Sunday Celebration 12/29/2024
WELCOME & INVOCATION
Our Affirmation of Faith
We believe in God the creator of us all, whose desire for
diversity is seen in the rainbow of humanity. With unrelenting
passion God Seeks to be in relationship with all of us.
We believe in Jesus the Christ, who is the embodiment of
God’s redeeming grace; And in the Holy Spirit through whom
that grace continues its restoring work.
We believe in the Church. It is the body of Christ on the earth
today. As ministers of this church, we are all called like Jesus,
to heal, to deliver, to teach, and to serve.
We believe that together we can change the world,
in our time and for all time Amen!
Affirmation Chorus: In This Place
In this place, There’s joy that I can’t explain
In this place, There’s healing for all my pain
There is love unlike I’ve ever known
Everybody here makes me feel at home
As we gather here, I know I’m not alone
I feel God’s presence, Moving in this place..
SING AND CELEBRATE:
- FREE FOR ALL
Rivers rich in mercy beckon, Everyone who thirsts is welcome
All who hunger freely come, Bread of life for everyone
Chorus Free for all, Free for all, Over every limitation, Free for all
Where the spirit of the Lord is, There is freedom, free for all
Where the spirit of the Lord is, There is freedom, free for all
Free for all (pause)
We’re proclaiming freedom to the nations,
Stand and see your full salvation
Rivers in the desert, clouds are forming
Celebrate this free out-pouring (chorus)
Free for all, Free for all, Over every limitation, Free for all
Where the spirit of the Lord is, There is freedom, free for all
Where the spirit of the Lord is, There is freedom, free for all
Holy Spirit rise within us, Bring your freedom, free for all
Holy Spirit rise within us, Bring your freedom, free for all
Free for all…. Who the Son set free, is free indeed
Who the Son set free, is free indeed
Who the Son set free, is free indeed
2. YOU SAY
Chorus: You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing You say I am strong when I think I am weak And You say I am held when I am falling short And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe, oh I believe. What You say of me. I believe
Verse: The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity, o-ooh (chorus)
Verse: Taking all I have and now I’m laying it at Your feet
You have every failure God, and You’ll have every victory, o-ooh (Chorus)
Oh I believe. Yes I believe. What You say of me. Oh I believe
3. 10,000 REASONS
Chorus: Bless the Lord oh my soul… Oh my soul. I cherish Your lovely name
Sing like never before, Oh my soul. I’ll cherish Your lovely name.(pause)
Verse 1: The sun comes up. It’s a new day dawning, It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me/
Let me be singing when the evening comes (pause, repeat chorus)
Verse 2 You’re rich in love, and You’re always faithful. Your grace is great
And Your heart is kind. For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reason for my heart to find (pause, repeat chorus)
Verse 3 And on that day, When my strength is failing.
The end draws near, And my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your love unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore. Forevermore
(repeat chorus then continue below)
Yes I will cherish Your lovely name. Jesus I’ll cherish Your lovely name
Sing like never before, Oh my soul, I’ll cherish Your lovely name
Jesus I’ll cherish Your lovely name
LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
SPECIAL MUSICAL MUSIC
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, they must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for My sake will find it. What will it profit a person if they gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can someone give in exchange for their soul?… MATTHEW 16:24-26
We don’t put our trust in who we are or what we can do. I have many reasons to trust in who I am and what I have done. Someone else may think they have reasons to trust in these things. But I have even more. I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am part of the people of Israel. I am from the tribe of Benjamin. I am a pure Hebrew. As far as the law is concerned, I am a Pharisee. As far as being committed is concerned, I opposed and attacked the church. As far as keeping the law is concerned, I kept it perfectly. I thought things like that were really something great. But now I consider them to be nothing because of Christ. Even more, I consider everything to be nothing compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. To know him is worth much more than anything else. Because of him I have lost everything. But I consider all of it to be garbage so I can know Christ better. I want to be joined to him. Being right with God does not come from my obeying the law. It comes because I believe in Christ. It comes from God because of faith. I want to know Christ better. Yes, I want to know the power that raised him from the dead. I want to join him in his sufferings. I want to become like him by sharing in his death. Then by God’s grace I will rise from the dead. I have not yet received all these things. I have not yet reached my goal. Christ Jesus took hold of me so that I could reach that goal. So I keep pushing myself forward to reach it. Brothers and sisters, I don’t consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me. I push myself forward toward the goal to win the prize. God has appointed me to win it. The heavenly prize is Christ Jesus himself. PHILIPPIANS 3:3-14
SPECIAL MUSIC
PRAISE AND PRAYER
TODAY’S SERMON: “PREACHING TO MYSELF”
FINAL SONG