Sunday Gathering

Digital Connection Card - Tell us about yourself & get connected!

Who am I that the highest King
Would welcome me?
I was lost, but He brought me in
Oh, His love for me
Oh, His love for me

Who the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am

Free at last, He has ransomed me
His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin
Jesus died for me
Yes, He died for me

Who the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am

I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am who You say I am

Who the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am

In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am

Our call to worship today comes from Psalm 150:

“Praise the Lord. Praise God in His temple. Praise Him outside of it. Praise Him in His mighty Heavens. Praise Him here and now."

How lovely is Your dwelling place
How wonderful Your presence, Lord
How my soul longs to see Your face
To come with joy into Your courts

How blessed is the little sparrow
Who makes a nest inside Your house
'Cause I can think of no place better
To make a home and sing out loud

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world would offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are

We will go from strength to strength
Even in the wilderness
You are turning tears to desert springs
Leaving gardens in our footsteps

How blessed is the longing pilgrim
Whose heart is set on Zion's hill
The one who knows there's no place better
To bring our sorrows and be filled

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world would offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I'd rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

One day with You is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You is better than silver or gold
I'd rather be a servant in Your house, O God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold

I wanna be in Your presence, I wanna be near Your heart
I wanna know You're close even when I'm feeling far
I don't want what this world would offer, I want the living God
'Cause there's no place better than where You are

Oh, there's no place better than where You are

No place better

No place better, ooh

Let the weak
Look to their brother
Lean on a shoulder
When they can’t stand
No shame in needing
One another
Reach out and take hold
Of a healing hand

Rejoice again
I say rejoice
Sinners strangers
We’re welcomed in
Lift up your hands
Lift up your voice
Sing with all your heart
He calls you friend

Sing with all your heart
He calls you friend

Let the strong
Carry their neighbor
Bind up the wounded
And wash their feet
Open your door
And set your table
The place of honor
For the least of these

Rejoice again
I say rejoice
Sinners strangers
We’re welcomed in
Lift up your hands
Lift up your voice
Sing with all your heart
He calls you friend

Sing with all your heart
He calls you friend

Make us one
Hold us together
Make us one
Make us one
Hold us together
Make us one

Rejoice again
I say rejoice
Lift up your hands
Lift up your voice

Rejoice again
I say rejoice
Sinners strangers
We’re welcomed in
Lift up your hands
Lift up your voice
Sing with all your heart
He calls you friend

Sing with all your heart
He calls you friend

Confession:

Please join me in reading our confession:

“Almighty God, we confess that we have sinned

Against you in thought, word and deed.

We have not loved you with

our whole heart.

We have not loved our neighbors

as ourselves. In your mercy

forgive what we have been,

help us to amend what we are,

and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly,

love mercy,

and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.”

Assurance:

And now hear this assurance from Psalm 103:

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”

At this time, we would like to take a few moments to pass the peace of Christ. Please greet one another.

Elementary and Foundations are dismissed to head to class.

No announcements this week.

Holy Father, there is nothing I have that You have not given me.
All I have and am belong to You, bought with the blood of Jesus.
To spend everything on myself, and to give without sacrifice,
is the way of the world that You cannot abide.

But generosity is the way of those who call Christ their Lord;
who love Him with free hearts and serve Him with renewed minds.
Who withstand the delusion of riches that chokes the word;
Whose hearts are in your kingdom and not in the systems of the world.

I am determined to increase in generosity until it can be said that there is no needy person among us.
I am determined to be trustworthy with such a little thing as money that You may trust me with true riches.

Above all, I am determined to be generous because You, Father, are generous.
It is the delight of Your daughters and sons to share Your traits, and to show what You are like to all the world.

Please stand with me for the reading of God’s word. Our passage today comes from Matthew 15:15-17:

“But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

This is the word of the Lord
(All: Thanks be to God) 
You may be seated

Communion is available in the baskets at the end of each row. Contains juice and wafer (gluten-free option available).

The tender mercy of our God still holds us when the light is gone

His guiding hand and guarding rod are with us as we wait for dawn

O-- though sorrow entered with the night

O-- yet even now we know his light

His love is steady as the stars, whose ancient light is burning still

He walks beside us in the dark, the emptiness within us fills

O-- though night is long he's with us now

O-- in mercy's everlasting hour

As every night will have its end, we know the sun will have to rise

Our loving lord will take our hands and wipe the tears from every eye

O-- for Christ has come, the day draws near

O-- and even now he meets us here

Under the night sky, full of stars
Away from all the city lights and empty charms
Searching for a place, for something pure and true
Led me here to the narrow path to You

I'm leaving it all for the glory of Your love, Your name
I give You all I've got to give until that day
Take the cross and follow You wherever You may go
You're my all in all

I was entangled, in the world
And then I found You my treasure, precious pearl
Now every kingdom, every dream, I count the cost
Compared to You, Lord, I count them all as loss

I'm leaving it all for the glory of Your love, Your name
I give You all I've got to give until that day
Take the cross and follow You wherever You may go
You're my all in all

You're my all in all
My all in all
All in all

Your love is all that I want today
And I surrender all I am now for the sake
Of Your love to follow You wherever You may go
Lord, I surrender all

Our benediction comes from Isaiah 60:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the Lord’s glory has risen on you.

For, behold, darkness will cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;

But the Lord will arise on you,
and his glory shall be seen on you.

Go in peace. Amen.