WORSHIP

COLLECT - Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Philippians 4:4-7

Luke 3:7-18

Canticle 9

HYMN LYRICS: https://hymnary.org

Processional Hymn                       

Once he came in blessing (Gottes Sohn ist kommen) H#53

Gospel Hymn                

God of grace and God of glory (Cwm Rhondda) H#594

Offertory Hymn                 

Just as I am (Woodworth) H#693

Communion Hymn          

More Precious Than Silver (A3#115)

You Are My All in All (A3#194)

Recessional Hymn                   

All people that on earth do dwell (Old 100th) H#377

Morsel for Meditation

One aspect of this world that I have been able to identify as harmful to Christian is the assumption that anything worthwhile can he acquired at once. We assume that if something can be done at all, it can be done quickly and efficiently. Our attention spans have been condi-tioned by thirty-second com-mercials. Our sense of reality has been flattened by thirty-page abridgments. In our culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly, but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness. The persons whom lead in worship, among whom I counsel, visit, pray, preach, and teach, want shortcuts. They want me to help them fill out the form that will get them instant credit (in eternity). They are impatient for results. They have adopted the lifestyle of a tourist and want only the high points. But a pastor is not a tour guide. I have no interest in telling apocryphal religious stories at or around dubiously identified sacred sites. The Christian live cannot mature under such conditions and such ways.

H. Peterson, Dale Larsen, Sandy Larsen. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction Bible Study (Intervarsity Press, 2021), 8.a

Pray for the Church,

the Body of Christ



Please pray for those on our prayer list this week:

Marie and Ken Gunter, Ginger Higgins, Bob Lanier, Jimmy Herring and Family, Dana Medford, Elaine Bottone, Father Gordon, Julia Gibson, Beverly Gish,

Contact our church office to add a name to our prayer list: 903-455-5030. Names remain for one month unless renewed or canceled.

PRAYER REQUESTS

& BOX

The Daughters of the King support your prayer needs and wishes. Each Sunday a prayer team will be available to pray with you after the Worship Service in the choir area after the 10:30 service. If you would like additional information, please see a DOK member.

They also have an intercessory prayer box on the table in the Narthex to deposit prayer requests. Prayer request cards may be found in the pews and beside the box in the Narthex.

Daughters pray daily. All prayers are confidential. Each person is prayed for one month. If you wish for continued prayers, please complete another request card or contact a Daughter.

You may call the church office (903-455-5030) and specify it is for

the DOK intercessory prayer list. You can hand the card to a Daughter (she is always wearing her cross).