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Order of Worship:
MISSION FESTIVAL September 21, 2008 ( 8:30 & 10:30 A.M.)
For Pre-Service Reading – Psalm 145, Page 155
(10:30) Choir: “From All That Dwell Beneath The Skies”
(Words Of Hymn 15 + Alleluia & Additional Mission Verse)
In every land begin the song, To every land the strains belong;
In cheerful sound all voices raise, And fill the world with joyful praise.
Opening Hymn 508 : “Thou, Whose Almighty Word”
The Invocation And Confession Of Sins
C: Lord Jesus, You have called us be lights of the world and the salt of the earth – to reflect the light of Your Gospel glory and to be a godly influence upon others. Yet we confess before You both our sinfulness and our failure to let Your light properly shine. At times, our light has been dimmed by our busyness with the things of this world, by our misplaced priorities, by a lack of concern for others’ souls, even by a lack of confidence in the power of Your Word. Forgive us and renew us for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Open our hearts and unloose our tongues to share Your Gospel and to speak of Your glory. Amen.
The Absolution
A RESPONSIVE MISSION SCRIPTURE
Pastor: Acts 8: 26 – 40 Congregation: Romans Excerpts
P: Now, an angel of the Lord told Philip: “Go to the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. As he journeyed, he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important treasury official under Queen Candice. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship. On his way home he was sitting in his chariot, reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip: “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
C: How can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written; “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace!”
Sing
How shall they hear who have not heard News of a Lord who loved & came;
Nor known His reconciling Word, Nor learned to trust a Savior’s Name?
To all the world, to ev’ry place, Neighbors and friends, all precious souls,
Preach the Good News of saving grace; Fulfill our great commission roles.
P: Then Philip ran to the chariot & found the man reading the prophet Isaiah. “Do you understand what you are reading”, Philip asked. “How can I”, he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Is the prophet speaking of himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus.
C: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.” For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. But I ask: Did they not hear? Yes indeed! Their voice has gone out into all the world, their words to the ends of the earth.
Sing
“Whom shall I send?” Who hears the call, To serve & tell of Savior slain,
Of Him Who rose from death for all, To bring a lost world home again.
“Lord, here am I:” Your fire impart To this poor, cold, self-centered soul;
Touch now my lips,my hands,my heart And make a world for Christ my goal.
P: As they came to some water, the eunuch asked: “What hinders me from being baptized?” Philip said: “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” Then Philip baptized him. When they came up from the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. Although the eunuch did not see Philip again, he went on his way rejoicing.
C: For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.
Sing
Spirit of love, within us move; Spirit of truth, in pow’r come down!
So shall they hear & find and prove Christ is their life, their joy, their crown.
Our CLC Mission “Statement Of Faith And Purpose” (I)
It is our single purpose to be a Christian church that proclaims the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible. This Gospel is the only way people can know the true God and the way to eternal life. Our right of existence as a church body has been established by our Lord’s commission to “preach the Gospel to every creature”. (Mark 16:15). Therefore we are committed to say with the Apostle Paul: “I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Hymn 496 – “Hark! The Voice Of Jesus Crying” The Sermon ……………………………………. Acts 8: 29, 35 & 39
The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it”….. Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus….. When they came up from the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away. But the eunuch went on his way rejoicing.
SPIRITUAL PATH-CROSSING
1. The Spirit Directs Our Path-Crossing
2. The Spirit Moves Hearts Through His Word
Our Gifts For The Furtherance Of Our Lord’s Kingdom
(8:30) Choir: “From All That Dwell Below The Skies”
The Lord’s Prayer And Benediction
The Closing Hymn: “Christ The Eternal Lord”
Christ the eternal Lord, Whose promise here we claim,
Whose gifts of grace are freely poured On all who name Your name;
With thankfulness and praise We stand before Your throne,
Intent to serve You all our days And make Your glory known.
Christ the redeeming Son, Who shares our human birth,
And by His death salvation won For ev’ry child of earth;
Inspire our hearts, we pray, To tell Your love abroad,
That all may honor Christ today And follow Him as Lord.
Silent Prayer And Announcements
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
