Call to Worship:
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
Song:
Prayer of Adoration
Prayer of Confession: (Ps 32:5; 38)
O LORD, my pain is ever before me. I am ready to fall!
I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.
Do not forsake me, O LORD! O my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!
I acknowledge my sin to you, and I do not cover my iniquity;
I will confess my transgressions to you, LORD.
Please forgive the iniquity of my sin! In Jesus, Name.
Absolution of Sin: 1 John 3
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in hip purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Brothers and sisters...as children of God, with God's seed inside of you, be assured of God's pardon in that you have been released from the bondage of the devil, for Christ has destroyed the devil's works and has taken away your sins!
All: Thanks be to God!
Confession of the Christian Faith
From what source do you know your misery?
Out of the law of God.
What does the law of God require of us?
Christ teaches us that briefly, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and great commandment; and the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Can you keep all these things perfectly?
In no way; for I am prone by nature to hate God and my neighbor.
Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?
By no means; but God created man good, and after his own image, in true righteousness and holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love him and live with him in eternal happiness to glorify and praise him.
Song:
Old Testament Reading: Obadiah
New Testament Reading: 1 Peter
Gospel Reading: Mark 1
Prayer:
Praise and Thanksgiving
Prayers for the Church
Prayers for the Nations
Prayers for the people
The Lord’s Prayer
Songs:
Prayer of Commitment
Almighty God, you have conquered our hearts and have set us free from the bondage of Satan. We thank you for making us your children, to be used as vessels of mercy. Equip us to bear the name of Jesus faithfully to our neighbors. In Jesus name, Amen!
Benediction
Now may the God of peace sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
All: Thanks be to God!
