02-20-22

Worship Service

February 20, 2022

Prelude: After The Rain by John Coltrane – James Washington, keyboardist

*Greetings

Announcements

Wise Words from John Gaul

*Hymn:  #27“We Gather Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessing”

*Opening of the Word

*Responsive Invocation: 

Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts.

    We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation;

    you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;

    you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.

You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water;

    you provide the people with grain,  for so you have prepared it.

*Invitation to Prayer:

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Amen.

O Lord, our heavenly Creator, whose great love holds a forgiveness for all who desire and seek it: we thank thee for thy gracious assurance that thou art always near and ready to forgive.  Pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness and truth, and bring us into everlasting life; for thy mercy’s sake.  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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

O Lord, open thou our lips:

And our mouths shall show forth thy praise.

*Praise ye the Lord!

The Lord’s name be  praised!

*The Sanctus 

Holy, holy, holy; Lord God of hosts: Heav’n and earth are full of thy glory.  Amen.

Scripture Readings:  Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:46-54

Children’s Message

Solo: I Need Thee Every Hour by R. Lowry, arr. Coralie Lowe – Heather Garland, soloist

Spiritual Message: Water from The Rock, Rev. Junchol Lee

Silent Meditation

*Affirmation of Faith

Great Spirit, Christ, the Compassionate One, Light of the World, You are that which sustains and nurtures our spirit. You draw us closer to Heaven and to each other. Your Divine Love and Wisdom flows into every living soul. You dwell among us and warm every human heart. We acknowledge our need to be fed by your Sacred Spirit, to share in the beauty of life, and to build a Holy City on Earth by giving of ourselves, yet knowing that all that is good and true flows into us from You. Amen. 

Prayer of the People/Pastoral Prayer

Invitation to the Offering

Offertory: A Child is Born by T. Jones

*Doxology

Praise God the Source of life and birth

Praise God the Word who came to earth

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame

All glory, honor to God’s name.  Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn:  #207 – “O God, the Rock of Ages”

*Benediction

*Closing of the Word

*Sung Response: Nunc Dimittis 

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, According to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared  before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.  Amen.

Postlude: This Little Light of Mine