Grace Gathering: 5/21/06

I suggested recently to David and Eric that we begin posting our Sunday "orders of service" to promote discussion and provide ideas. Here is ours for tomorrow:

Grace Church of Columbia: Grace Gathering
Sunday, May 21st, 2006, 10:00 a.m.

Call to Worship/Welcome/Announcements: Lamentations 3:21-26

Opening Song: Jesus, Everlasting King (Isaac Watts, Matthew Smith)

Confession of Sin/Assurance of Pardon: Confession of Sin 2.2.68 from The Worship Sourcebook
Leader: God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God's People: But we have often presided as harsh judges over the lives of others. We have been quick to place blame on anything or anyone but ourselves. We have avoided obligations to care for or to help people in need.
Leader: Lord, please show us your mercy.
God's People: Lord, have mercy upon us in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Titus 3:4-7

Songs of Meditation: Thy Mercy My God Is The Theme Of My Song (John Stocker, Sandra McCracken)
Only Hope (Charles Wesley, Randall Goodgame)

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:1-17

Song of Prayer: Be Thou My Vision (Eleanor Hull)

Offering
Corporate Prayer: 4.4.17 from The Worship Sourcebook
Lord Jesus, you are our living head. Teach us to be your body here on earth—your hands, your feet, your eyes, and your compassionate heart. Lord, send the impulses of your love into the sinews of this church. May your will and thoughts direct us. Let your hands, through our hands, supply food for our neighbors’ hunger. Let them hear your voice as we visit and talk with them. Let children come to us and sit in our laps, as they sat in yours. Without you as our head, Lord, we are lifeless. We wait for your power, your Word, your instruction. Fill us with your life and love, Jesus. Amen.

Message: Matthew 5:7

Lord's Supper
Invitation to the Table of our Lord
In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend and Keith Getty)
The Bread and the Cup

Pastoral Prayer
Sharing and Praying

Song of Sending: Take to the World (Aaron Tate)

Sending: Sending 9.1.21 from The Worship Sourcebook
As you have been fed at this table, go to feed the hungry. As you have been set free, go to set free the imprisoned. As you have received, give. As you have heard, proclaim. And the blessing that you have received from Father, Son, and Holy Spiritbe always with you. Amen.