Worship Service for May 7, 2023, at 11 AM

Welcome

Opening Song: I Just Wanna Be A Sheep

Chorus:
I just wanna be a sheep, baa baa baa baa.
I just wanna be a sheep, baa baa baa baa.
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
I just wanna be a sheep, baa baa baa baa.

Verse 1:
Don’t wanna be a goat…nope! Don’t wanna be a goat…nope!
Haven’t got any hope…nope! Don’t wanna be a goat…nope!

Verse 4:
Don’t wanna be a Sadducee. Don’t wanna be a Sadducee.
‘Cause they’re so sad you see. Don’t wanna be a Sadducee.

(Chorus)

Verse 5:
Just wanna be a child of God. Just wanna be a child of God.
Walkin’ the same path He trod. Just wanna be a child of God.

(Chorus)                                           © 1974 Mission Hills Music

Invocation

Confession and Forgiveness:

P: We have come here today to worship the Lord.  In worship we hear the Word of God, we receive God’s blessings, and respond with thanks and praise.  We begin by seeking God’s blessing of forgiveness.  He has promised to remove the guilt and shame of our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

(a time of silence to reflect and personally confess our sins)

P: Let us confess our sins to the Lord. 

P: Heavenly Father,
C: Heavenly Father,

P: I have done things that were wrong.
C: I have done things that were wrong.

P: I have been mean to others.
C: I have been mean to others.

P: I have not obeyed my parents.
C: I have not obeyed my parents.

P: I have not obeyed You, God.
C: I have not obeyed You, God.

P: But I am very sorry.
C: But I am very sorry.

P: Please forgive me.
C: Please forgive me.

P: I love You very much.
C: I love You very much.

P: And I know You love me, too.
C: And I know You love me, too.

P: Amen.
C: Amen.

P: God has heard your apology.  He loves you very much.  God has told us that when we believe and trust in Him, He makes us His children.  As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us. He has told me to tell you that you are forgiven.  So, as His servant, I forgive you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 
C: Amen.

Song: God Is So Good

God is so good. God is so good.
God is so good. He’s so good to me.

He died for me. He died for me so.
He died for me. He’s so good to me.

He loves me so. He loves me so.
He loves me so. He’s so good to me.
                                   © Public Domain

First Reading – John 13:34-35

“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.”

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

Children’s Message “Love Each Other”

Song: They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love

Verse 1:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

Chorus:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

Verse 2:
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

Chorus:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

Verse 3:
We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each other’s pride.

(Chorus)                            © 1966 F.E.L. Publications. Assigned 1991 Lorenz Publishing Company

Second Reading – 1 Peter 2:23

People insulted Christ, but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God take care of him. God is the One who judges rightly.

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

Children’s Message “Not Retaliating”

Sermon Song: Blessed Be Your Name

Verse 1:
Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful.
Where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name when I’m found in the desert place.
Though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be Your name.

Pre-Chorus:

Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord still I will say,

Chorus:
Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be Your name.
Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be Your glorious name.

Verse 2:
Blessed be Your name when the sun’s shining down on me.
When the world’s “all as it should be,” blessed be Your name.
Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering.
Though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your name.

(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)

Bridge:
You give and take away. You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say, “Lord, blessed be Your name.”

(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)                                            © 2002 Thankyou Music

Sermon – “Enduring Without Retaliating”

Sermon Passage: 1 Peter 2:19–25

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

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

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

Offering

Online Greeting and Benediction (Online Service Ends. You can scroll down for a video of the closing song)

(The in-person service continues with Communion, the benediction, and the closing song)

Closing Song: I See You                                      

God of love, God of all glory, every day I see new mercy.
Great is Your faithfulness!

God of love, God of my story, You never fail. You never forsake me
Great is Your faithfulness!

Chorus:
I see You in the morning light. I feel You in the fire by night.
I hear You say, “Child, I am with you. Everything will be alright.”
I see You in the tears that run. I feel You when the healing comes.
I hear You say, “Beloved one, I am with you,”
Every moment of my life.
I see You. I see You. I see You. God, I see You.

God of love, God of new vision, every blessing You have given.
Great is Your faithfulness! Oh how great is Your faithfulness!

(Chorus)

Bridge:
I will worship through the storm,
Through the storm, Through the storm.
All my hope is in You Lord, In You Lord, In You Lord.

I see You in the morning light. I feel You in the fire by night.
I hear You say, “Child, I am with you. Everything will be alright.”

(Chorus)

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Below is the video of the closing song: