Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving
To God the Creator triumphantly raise,
Who fashioned and made us, Protected and stayed us,
Who still guides us on to the end of our days.
God’s banners are o’er us; His light goes before us,
A pillar of fire shining forth in the night,
Till shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,
As forward we travel from light into light.
His law He enforces; the stars in their courses
And sun in its orbit obediently shine.
the hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,
The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him divine.
We, too, should be voicing our love and rejoicing.
With glad adoration a song let us raise
Till all things now living unite in thanksgiving:
“To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!"
There's a story of unfailing love
That echoes in my heart
There's a promise that You're always here
Your word will light my path
We shall not fear the days to come
You are with us to the end
And everything is possible
Through God who gives us strength
CHORUS:
You make everything brand new
You're the God of miracles
And everything is possible
Through God who gives us strength
Whether I am rich or I am poor
I will give You thanks
I will lift my voice to sing Your praise
In every circumstance
When found in sickness or in health
I have learned to be content
'Cause everything is possible
Through God who gives us strength
CHORUS
For whosoever shall believe
Jesus made a way
His blood poured out on Calvary
Has broken every chain
CHORUS x 2
Standing on the promises of Christ, my King.
Through eternal ages let His praises ring;
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Chorus: Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail;
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God. Chorus
Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call;
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God. Chorus
Make me a servant, humble and meek;
Lord, let me lift up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be:
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant today. (2X)
Paul wrote this letter to the congregation in Philippi. Paul writes the letter from prison, most likely in Rome (Acts 28). The letter is characterized by joy. In the lesson today, notice all of the reasons that Paul gives us to be thankful.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Jesus gives us the ultimate reason for thankfulness: forgiveness.
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:
“Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![a]
20 “What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22 “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
INVOCATION
Pastor: We begin our worship and praise the same way we were baptized: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
MORNING PRAYER
C: I thank you my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. Into Your hands I commend my body and soul and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
P: As believers in Christ we are called to repent of our sins and forgive one another. In the book of James we are told, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” As one body in Christ, we unite our hearts in prayer:
C: Lord, I pray to You because I am hurting. I have cut myself off from You and others by the sin in my life. I need Your forgiveness so that I may find healing for my wounded life and for the wounds I have caused others. Today in the name of Jesus I pray, forgive me and by the power of Your Holy Spirit renew my heart. Amen
Change My Heart, O God
Change my heart, O God; Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God; May I be like You.
You are the potter; I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart, O God; Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God; May I be like You
P: We take comfort and find confidence in the words of Jesus, “He has sent me to announce forgiveness to the prisoners and to restore sight to the blind, to give mercy to those whose lives are shattered by sin, to announce the favor of the Lord.” God gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins and rise from death to give us eternal life. We are forgiven. We live in the favor of the Lord.
C: Amen!
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit washed in His blood.
Chorus: This is my story; this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story; this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Loving Submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, kept in His love. Chorus.
PSALM 100
P: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
C: Worship the LORD with gladness
P: Come before Him with joyful songs.
C: Know that the LORD is God.
P: It is He who made us, and we are His
C: We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
P: Enter His gates with thanksgiving
C: And His courts with praise
P: Give thanks to Him and praise is name.
C: For the LORD is good and His love endures forever
P: His faithfulness continues through all generations.
ALL: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever. Amen.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
THE APOSTLE’S CREED
C: I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
THANK OFFERING
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
(2 Corinthians 4:18)
Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now, let the weak say “I am strong!” Let the poor say “I am rich!”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
And now, let the weak say “I am strong!” Let the poor say “I am rich!”
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy One.
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son. Give thanks…
PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and ever. Amen.
(Our prayer team is always ready to go to the throne of the Father for you.
For prayer chain requests, email prayer@livinghopereunion.church.)
BENEDICTION
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS