Laura de Jong

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and EasterKey Theme: Jesus is “the first fruits of those who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20) and has ascended into heaven as fully God and fully man. That knowledge should give us hope, for we are united with Christ in his death, resurrection, and ascension.  The Ascension is a part of the story of Jesus that doesn’t usually get as much attention as his birth or resurrection. But the ascension of Jesus into heaven offers us incredible hope, carrying us further up and further into the story of the redemption of all things.1 Corinthians 15:20 tells us that Christ was raised from the dead, “the first fruits of those who have died.” In the Old Testament, God commanded his people to offer the first and best portions of their harvest as an offering of thanksgiving and trust. This first and best offering symbolized and consecrated the entire harvest to come.When Paul writes that Christ is the first fruits of those who have died, he’s saying that Christ’s resurrection was a foretaste of the new life yet to come. For those who are in Christ, his resurrection is a pledge, a promise, of our own resurrection from the dead, of the life we have in Christ. We are the branches, abiding in the vine—the life that courses through the vine belongs to the branches, as well.And this resurrection isn’t just spiritual. God is not merely interested in our souls, but our bodies. Christ came into the world as fully God and fully man; Christ was raised from the dead as both a divine being who could walk through walls and a man with physical wounds; that same Christ ascended into heaven in his body. Jesus, fully man and fully God, stands at the right hand of the Father. So Jesus brings the stuff of earth into the glories of heaven. He intercedes on our behalf, he who knows the hairs on our heads and who hears the call of the whale from the depths. And Jesus brings the stuff of heaven to earth. He who reigns over all creation calls us to seek his kingdom in each corner we inhabit. How do we do this? By following his command to his followers before his ascension to go and proclaim the good news of God through all the earth—to bear good fruit. Service OutlineCall to Worship Leader:Let us give praise to the Lord our God,Who alone does wondrous things.  All:Praise be to his glorious name forever!  Leader:Christ, who was raised from the dead,has ascended into heaven, “the first fruits of those who have died.”—1 Corinthians 15:20  All:May the whole earth be filled with his glory!—Psalm 72:18–19, adapt. Opening Song“Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise” Wesley[Many churches have a children’s processional with palm branches on Palm Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Consider extending that celebration into Ascension, inviting the children to process through the sanctuary during this opening song, waving banners and ribbons, as we declare Christ to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.]GreetingGrace to you and peace from him who isand who was and who is to comeand from the seven spirits who are before his throne,and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,the firstborn of the dead,and the ruler of the kings of the earth.—Revelation 1:4–5 NRSVUESongs of Praise“Crown Him with Many Crowns” Bridges, Thring“King of Heaven” BalocheCall to ConfessionOn this day of celebration,when we proclaim the Lordship of Christ,we are confronted by the truth that our faith is often feeble,and our voices often frail. Our celebration does not carry into the rest of our lives.Let us confess our frailty before God,asking for God’s mercy and God’s help.Prayer of ConfessionKing of Kings,today we proclaim your reign over all creation,but tomorrow we will forget, and bow down to other powers and princes. Tempted by the promise of riches, prestige, and comfort, we close our eyes to inconvenient injustices, and keep quiet when we should be calling for those with power to seek shalom.Forgive our greed, and move our hands to work for your kingdom.SilenceLord of life,today we sing songs of your victory;tomorrow we will quiet our voices, lest we appear foolish and naive. You told us to go and make disciples of all nations, but we speak of our faith almost apologetically. Our fear of appearing judgmental and triumphalistic causes us to hold back when we could share the good news of your kingdom.Forgive our fear, and move our mouths to sing your praise.SilenceLord, of Love, today we cry out to you to intercede on our behalf, glad for our union with you;tomorrow we will grumble about the burden of caring for our neighbour, annoyed by our union with one another.  We want to be autonomous and untethered, but you call us to love one another as you love us. Forgive our selfishness, and move our hearts to serve. SilenceLamb upon the throne,forgive us, and help us.May we seek first your kingdom.Amen. Assurance of Pardon & Response of PraiseThis saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance:Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.He who is the fullness of God, of life, of truth, of goodness,redeems us and sanctifies us, even when our sin feels too great.God alone has saved us; to him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.—1 Timothy 1:15–17, adapt.Song of Thanksgiving“Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” Robinson et al.Passing of the PeaceJesus said to his disciples, “Love each other as I have loved you.”Having been reconciled with God, let us reconcile with one another, passing the peace of Christ.Prayer for IlluminationScripture ReadingFirst Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20–26Psalm: Psalm 96Second Reading: John 15:1–8Sermon“The Vine and the Branches”Song of Response“Be Thou My Vision” Hull, ByrneCreed[The Ascension affirms that all people and all bodies, who are in Christ Jesus are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. Consider showing this video from Faith Church in Indiana in which people of different abilities recite the Apostle’s Creed, before standing as a congregation to recite the creed together.]Prayers of the PeopleOffering, Offertory PrayerSong of Dedication“Hear the Call of the Kingdom” Townend and GettyBenedictionDoxologyTo [Jesus Christ], who loves usand freed us from our sins by his bloodand made us a kingdom,priests serving his God and Father,to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.Amen. —Revelation 1:5–6 NRSVUERevised Common LectionaryEpistleYear C: Easter—Easter SundayPsalmYear A: Christmas—Nativity of the Lord—Proper IYear A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 24 (29)Year B: Christmas—Nativity of the Lord—Proper IYear C: Christmas—Nativity of the Lord—Proper I"Year C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 4 (9)Year C: Epiphany—Ninth Sunday after the EpiphanyYear C: Season after Pentecost—Proper 4 (9)"GospelYear B: Easter—Fifth Sunday of Easter

This is part of the worship series, "Grounded and Growing—Bearing Fruit”Series Introduction | Ascension Sunday | PentecostLove | Joy | Peace | Patience | Generosity & Kindness | Faithfulness | Gentleness | Self-Control | Communion LiturgyAlso in this year-long Grounded and Growing series: Advent and Christmas | Epiphany | Lent and Easter    Ascension ImageComing SoonPentecost ImageComing SoonIf you followed this entire series you know that we began in Advent with a stump out of which a branch grew. This biblical symbol of hope reminded us that life is still possible, even when all seems hopeless. The source of that hope is Christ who is the new life, the one branch from which others grew. As we progressed to Epiphany, we saw that people from all over the world are grafted into Christ, united with him. Yet, not all is right with the world. On Ash Wednesday we were confronted once again with death, with the stump reduced to ash. But the fire that burns is a refining fire, a death from which life rises. Indeed, as we journeyed throughout Lent, we did so with hope, a hope rewarded on Easter when the branch flowers. Christ has arisen, new life bursts forth from the grave. From the flower comes fruit which provides nourishment and sustenance. Whether or not you have been using this series since Advent, you can join in now as we celebrate the fruitful branches. Ascension Day or the following Sunday, we celebrate the reality that Christ has ascended into heaven, the first fruit. On Pentecost, those who are joined with Christ are given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the fullness of life to come, even as the Spirit causes us to bear the fruit of life and peace in ever increasing abundance.In some Christian traditions the nine days between Ascension Day and Pentecost are spent focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit (see: The Fruit of the Spirit—Connecting Ascension and Pentecost). In this series, we have chosen to focus on the Fruit of the Spirit over an eight-week period. When we think of lists, we often think of a list of things we have to remember or do. Grocery lists, chore lists, lists of names or dates to memorize for a test. So when we come to the Fruit of the Spirit, it’s easy to think of this list of characteristics as another “to-do” list. As if Paul is saying to us each morning “Don’t forget to practice all these things today—be peaceful at 9am, joyful at 11, and be sure to work gentleness in there before dinner.”While the Fruit of the Spirit are characteristics we’re called to embody, Paul makes it clear in Galatians 5 that this list isn’t a to-do list, but a promise. Those who live by the Spirit will bear good fruit. This fruitfulness isn’t the result of self-effort and personal striving, but comes by abiding in Christ, as a branch to a vine, that we might experience the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit. How do we abide in Christ? One of the key ways we seek to dwell in Christ is through prayer. In each of these services is the invitation to do a breath prayer with your congregation. You can do this wherever it makes sense for your community—I’ve placed it before the Prayers of the People. These are simple prayers where the congregation breathes slowly, as the leader invites the Spirit's presence to fill our lives (as we breathe in) so that our lives might bear good fruit (as we breathe out). Each prayer can be repeated a few times. Also included with this series is a communion service and a downloadable image (coming soon). SERVICESCRIPTURETHEMEAscension Sunday1 Corinthians 15:20–26Psalm 96John 15:1–8 “The Vine and the Branches”PentecostActs 2:1–4, 14a, 22–24, 32–39Psalm 104:24–35Romans 8:1–25 “The First Fruits of the Spirit”LoveMatthew 22:34–401 Corinthians 13 “The Greatest of These”JoyJohn 16:16–241 Thessalonians 1:1–10 “The Joy that Abides”PeaceIsaiah 11:1–9James 3:13–18 “Those Who Sow in Peace”PatienceLamentations 3:22–33Ephesians 4:1–6 “Bearing With One Another in Love”Generosity and KindnessLuke 10:25–371 Timothy 6:17–19 “The Life that is Truly Life”FaithfulnessMatthew 4:1–11Hebrews 11:17–29 “By Faith”GentlenessPsalm 23Philippians 4:4–9 “Don’t Worry; Be Gentle”Self-ControlMark 9:42–50Titus 2 “The Trellis of Self-Control”Communion Liturgy  About the Image (Coming Soon) 

Updated September, 2024One summer our church did a worship series titled The Art of Neighboring, based on the book of the same title by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon. Some small groups had studied the book in the spring, and as we moved into summer after a long winter of lockdowns, this felt like a great time to encourage the whole congregation to reach out to their communities and to study together how God calls us to be good neighbors to one another.  Children’s ArtworkBecause the series was titled The Art of Neighboring, we thought we would play up the “art” theme and develop a large art piece with the help of our Sunday school kids. Our summer intern, Emma Grootenboer, and I used a projector to trace a huge map of our region (Kitchener−Waterloo, Ontario) on four large sheets of butcher paper and then covered the streets with painter’s tape. On a Sunday morning I showed the kids different maps and asked them about where they live. We discussed what it means to be a good neighbor, then invited the kids to paint different blocks or sections of the map with bright colors. A few days later Emma and I removed the painter’s tape and painted the streets black, resulting in a map that looked like a stained-glass window. We hung the map on a sanctuary wall for the duration of the worship series and used it as our series image for the bulletin and for our worship slides.  Theme SongDuring the series we used “The Greatest Commandment” as our theme song, singing it every week but one. Written by Paul Zach, a gifted writer of congregational song, it is a wonderful way to keep the words of the greatest commandments—“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind [and] love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39)—front and center in congregants’ minds all week. The tune itself is simple enough for congregations to quickly join in. With the addition of an easy-to-sing refrain that layers onto the main text, this song is kept from seeming too trite and simplistic and explodes with possibilities. It is included on The Porter’s Gate album Neighbor Songs, which you might want to check out for other songs to fit this series. The album is found on the main streaming platforms, and lead sheets and vocal and piano scores can be purchased and downloaded at praisecharts.com.  “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” T-shirtsSince a number of us quoted Fred Rogers in our sermons, the pastors also decided to have some fun with the series and wore T-shirts that read “Won’t you be my neighbor?” in the pulpit. Having T-shirts and selling them to congregants might be a way to raise funds for a particular neighbor in need, a neighborhood or church ministry, or a community group.  Social Media and Bulletin AnnouncementsThe Art of Neighboring Series: The second greatest commandment is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. But who are our neighbors, and what does it look like to love them? On [insert date] we’ll kick off a six-week series exploring what it means to tangibly love those who live around us and seek the flourishing of community in our neighborhoods.The Art of Neighboring Banner: We’re so excited that our children helped make the banners for this series! Together we created a map of [insert your location] (or at least as much as we could fit), painting each part of the city with bright colors to remind us to shine brightly in the places where we live. We encourage you to keep the conversation going. Ask your child what part of the city they helped paint, and then discuss some practical ways your family might show Jesus’ love in your own neighborhood. We invite everyone to use this map (or another map or visual aid) to help guide your prayer throughout this series as we pray over our neighborhoods and communities. (Did you know we have a map of our communities on our website? Check it out at [insert your own community map]). Ordering the Worship ElementsDuring the weeks of this series we had a number of additions to our worship time, including the ordination of elders and deacons, a baptism, and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Because some worship elements, like the prayer of confession and assurance of pardon, were folded into those celebrations, they are not evident in each week’s liturgy outlined below. As always you are encouraged to take these service outlines and make them your own by adding, deleting, and reordering elements to fit your own context.  Series OutlineWeek One: Luke 10:25–37, “Who Is My Neighbor?”Week Two: Luke 10:38–42, “Time to Neighbor”Week Three: Luke 5:27–32, “Fearing Your Neighbor”Week Four: Philippians 2:1–11, “A Neighborly Heart”Week Five: Romans 12:9–21, “For the Love of God”Week Six: Luke 7:36–50, “Our Need for Help” Week OneGathering and GreetingWelcome and Announcements[Draw attention to the new series and the map and teach the theme song.]Call to WorshipIn Jesus Christ, the God of heaven made his home on earth, becoming our neighbor,living next door, living with us. So come now, you who are far from home and long to draw close to God, you who are weary and long to be cared for. Our God is with us. Our God draws near, now and always.God’s Greeting and Mutual GreetingSongs“God Himself Is with Us” Tersteegen“Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing)” BrownOfferingPrayers of the PeopleChildren’s Blessing Ordination of OfficebearersThe Teaching, Vows, Ordination, and ChargePrayer Song: “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior” Wilkinson Proclamation of the WordPrayer for IlluminationScripture: Luke 10:25–37Sermon: “Who Is My Neighbor”Sermon NotesHow does the story of the Good Samaritan challenge our assumptions about who our neighbors are? How does this story prompt us to understand what a neighbor is and does?Prayer of ApplicationTheme Song: “The Greatest Commandment” Zach Celebration of the Lord’s SupperThis liturgy is taken from “A Brief Form for the Celebration of Holy Communion” © 2016, Christian Reformed Church in North America, Grand Rapids, MI. crcna.org. Reprinted with permission.The TeachingWe love because God first loved us. God sent his Son into the world as an atoning sacrifice for us so that we might live through him. The Belgic Confession says that by coming to this table and eating this meal, “we are moved to a fervent love of God and our neighbors” through union with Christ (Belgic Confession, Article 35). With eager expectation of that unity and love, let us come now to the table.The Great Prayer of ThanksgivingLift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right for us to give thanks and praise. With joy we praise you, gracious God, for you have created heaven and earth, made us in your image, and kept covenant with us— even when we fell into sin. We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord, who by his life, death, and resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore we join our voices with all the saints and angelsand the whole creation to proclaim the glory of your name: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.The InstitutionWe give thanks to God the Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, before he suffered, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice until he comes again. At his last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”In the same way, he took the cup after the supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me. ”For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).Therefore we proclaim our faith as signed and sealed in this sacrament:Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.Lord, our God, send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and cup may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we and all your saints be united with Christ and remain faithful in hope and love. Gather your whole church, O Lord, into the glory of your kingdom. We pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray: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.Song: “Just as I Am, Without One Plea” ElliotThe InvitationCongregation of Jesus Christ, the Lord has prepared his table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. All who are truly sorry for their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and who desire to live in obedience to him, are now invited to come with gladness to the table of the Lord.Sharing of the Bread and CupResponse of PraiseCongregation in Christ, since the Lord has fed us at his table, let us praise his holy name with thanksgiving.Praise the LORD, my soul;     all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul,     and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins    and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit     and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things     so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.—Psalm 103:1–5 Sending and BlessingBlessingAs you leave this place this day,may Christ’s love sustain you,and may we love those we meet as you loved us. May the Spirit empower you,and may we empower all we meet,seeking their health and flourishing.  May God’s joy fill your hearts,and may that joy overflowto the ends of the earth for God’s glory,now and forever. Amen. —Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources (TWS 9.2.18), alt. Doxology: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” Ken Week TwoGathering and GreetingWelcome and AnnouncementsCall to WorshipBe still and know that God is.God was also in the beginning.And when all human striving has ceased, God will still be.From everlasting to everlasting, God is God, and alone is worthy to be worshiped.God’s Greeting and Mutual GreetingSongs “Cornerstone” Mote et al.“Yet Not I but through Christ in Me” Robinson et al.Confession and AssuranceCall to ConfessionWe have already spoken of the wonder of Christ working in and through us and the assurance that we are God’s forgiven children, redeemed and free. In the comfort of that assurance let us come before God in prayer, confessing our sins so that in acknowledging our unworthiness we may understand more fully the grace that God has given. Prayer of ConfessionGracious Father, the God of life,teach us ever more to respect and love all the lives you create.Forgive us our lack of love and concern for thosewho are yet unborn,who are born but don’t fit our definition of healthy or whole,who are rejected by their parents.Teach us to open our hearts and our homes to all your children. Forgive us when we are negligent and uncaringtoward those who are elderly,some forgotten in nursing homes,others treated as if they have no gifts to share and no place to serve, their past contributions to church and society forgotten. Forgive us for not stopping to listen and learn, for not caring for those who cannot afford medical care, for those who suffer from a careless society. Forgive us for not caring for those who are ill, those who live with debilitating diseases and mental illnesses. Forgive us for not being patient with the cycle of good days and bad days,for forgetting those little acts of hospitalityand adjustments that would allow for their presence and participation, for not wanting to give the energy and effort neededto be fully present and listen so that we may receive the gifts they have to give. Forgive us for being too busy and full of self-importanceto be the neighbors you have called us to be. Teach us to open our hearts,to open our homes and churches,to visit the lonely,to bring your love into their lives on this earth. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. —Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources (TWS 2.2.60), expanded.Song: “What the Lord Has Done in Me” MorganAssurance of PardonChildren’s BlessingTheme Song: “The Greatest Commandment” Zach Proclamation of the WordPrayer for IlluminationScripture: Luke 10:38–42Sermon: “Time to Neighbor”Sermon NotesAre you too hurried to love? Do you have the space in your life to be a good neighbor? How does dwelling in God’s presence allow us to serve one another well?Prayer of Application Response to the WordSong: “Christ Be All Around Me” Leonard et al. Offering Prayers of the People Sending and BlessingSong“Be Thou My Vision,” vs. 1–3 Byrne and HullAs you leave here today, May you go with the presence of Christ as your guide, eager to be Christ’s presence in the lives of others. Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.May you leave here desiring to guard your tongue and mind, to put aside actions and speech that harm others. Be thou my wisdom and thou my true word.May you leave here desiring the flourishing of all people,to serve without being hungry for praise, to give up your own position and greedso that others may experience the bounty of this world. Be my inheritance now and always.May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all as together we build God’s beautiful community. Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,still be my vision, O Ruler of all. Amen.—Rev. Joyce Borger, 2023 © Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, with text from “Be Thou My Vision” Byrne and HullDoxology: “Be Thou My Vision,” v. 4 Byrne and Hull Week Three[In this service we joyfully witnessed the profession of faith of a woman who began attending our church after she moved into our neighborhood, as well as the baptism of her son.]Gathering and GreetingWelcome and AnnouncementsCall to WorshipGod calls us to worship, and we come.Some of us come with laughter and songs of joy.Some of us come from a sense of obligation or habit.Some of us come with hearts heavy with grief.Some come with distraction or exhaustion,others with eagerness and enthusiasm.Some of us come with stress, loneliness, or depression.God calls all of us to come and worship,to give ourselves—all our joy and pain, hurt and hope.God calls all of us to come and worship,to receive God’s love, grace, joy, and peace.And it is the God who invites us to come who speaks to us first and tells us there is a place for us here with whatever we bring into this space.—Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources (TWS 1.2.28), alt.God’s Greeting & Mutual GreetingSongs“Mighty to Save” Morgan and Fielding “Way Maker” Egbu Profession of Faith & Sacrament of BaptismProclamation of the WordSong: “Show Us Christ” Kauflin and PlankPrayer for IlluminationScripture: Luke 5:27–32Sermon: “Fearing Your Neighbor”Sermon NotesWhat or who are we afraid of? How does Jesus model a way of neighboring that leads to building bridges, not fences?Prayer of Application Response to the WordSong: “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” Temple and St. Francis of AssisiOffering AnnouncementPrayers of the People Sending and BlessingTheme Song: “The Greatest Commandment” ZachSpoken Sending and BlessingLet mutual love continue.Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.Remember those who are in prison,as though you were in prison with them. . . .Be content with what you have.And remember that God has promised,“I will never leave you or forsake you.”—adapted from Hebrews 13:1–3, 5, NRSV Doxology: “Glory Be to the Father” Anon. Week FourGathering & GreetingWelcome & AnnouncementsCall to WorshipWe lift up our eyes to the mountains—where does our help come from?Our help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth. —adapted from Psalm 121:1–2As the Maker of heaven and earth greets us this morning, let us open our hands to receive this blessing, this help.God’s Greeting & Mutual GreetingSongs“All Creatures of Our God and King” Draper and St. Francis of Assisi“Come As You Are” Glover et al.Prayer of ConfessionLord, you said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”Forgive us our lukewarm love and our disobedience.Lord, you said, “You may ask for anything in my name.”Forgive us when we think we need to solve our own problems. Lord, you said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”We confess that our lives are often consumed by worry and anxiety. Lord, you said, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”Forgive us our barren lives, Lord. Lord, you said,“You must testify, for you have been with me.”We confess, Lord, that we have been too often silent. Lord, you said, “Love each other as I have loved you.”In this and in so many other ways,we confess our failures and shortcomings. Amen. —From Reformed Worship 64:24 © 2002, Worship Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church. Used by permission. Assurance of Pardon: Romans 5:1–2Song: “All I Have Is Christ” Kauflin Children’s Blessing Proclamation of the WordPrayer for IlluminationScripture: Philippians 2:1–11Sermon: “A Neighborly Heart”Sermon NotesHow does the Spirit help us look to the interests of others? Would something be lost in the community if our church were gone? Are we contributing to those around us? Do we live for others, not just ourselves?Prayer of Application Response to the WordSong: “Will You Come and Follow Me” BellPrayer of the People Sending and BlessingTheme Song: “The Greatest Commandment” ZachSpoken BlessingAs you leave this place, may God guide your feet.As you step into an unknown future,may you have confidence in the faithfulness of God. As you live out your calling to be Christ’s hands and feet,may you see opportunities to serve and to love your neighbor,grounding both your work and your rest in Christ. Amen. —Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources (TWS B.9.1.2), alt.Sung Blessing: “The Blessing” Brown et al. Week FiveGathering and GreetingWelcome and AnnouncementsCall to WorshipIn view of God’s mercy,we offer our bodies as a living sacrifice,holy and pleasing to God—this is our true and proper worship.—adapted from Romans 12:1As we gather,we open ourselves up to the power of the Holy Spirit,who transforms our hearts and mindsso that we will recognize God’s presence,hear God’s voice,know God’s will,and walk in God’s way.May God renew usas we praise his great and glorious name.God’s Greeting & Mutual GreetingSongs“How Can I Keep from Singing” Tomlin et al.“The Lion and the Lamb” Brown et al.Children’s BlessingPrayers of the People Proclamation of the WordSong: “Build My Life” Younker et al.Prayer for IlluminationScripture: Romans 12:9–21Sermon: “For the Love of God”Sermon NotesWhat does sincere love look like? What does it mean to love someone not because of what they can do for us, but because of who they are in Christ?Prayer of ApplicationTheme Song: “The Greatest Commandment” Zach Celebration of the Lord’s SupperSending and BlessingBlessingMay our Lord Jesus Christ,who prayed that we would be one,even as he and the Father are one,so grace you with his Spiritthat you may grow in grace and fellowshipand discover joy in walking together as part of Christ’s body—so that the world may know of God’s love for us in Christ. Amen. —Reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, Second Edition © 2013, Faith Alive Christian Resources (TWS S.9.2.2), alt. Doxology: “To God Be the Glory” Crouch Week SixGathering and GreetingWelcome and AnnouncementsCall to WorshipGreat and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you.—Revelation 15:3–4God’s Greeting and Mutual GreetingSongs“God Is For Us” Ferguson et al.“Awesome God” Mullins, GtG 616 Confession and AssuranceCall to ConfessionOur God is an awesome God, great in power and great in mercy. So we turn to our God in our time of need, as we bring before him our sins and our sorrows, knowing he stands ready to offer forgiveness and help. We lift our eyes to him.Song: “I Lift My Eyes Up” DoerksonPrayer of Confession Merciful God,you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you.We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy.We have not loved you with a pure heart,nor have we loved our neighbors as ourselves.We have not done justice, loved kindness,or walked humbly with you, our God.Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness.In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin.Create in us a clean heart, O God,and renew a right spirit within us.Do not cast us from your presence,or take your Holy Spirit from us.Restore to us the joy of your salvationand sustain us with your bountiful Spiritthrough Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. —The Book of Common Worship © 1946, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), p. 26, alt., P.D. Song: “I Lift My Eyes Up” Doerkson, LUYH 652Assurance of PardonThrough Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.In Christ we have redemption through his blood,the forgiveness of our sins,according to the riches of his grace.Thanks be to God!—adapted from Acts 13:38; Ephesians 1:7, NRSVSong: “This Is Amazing Grace” Riddle et al.Children’s Blessing Proclamation of the WordPrayer for IlluminationScripture: Luke 7:36–50Sermon: “Our Need for Help”Sermon NotesHow does being a good neighbor lead us to receiving from our neighbors? Would we rather be independent than vulnerable? How does drawing close to one another help us draw close to God, and vice versa?Prayer of Application Response to the WordSong: “Faith Begins by Letting Go” DawOffering Prayers of the People Sending and BlessingTheme Song: “The Greatest Commandment” ZachBlessing: [see Week Four]Doxology: “We Receive Your Blessing” Moes, LUYH 947

Christian worship praises the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but in practice we find it far easier to worship the first two persons of the Trinity than the third. This is reflected in the hymns that we sing. Songs that praise the Father or Jesus Christ far outweigh songs of praise to the Spirit. In fact, most of the time the Spirit is only praised when included as the third stanza of praise to the Trinity (“Father/Jesus/Spirit we love you”).