We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
Chorus : And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;
Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. Chorus
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We will work with each other, we will work side by side,
We’ll respect people’s dignity and in love abide. Chorus
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one. Chorus
Thank you Jesus, for finding me.
Like a good shepherd your mercy leads
Back to your arms where I’m meant to be.
I thank you Jesus for finding me.
Thank you Jesus, for saving me.
You took my place on that cursed tree.
Died for sinners but rose as a King.
I thank you Jesus for saving me.
CHORUS: It’s only because of all you’ve done
That I can be called a friend of God
Oh beautiful Savior what else can I do
But lift up my voice and say, Thank you.
My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare to make no other claim
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Chorus: On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. Chorus.
His oath, His covenant and blood
support me in the raging flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay. Chorus.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before His throne. Chorus.
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
INVOCATION
Pastor: We worship this morning in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES & PRAYERS
Pastor: God, our Father, each day is a gift of Your grace.
Congregation: Your mercies are new every morning.
P: Guide our steps by the light of Your Word.
C: Shield us from harm and keep us from evil.
P: Better than life is Your love.
C: Put joy in our hearts and praise on our lips. Alleluia!
P: We pray together:
C: Heavenly Father, we have come to worship You. Draw near to us in your gracious word and assure us of Your loving kindness. Curb our wandering thoughts that we may hear Your voice and sing Your praises. Open our hearts by Your Spirit, that we may believe in Jesus and grow day by day in Your grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS
P: We have come into the presence of God who created us to love and serve Him as His dear children, but we have disobeyed Him and deserve only His wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to Him and plead for His mercy.
C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against You and do not deserve to be called Your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to Your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.
Lord I come, I confess,
Bowing here, I find my rest.
Without You, I fall apart.
You’re the One that guides my heart.
Chorus: Lord, I need You, Oh, I need You.
Ev’ry hour I need You.
You’re my one defense, my righteousness,
Oh, God, how I need You.
P: Jesus says to His people: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” His death paid for the guilt of Your sins and the sins of the whole world. Do you believe this?
C: Yes, I believe.
P: Because of the promise of our Savior Jesus, I pronounce to you that your sins are forgiven. Be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of eternal life.
C: Amen.
P: We Pray.
C: O Lord, my God, I thank You for the love You have shown me in Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Let me live in the peace of forgiveness, help me fight against temptation, correct whatever wrongs I can, and serve You and those around me with love and good works. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
PSALM 73
P: I am always with you;
C: You hold me by my right hand.
P: You guide me with your counsel,
C: And afterward you will take me into glory.
P: Whom have I in heaven but you?
C: And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
P: My flesh and my heart may fail,
C: But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
P: Those who are far from you will perish;
C: You destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
P; But as for me, it is good to be near God.
C: I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.
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
Martin Luther's explanation to the 3rd Article
I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him.
But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
In this Christian church he daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers.
On the Last Day he will raise me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
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)
PRAYER REQUESTS
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 forever. 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.
GREET ONE ANOTHER
ANNOUNCEMENTS