CALL TO WORSHIP – Isaiah 25:1, 3-4
1 O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
3 Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
4 For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall,
PRAYER OF ADORATION
Almighty Father,
WE have gathered today because you have called us to do so, and we are able to gather because we are in Christ Jesus, your Son. We do not come on our own merits and accomplishments. We come because Christ has died in our place and was raise for our justification.
Our desire is to bring you glory and to enjoy your presence. We praise you that you are the most-high God, and there is none like you. The gods of the nations are not gods, but are idols made in our own image. You alone are God.
We know that in singing your praises we cannot add any glory to you. Your glory is essential to you just as light is to the Sun, and because you are infinite, you are infinite glory.
So, we gather and sing and pray and preach not to make you more glorious, but to explain and proclaim your glory among the nations. We join the global testimony of the communion of the saints who are lifting up your name in the world and magnifying your name to our neighbors.
You are eternal and unchanging, all-knowing and all-powerful. You are good, loving, merciful, holy, righteous, jealous, and you hate all sin.
Your holiness is a fire which none can approach. Your truth is a lamp lighting our paths. Your majesty is a lion and your protection of us is a strong tower. You are the faithful bridegroom of your people; the Father to the children you’ve adopted. You are the judge and the king over all the earth, and you are a man of war who defends his people. You are the great physician who heals our diseases, and you shepherd your flock.
Father, these are only a part of your ways, and we have only heard a little portion of who you are.
We pray that in our songs and prayers, our confessions and our preaching we would see and understand more and more of all that you are.
So, we worship you Father, through Christ the Son, in the power of the Spirit. One God. Forever and Ever. Amen.