We believe we are created in the image of God, male and female.
Believing that God’s will for us is goodwill, we follow in the footsteps of God’s beloved Son,
Jesus the Christ.
We believe Jesus lived to forgive, and showed us how, by serving one another, we connect to the heart of God.
Jesus’ mission to bind up and heal the broken hearted is our mission also.
We believe and trust Jesus’ saving act of taking all our sin, regret and sorrow
upon his own shoulders.
He bore them to the cross where they died with him.
Jesus was buried in a tomb, but on the third day God raised him from the dead,
as promised.
Not long after his resurrection, also as promised, God sent the Holy Spirit into our midst
speaking truth in every language to all who have ears to hear.
We believe The Spirit is our ever-present advocate, counselor,
and friend teaching us to love God and one another as the Christ loved us.
Praise God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Wondrous and unfathomable God, we are awed by your unrelenting grace, mercy and love for humankind. Just when we think everything is about to fall apart, when we are anxious and panicky, you surprise us, placing solutions smack-dab in our path. In moments of such inspiration, we become acutely aware that we have been privy to your timely intervention, and only that helped get us back on track. In such moments, we also realize how often we fail to call out your name, and ask for your very present help in times of trouble. O Lord, may your name be ever on our lips as we offer thanks and praise in the name of the risen Christ. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
In our senior years, we are advised by the wise to put our accumulated assets in trusts, in order to protect them from the long arm of the probate court. So we place our trust in fiduciary institutions or lawyers who specialize in estate planning. I often wonder if, in truth, we trust God over money, banks, blue-chips, and legalese. How and when do you trust in God? I mean, on which occasions? Under what circumstances? In what situations? It’s an important question to ponder one pondered by a Pennsylvania Pastor who in 1861, pleaded with the Secretary of the Treasury to recognize God on our coinage, so if we managed to destroy ourselves during the Civil War, future generations would not regard us as heathens. His plea was honored by Secretary Chase. In 1956, nearly 100 years later, a law was passed by the 84th Congress and approved by the President declaring IN GOD WE TRUST to be the national motto of the United States. Every denomination of coin or bill reminds us to put our trust in God. Like those fiduciary institutions and lawyers, may Christ’s church be worthy of your trust.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, bless these tithes and offerings. We offer them with grateful hearts, trusting that you will guide us to use them wisely, for the edification of Christ’s church and the good of humanity. Jesus taught us that all things are possible with you. May all our work and all of efforts serve your will. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
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