Worship Service for May 21, 2023, at 11 AM

Welcome

Invocation

Confession and Forgiveness:

P: Our Heavenly Father asks us to come into His presence.
C: But we are sinful and unworthy. 

P: Yes, all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but Jesus Christ died on the cross that we may be forgiven and washed clean of all our sins by His blood spilled on the cross.
C: Lord, if You wash us, we will certainly be clean and pure.

P: We take a moment to bow before the His cross and silently reflect on our lives and confess our sins.

(Time of silence for reflection and confession)

P: Let us confess, together, our sins to God our Father.
C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinners.  We have sinned against you and our neighbors. We have not loved you with our whole heart and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not lived out our faith in our community. We justly deserve Your punishment.  For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.  Amen.

P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.  As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I, therefore, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen

Song of Praise and Thanksgiving: Canvas And Clay

In my mother’s womb, You formed me with Your hands.
Known and loved by You before I took a breath.

When I doubt it, Lord, remind me I’m wonderfully made.
You’re an artist and a potter. I’m the canvas and the clay.

Chorus:
You make all things work together for my future and for my good.
You make all things work together for Your glory & for Your name.

There’s a healing light Just beyond the clouds.
Though I’ve walked through fire, I see clearly now.

I know nothing has been wasted, no failure or mistake.
You’re an artist and a potter. I’m the canvas and the clay.

(Chorus 2x)

Gospel Reading – John 17:1–11

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them.  And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

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

Children’s Message (Children dismissed to Children’s Church)

Offering

Sermon Hymn – We Believe

In this time of desperation, when all we know is doubt and fear, There is only One foundation. We believe. We believe.
In this broken generation, when all is dark, You help us see.
There is only One salvation. We believe. We believe

Chorus:
We believe in God the Father. We believe in Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, and He’s given us new life.
We believe in the crucifixion.
We believe that He conquered death.
We believe in the resurrection,
And He’s comin’ back again we believe

So, let our faith be more than anthems,
Greater than the songs we sing.
And in our weakness and temptations, 
We believe! We believe!

Chorus:
We believe in God the Father. We believe in Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, and He’s given us new life.
We believe in the crucifixion.
We believe that He conquered death.
We believe in the resurrection, and He’s comin’ back again.

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised!
In the here and now, let love invade!
Let the church live loud, in our God will say   
We believe! We believe!

And the gates of hell will not prevail!
For the power of God has torn the veil!
Now we know Your love will never fail!  
We believe! We believe!

Chorus:
We believe in God the Father. We believe in Jesus Christ.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, and He’s given us new life.
We believe in the crucifixion.
We believe that He conquered death.
We believe in the resurrection, and He’s comin’ back,
He’s comin’ back again!  He’s comin’ back again! 
We believe!  We believe!

Sermon – “Suffering for the Faith”

1 Peter 4:12–19

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,
    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

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

Prayers: Text in prayer requests to (813) 326-5255

Confirmation Reading – Colossians 3:12-17

Confirmand 1: Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Confirmand 2: And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.

Confirmand 3: And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 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.

Rite of Confirmation

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Words of Institution

Peace

P: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
C: And also, with you.

Distribution

Prayer

Benediction

Closing Song: Go My Children With My Blessing

Verse 1:

Go, My children, with My blessing, never alone.

Waking, sleeping, I am with you. You are My own.

In My love’s baptismal river I have made you Mine forever.

Go, My children, with My blessing. You are My own.

Verse 2:

Go, My children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.

Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.

Here you heard My dear Son’s story.
Here you touched Him, saw His glory.

Go, My children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.

Verse 3:

Go, My children, fed and nourished, closer to Me;

Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.

Here My Spirit’s power filled you.
Here His tender comfort stilled you.

Go, My children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.

Verse 4:

I the Lord will bless and keep you and give you peace.

I the Lord will smile upon you and give you peace.

I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother.

Go, My children; I will keep you and give you peace.