Welcome

Ministry Focus | Operation Christmas Child

Introit

Call to Worship (Isaiah 55)
Leader: Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.
People: ** We will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before us,**
Leader: and the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush, will grow the pine tree. This will be a sign for the Lord’s renown.
People: We worship the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed us with splendor.

Hymn | “Morning Has Broken”

Prayer of Confession (unison)
Holy God, we realize that we do not always want to grow where you have planted us. We choose to go on our own paths and ignore the ways that you need us to grow for our own benefit and for your Kingdom. We confess that we are so easily distracted, and overwhelmed by what is going on in our own lives. It is too easy for us to live for ourselves. Remind us often that you can reach through our most difficult circumstances and draw us closer to yourself. Help us center our lives in yours. In the name of Jesus, who hung on a tree for our sakes, we continue our prayer now in silence…

Leader: We can be assured that the God of our Salvation hears our prayers, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon (from 1 Peter 2:24,25)
Leader: Jesus himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.
People: By his wounds, we have been healed.
Leader: For you were like sheep going astray,
People: But now we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our Souls. Amen.

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen. Amen.

Scripture | Psalm 92:12-15

Sermon | “Spiritual Redwoods” - Rev. Anne K. Havrilla

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

Anthem | “I Got Me Flowers” - Chuck Schneider

Offering

Affirmation of Faith (Apostles’ Creed)
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Hymn | “In the Garden”

Benediction

Postlude