Moment of silence

Begin with a moment of silence. Focus your attention on the real presence of God and remember that we’ve set aside this time to worship him.

Opening reading and prayer

Read Psalm 147

Praise God in prayer

Here is a suggested prayer to guide you in your praise: Father, we praise you because you have all power and all wisdom. Nothing is unknown to you and everything is under your authority. And you exercise your power and wisdom in mercy and compassion. You are kind to your creation, especially us. Thank you for establishing your church, built on Jesus Christ the cornerstone. Thank you for gathering us in and adopting us as your children. Thank you for healing us and making us whole by your redeeming love. And though this work of being made new is not yet perfectly complete, we thank you that you have promised to complete it, and we look forward to the day when we are finally whole and at peace in your presence. Thank you for speaking to us by your word, and for making your word effective in our lives. We love you, and we pray this in Christ’s name - Amen.

Sing: Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah

Reading and confession

Read Deuteronomy 6:1-25

Confess your sin and need for God’s grace in prayer

Here is a suggested prayer to guide you in your thanksgiving: Father, we know the great value of your word. We know that it is uniquely able to teach us, to guide us and sanctify and console us and give us peace. And yet, we confess that we have paid too little attention to your word. We have given far too little time and energy to reading it, hearing it, studying it and contemplating it. We’ve been more concerned with the wisdom of the world and the opinions of people than with your word. We’ve been more interested in entertainment and distraction than in what you have said. We’ve made too little effort to know it and understand it and apply it. Too often it’s gone in one ear and out the other when we’ve heard it, or we've just ignored it entirely. We know this is sin against you, to put so little value on your revealed word. Forgive us Lord. 

We know that you did not just send us your written word though, but in your love you sent us your word made flesh - Jesus Christ. He came to die for us so that we might be forgiven for our sin. And so it’s in his name that we pray - Amen. 

For assurance of pardon from the scriptures, read John 1:12

Sing: Christ is Mine Forvermore

Sing: Speak O Lord

Pray and ask God for his blessing on our church and those connected to us

Here are some suggestions for how you might pray:

• For those in the congregation who are ill and suffering
• For those who are grieving the loss of loved ones
• For those who lonely and feeling isolated
• For those who are anxious and under stress
• For those who have not yet believed the gospel

Meditation on scriptures

Sing: Your Will Be Done

Benediction: 2Corinthians 13:14

Sing: the Doxology

*** Remember that we've covenanted together to give of our financial resources to the work of the Grace Church here in Roanoke and around the world. You can give online here: https://gcrva.churchcenter.com/giving