Sunday Worship Service
February 23, 2025
Prelude: Prelude in E Minor by Frédéric Chopin – Stephanie Ng, pianist
Greetings
Announcements
Hymn: “We Limit Not the Truth of God”
Opening of the Word
Responsive Invocation: from Psalm 116
I love the Lord because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Gracious is the Lord and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
I walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
I kept my faith, even when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the Lord.
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!
Sung Response: Sanctuary
Lord, prepare me to be sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
Scripture Readings: Matthew 21:18-22; Genesis 3:1-7; Doctrine of Faith #11 (Swedenborg)
Children’s Message
Solo: “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt, Words and Music by Stephen Schwartz – Heather Garland, soloist
Spiritual Message: What is faith without doubt? – 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: “What Wondrous Love is This”, Traditional; arr. John Carter
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: “Be Thou My Vision” – Vs. 1-3
Benediction
Closing of the Word
Sung Response: Advent Benediction
May the Lord God Almighty bless and keep you, we pray. May God’s face shine upon you, and grace hallow your way with hope and peace and joy; Love, God’s own incarnation, be born in you today. Amen.
Postlude: Arietta op 12 no 1 by Edvard Grieg