Worship Service for January 14, 2024, at 11 AM

Opening Song – Joy of the Lord

Though the tears may fall my song will rise,
My song will rise to You.
Though my heart may fail my song will rise,
My song will rise to You.
While there’s breath in my lungs, I will praise You Lord!

In the dead of night I’ll lift my eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You.
Though the waters rise I’ll lift my eyes, I’ll lift my eyes to You.
While there’s hope in this heart, I will praise You Lord!

Chorus:
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
In the darkness I’ll dance. In the shadows I’ll sing.
The joy of the Lord is my strength!

Verse 2:

When I cannot see You with my eyes, let faith arise to You.

When I cannot feel Your hand in mine, let faith arise to You.

God of mercy and love, I will praise You Lord!

How You shine with glory Lord of light, I feel alive with You.

In Your presence now I come alive, I am alive with You.

There is strength when I say “I will praise You Lord!”

 

Chorus:
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
In the darkness I’ll dance. In the shadows I’ll sing.
The joy of the Lord is my strength!

When sorrow comes my way, You are the shield around me.

Always You remain my courage in the fight.

I hear You call my name. Jesus I am coming,

Walking on the waves, reaching for Your light.

 

(Chorus)

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Invocation (stand)

Confession and Forgiveness: (stand)

P: As we gather, today, let us cleanse our hearts and our consciences by confessing our sin to God.

(Time of silence for reflection and confession)

C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you and against our neighbor in our thoughts, words, and actions.  We are truly sorry for our sins and sincerely repent of them. We ask for Your mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ’s bitter suffering and death, please forgive us and renew us that we may walk in Your Spirit to the glory of Your holy name. Amen

P: The Lord has heard your confession. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Lord, in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen

Gospel Reading – Matthew 16:21-26

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to You, o Christ.

Sermon Song – Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, praising Thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness. Drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

All Thy works with joy surround Thee. Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays.
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flow’ry meadow, flashing sea, Chanting bird, and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, fountainhead of love divine:
Joyful, we Thy heav’n inherit! Joyful, we by grace are Thine.
                                                                                          © Public Domain

Sermon – Series: “Finding What You’re Looking For”
                  Week 2: “Discovering Joy”

Isaiah 9:2-3

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

Prayers

Apostles’ Creed (stand)

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, died and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (stand)

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

Offering (sit)

Benediction (stand)

Closing Song: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (stand)

 

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