Leads Me, I Will Follow
I can hear my Savior calling, I can hear my Savior calling,
I can hear my Savior calling, "Take thy cross and follow, follow me."
Refrain:
Where he leads me I will follow, where he leads me I will follow,
where he leads me I will follow; I'll go with him, with him all the way.
I'll go with him through the judgment, I'll go with him through the judgment,
I'll go with him through the judgment, I'll go with him, with him all the way. (Refrain)
BLESSING
POSTLUDE