Call to Worship (Isaiah 41)
L: When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none and their tongue is parched with thirst. I the Lord will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
P: I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the desolate country a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
L: I will put in the barren places the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
P: I will set in the desolate country the cypress, the plane tree, and the pine together, that men may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel created it.
Prayer of Invocation: Dear Lord Jesus, you say to us, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me,” and we answer thee, “O Jesus, thy father’s son, come in, blessed of the Lord!” Amen.
Prayer of Confession: Almighty God, God of Faith, you have loved us with a love so deep that you sent your only begotten son to make right all that was so wrong. Lord, we confess that often we walk by our own sight and not by faith, that power that established Jesus on the cross to gain the victory, that power that raised him up on the third day, that power that raised us up when we were dead in our sins. Our minds and hearts are not right within us. We close our eyes to the pain of our neighbors; we say “No” to pity. We grieve your Holy Spirit. Father, forgive us, that all lies and half truths may be cleared away. Have mercy upon us! Lead us, Father, into all truth that we may we free. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Our Lord said, “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Anointed Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin, and alive to all that is good. Hear the good news.
P: In Jesus Anointed we are forgiven. Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 103, Philippians 3:12-21
Sermon: Forgetting what is behind and stretching towards what is ahead
Hymns #435 What a Friend We Have in Jesus, #26 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Announcements:
Please contact Jack Hines if you would like to be a census worker. Mr. Hines is coordinating the census in our region. Pay is $22/hour plus 58 cents/mile working on one’s own time. For more information contact him at 715-307-1274
Prayer Chain: For Doris and Harold, for Susan Lafferty, for Don Gilbertson and Audrey, for Cal Baker, for Eleanor Oltman, for Debbie Baker, for Sara and Laura, for the Food Pantries in Ellsworth and Red Wing
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