Liturgy 4/27/25

CONFESSION:

You may be seated.

This morning we have come into the presence of God with our minds and hearts being drawn astray by so many distractions. Our concerns, anxieties, and fears are all pulling at us, attempting to pull us away from the worship of God. These voices come and whisper to us, they tell us that we don’t need to be with God’s people, that we have too much to do to take this morning to drive to Church, that anywhere else in the world is better than right here and right now. Provers 26:22

Proverbs 26:22 ESV

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

We hear these whispers but even worse than that is we yearn for these whispers. We listen and turn our hearts towards the wicked and deceitful thoughts that pull upon us from every direction. This was the sin of our Father Adam. He allowed the whispers of the serpent to pull him and his bride away from the truth, goodness, and beauty of God. And so we come confessing the same sin. That we have chased after these whispers, and we have loved it. We have neglected God, our neighbors, and our own souls by listening to the whispers or our hearts, of others, and of the enemy. We have spurned the Word made flesh, the incarnate Christ to chase after the vapors of empty promises and the lies of sin. This is how we enter in the presence of God.

So church, if you are able, I invite you to kneel, to confess your sins to God and repeat with me the words of David in Psalm 139.

Psalm 139:23-24,

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!

Confess your sins church, knowing God is faithful to hear your confession.

Father, we confess to you, and to one another, that we have sinned through our own fault, in thought, word, and deed; Lord we have longed for that which you despise. Our loves are disordered as we have become enchanted by the whispers of sin. Idols have found their home in our hearts as our love for you has grown cold.

We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.

We have been deaf to your call and blind to your beauty.

We have grieved your Holy Spirit.

Lord we are lost and helpless apart from your grace, and it is for this reason, we run for refuge to your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring your forgiveness through our Jesus Christ, our Lord

Father, forgive us.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

Rise church and hear the good news!

Church, your prayers have not failed, for your confession has ascended to the right hand of the Father, where the Great High Priest has now interceded on your behalf.

Beloved, In Christ you have been washed with the blood the Lamb. In Christ you have been raised by the power of the resurrection, In Christ your eyes have been opened so that you might see the power of his forgiveness. In Christ your ears have been opened so that you might hear the eternal proclamation that the king has saved his people. In Christ you have been transformed into a new creation. In Christ, The Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth, has achieved all there is to accomplish to fully forgive and restore you who have fallen into sin.

Church, this is the good news of the gospel, so lift up your hearts and hear these words: By the great and powerful name of Jesus, the King of Kings, I declare to you that your sins are forgiven!

Thanks be to God!

Lord’s Supper

As we gather this morning to feast together with our Risen Savior, we remember that this is a joyful occassion. We come to the table with hearts of gladness, praising God for his mercy and thanking him for the gift of his Son to us in the bread and the wine.

**Pick up the loaf of bread

"On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took the bread and gave thanks."

Father, we thank you for your Son. The Lamb who takes away our sins. Thank you for his body, beaten and bruised upon the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Amen

After giving thanks, he took the bread and broke it, saying, "This is my body broken for you; take and eat, and do this as my memorial.“

**The bread is handed out

**Coming back to the table, tear off a piece of bread for yourself, hold it up, and say

This body of Christ broken for you; take and eat and celebrate all that he has done!

**Eat the bread

**Pick up the wine and the cup

"After eating the bread, he took the cup and gave thanks."

Father, thank your for the blood of Christ. Our salvation. The blood that washes us as white as snow. Amen.

"After giving thanks, he poured it out and said, this is the new covenant of my blood poured out for you; take and drink and do this as my memorial ."

**The wine is handed out

**Coming back to the table, pick up the cup and say

"This is the blood of Christ poured out for you; take and drink and celebrate all that he has done!

**Drink the cup

**Move into position for the benediction

BENEDICTION:

Beloved go with this benediction from

Phil. 4:7 – (May) the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

You are sent.