How great is our God;
Sing with me, how great is our God;
And all will see how great, how great
Is our God (sing all 2x)
Our God is greater, our God is stronger;
God you are higher than any other;
Our God is Healer, awesome in power;
Our God, Our God (sing all 2x)
…Our God
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
…Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
Lord, the light of Your love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining.
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us;
Set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me.
Chorus: Shine, Jesus, shine!
Fill this land with the Father’s glory.
Blaze, Spirit blaze!
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river, flow!
Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth Your Word, Lord,
And let there be light!
Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into your radiance.
By Christ’s blood I may enter Your brightness;
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness.
Shine on me, shine on me. Chorus:
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me, shine on me. Chorus:
Chorus: Surely it is God who saves me.
I will trust in Him and not be afraid,
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense
and He will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing
from the springs of salvation,
And on that day you shall say give thanks to the Lord
and call upon His name. Chorus
Make His deeds known among the nations.
See that they remember that His name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord for He has done great things
And this is known in all the world. Chorus
Cry aloud inhabitants of Zion!
Ring out your joy!
For the great One in the midst of you
is the Holy One of Israel. Chorus
Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day
Christ on the road to Calvary
Tried by sinful men, torn and beaten, Then
Nailed to a cross of wood
Chorus This, the power of the cross
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross
Oh, to see the pain written on Your face
Bearing the awesome weight of sin
Every bitter thought, every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow. Chorus
Now the daylight flees, now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head
Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life
‘Finished!’ the victory cry. Chorus
Oh, to see my name written in the wounds
For through Your suffering I am free
Death is crushed to death, life is mine to live
Won through Your selfless love
This, the power of the cross Son of God slain for us
What a love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross
This the power of the cross Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath We stand forgiven at the cross
From all that dwell below the skies
Let the Creator’s praise arise, Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let the Redeemer’s name be sung
Through ev’ry land, by ev’ry tongue.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Eternal are Your mercies, Lord;
Eternal is Your glorious Word. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Your praise shall sound from shore to shore
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
In the darkness we were waiting
Without hope, without light
'Til from Heaven You came running
There was mercy in Your eyes
To fulfill the law and prophets
To a virgin came the word
From a throne of endless glory
To a cradle in the dirt
CHORUS: Praise the Father, praise the Son
Praise the Spirit, three in one
God of glory, Majesty
Praise forever to the King of Kings
To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake you died CHORUS
And the morning that You rose
All of Heaven held its breath
'Til that stone was moved for good
For the Lamb had conquered death
And the dead rose from their tombs
And the angels stood in awe
For the souls of all who'd come
To the Father are restored
And the church of Christ was born
Then the Spirit lit the flame
Now this gospel truth of old
Shall not kneel, shall not faint
By His blood and in His name
In His freedom I am free
For the love of Jesus Christ
Who has resurrected me CHORUS
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
INVOCATION
Pastor: Almighty God, before whose presence the angels veil their faces, with reverence and love we acknowledge Your glory and worship You – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, eternal Trinity.
Congregation: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
P: O holy and most merciful Father, we confess that from birth our sinful nature has made us unfit to stand before You. What is more, we have broken Your law repeatedly in our thoughts, words, and actions. So often we do the evil You forbid and fail to do the good You command. You know our hearts and our lives, Lord. We are guilty and deserve only to be condemned. But at Your gracious Word we come to You, and plead, "God have mercy on me, a sinner!"
C: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
P: The Lord, our gracious Father, has forgiven all your sins through the life and death of His one and only Son, Jesus the Christ. With His resurrection from death He has given you the sure hope of everlasting life. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved.
So go now and leave the life of sin and produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven!
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see!
The Lord has promised good to me; His Word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.
THE NICENE CREED
C: 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 fully 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 in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian 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.
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)
Pans of Hope – Everything is Possible
TIME OF PRAYER
I must tell Jesus all of my trials. I cannot bear these burdens alone.
In my distress He kindly will help me. He ever loves and cares for His own.
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus. I cannot bear my burdens alone.
I must tell Jesus. I must tell Jesus. Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
PRAYER
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.)
I must tell Jesus all of my troubles. He is a kind, compassionate friend.
If I but ask Him, He will deliver; Make of my troubles quickly an end.
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus. I cannot bear my burdens alone.
I must tell Jesus. I must tell Jesus. Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them up to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In love He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ. To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and thanks and honor and glory for ever and ever.
Just as I am, without one plea But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ on the night He was betrayed took bread, gave thanks and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take and eat. This is my body given into death for your sins.”
In the same way, He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, “Drink from it all of you. This is My blood of the new covenant poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of Me.”
M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
Just as I am and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
(The Scriptures teach that the celebration of the Lord’s Supper connects us intimately with Christ and with one another as Christians. To understand more about the Lord’s Supper, please visit with our pastor. He would love to talk with you about the blessings of the Lord’s Supper.)
Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
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.
GREET ONE ANOTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Post-Service) Pans of Hope – Awesome God