"Count Your Many Blessings"

Call to Worship (Psalm 24, 2 Samuel 6, Ephesians 1)

The earth is the Lord’s! Everything in creation belongs to God. Lift up your eyes! See the mighty works of the Lord! This is the Lord’s house! All who hope in the Lord will be called children of God. Lift up your hearts! Receive the gracious gifts of the Lord! This is the hour for worship and song. Lift up your voice! Praise the Lord with all your might!

Opening Prayer (2 Samuel 6, Psalm 24)

God of all creation, everything that you have made lifts its unique voice to praise you in all of your glory. Even as we worship here, we join our voices to the one true song — the song the morning stars began, the song King David danced, the song the angels echoed at the birth of your Son. Glory to you, Holy God! Glory! Let this hour of worship be wholly to the praise of your glory. Amen.

Invitation to the Offering (2 Corinthians 8)

Paul challenged the church at Corinth to recognize their abundance, that they might share with those in need. God calls us to give out of our bounty, that all might have enough to live on without fear. With eager hearts, let us joyfully give out of our abundance.

PRAYER

Lord of mystery and community, you have called us here this day to remind us of the mission journey you set before us. Help us to pay attention to the words of Jesus as he sent out his disciples on a mission of healing and compassion. Remind us that success is not measured in the cures, but in the striving. Enable us to truly be your disciples in this world. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.

Ephesians 1:3-14 NIV Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[c] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen,[d] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

BENEDICTION, BLESSING

Go in confidence. Know that God goes with you to give you words of hope, comfort and peace. May God’s love flow through you to all those whom you meet. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.AMEN.