Everything you need for July 26 online worship
Preparations for Worship:
- Do your best to eliminate distractions like the phone, TV, etc.
- Worship actively! Whether you are by yourself or with others, try reading the parts of the service aloud (responses, lessons, and prayers).
- This service is for children too. Help them participate. Ask those who have that ability to read a prayer or lesson aloud. Take a moment to describe what’s happening. Ask questions. Encourage little ones to draw what they are hearing while you all listen. Unlike our more typical Sunday worship at church, you can pause at any time for questions and discussion.
- Before you begin, load each of the videos below. (You might first have to get past a distracting ad.)
- Pause for a moment of quiet meditation. Then pray:
“Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and speak your praise. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
CONFESSION OF SINS AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of all power and might, you are the giver of all that is good. Help us love you with all our heart, strengthen us in true faith, provide us with all we need, and keep us safe in your care; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
LESSON – HEBREWS 4:1-11
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be fearful that any one of you may be judged to have failed to reach it. 2In fact, we have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united in faith with those who did listen. 3Indeed, we who believe are going to enter his rest. It happened just as he vowed when he said: So I swore an oath in my wrath, “They will never enter my rest.” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And God rested on the seventh day from all his works. 5And again in this statement: They will never enter my rest. 6Therefore, since it is still the case that some do enter this rest, and yet those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not enter because of disobedience, 7God again set a certain day, namely, “today,” when he later said through David, as quoted before: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. 8For, if Joshua had given them rest, then God would not have spoken later about another day. 9So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10For the one who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God rested from his work. 11Therefore, let us make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
GOSPEL – MATTHEW 11:25-30
25At that time, Jesus continued, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from clever and learned people and have revealed them to little children. 26Yes, Father, because this was pleasing to you. 27Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wants to reveal him. 28“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
DEVOTION – JOSHUA 23:1-11
CONFESSION OF FAITH – NICENE CREED
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.
OFFERING
Offerings may be given on-line at tithe.ly/risensavior, mailed to the church, or dropped off at the church.
Our members have joined together in faith and love to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
O Lord, we are Your people, chosen by Your grace to be Your own possession and granted mercy upon mercy.
Hear Your people who cry to You in need, and remember us according to the favor You have shown to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Lord, let the Church prosper in the work you have given to us. That the good news of Jesus Christ go forth unhindered, and the Spirit bring many into the fellowship of the redeemed.
Grant to us good and faithful pastors to preach and teach the whole counsel of His Word, and that we may receive their words with joy and thanksgiving.
Lord let us remember our Baptism into Christ and live boldly in our vocation as His children no matter the difficulties of this fallen world, within our families, in our neighborhoods and throughout the world.
Bless all lawful occupations and professions, and that we may pursue honesty and virtue in all things.
Lord, let us know the comfort and rest in the true treasure of the cross and rejoice in the resurrection, pursuing with all their hearts, minds, bodies and souls the things of His kingdom.
Grant us generous hearts so we honor you with the worship of our hearts and bring to you the offerings that support your work given to us.
Heavenly Father, watch over all whose lives have been disrupted by this pandemic, especially those who have suffered illness, lost loved ones, or whose livelihoods have been impacted in a negative way. Give them strength and courage as they contend with their trying circumstances. Give wisdom and insight to our government and health leaders as they navigate these uncharted waters. Guide ministries and churches as we strive to carry out your Great Commission in changed circumstances.
And we boldly ask, if it’s your will, that you mercifully end this health crisis and allow us to return to our normal routines.
Lord heal the sick, grant peace to the troubled, comfort the grieving and keep the dying in peace.
Allow us to be steadfast and immovable, abiding in Christ and in His Word of truth, and that we would be kept from error and delivered from temptation even in the midst of our suffering.
Lord hear us as we come before your throne of grace to pray in the words your Son our Savior taught us…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
THE LORD’S BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. Amen.