Welcome

We begin our prayers with praise because Jesus instructed that prayer begins with who God is, where He is, and with an active longing that our kingdoms become more like His.

God Summons Us

Call to Worship

Leader: He is risen.

All: He is risen indeed!

Leader: Deal bountifully with your servants, that we may live and keep your word.

All: Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law for we are sojourners on the earth;

Leader: Your testimonies are our delight; they are our counselors. Give us understanding, that we may follow you whole heartedly

All: Let your steadfast love come to us, O Lord, your salvation according to your promise;

Leader: Let your steadfast love comfort us Let your mercy come to us, that we may live;

All: Give us life according to your steadfast love.

Adapted from Psalm 119

Praises of the People

Hymns and Choruses of Praise

#297 #367 “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”

God Sanctifies Us

Silent Personal Confession
Confession is a movement of obedience to God. We remember that there is no salvation but in Jesus, and that our hope for a flourishing life includes learning to confess and repent - to God and to neighbor. Therefore we confess with joy - knowing the mercy and grace of Jesus is ours. Knowing that He forgives us and trains us up into lives of life.

Unison Confession
Father, we balk at your fatherly strength, kindness, and care. Have mercy on us, heal and restore us, forgive us and make us whole, gracious and heavenly father.
Jesus, we ignore your commands, we resist the lives of life you call us into, and believe we know what is best for ourselves and our neighbors. Forgive us Jesus, and lead us into the kingdom life you describe.
Holy Spirit we resist your guidance, gentle warnings, and encouragement. We do not cast our anxieties on you as you encourage us to do. We turn to mundane gifts for peace and comfort. Forgive us Holy Spirit and make us whole.

Declaration of Forgiveness
The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.

Passing of the Peace
The peace of the LORD be with you.
And also with you.

God Strengthens Us

The Prayers of the People
We ask for help boldly because Jesus taught us to do so.

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, the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Hymn of Reflection
#361“Worship Christ, The Risen King”

The Doxology: #815
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him, all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

God Speaks to Us

The Prayer of Illumination

The Reading - Mark 8:22-29

Leader: This is the word of the Lord.

ALL: Praise be to the Christ.

The Sermon –
Where Else Would We Go? - Mark 8:22-29
Matt Blazer

Notes:
1. After caring for the multitude

2. and healing recent blindness

3. Jesus asked questions

4. about His identity

Closing Hymn

#45 “Crown Him With Many Crowns”

Welcome
This is a new, though also very old, kind of service of worship.

It is contemplative, that is, it invites its participants to reflect upon their Lord, His power, righteousness and mercies, the church universal, and their own lives as members of His body. We use periods of silence for reflection and inner prayer—and also for extemporaneous, short, spoken praises, prayers or songs.

It is traditional. It includes forms of worship, praise and prayer from the whole history of the Christian church, some from the earliest days, others that date from the Reformation, and still others that are more modern.

Such a service depends a great deal on the active participation of those attending. No liturgy guarantees a spirit-filled experience of worship (nor does the absence of liturgy do so). This service asks for worshipers who are intentional and concentrated in their opening of themselves to the presence of Christ, in their sensitivity to what the Holy Spirit is saying, and in fervent sharing of responses, prayers and song. It also calls us to remember that above all, we come together to please God. God has the first and last word this morning because He has the first and last word in all of the universe.

Such a service reminds us, too, of a mystery: that we inhabit not only a physical universe but a spiritual one, that all around us are angels and archangels and all the company of heaven with whom we join in our praises, and who are witnesses that what we do physically has eternal and supernatural consequences. We enter a sacred space and live a holy time as we draw near to God, and especially so when we share His feast, the Eucharist.

Church and Ministry Information

Are you a guest with us this morning?
Welcome and thank you for joining us today. Please introduce yourself and/or complete the “Welcome to The Barn!” form at the back of your bulletin and place it in the offering box.

Hearing Assist Receivers Available
Hearing assist receivers can be picked up from the sound crew before the service.

Prayer Opportunity
At the conclusion of the service, our prayer team is available to pray for you.

Offering
The Apostle Paul assumes that local gatherings of Christ followers support the work of the Gospel. He describes giving monetarily in almost every letter he writes in the New Testament. Christ followers give what they can for the work of the local church and for mission churches. Similarly here, we hope you are planning and then giving joyfully because you believe in the mission and vision of this local gathering. There is a box by the door to receive your offering.