The Holy Spirit empowers us with gifts and signs of his presence. Jesus’s own life testifies in both his person and his works that the Kingdom of God is here. The same Holy Spirit that was at work in him abides with us. When Christ ascended in victory, he gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to his people. He empowered ever believer with spiritual gifts to serve the body. He gave ongoing signs of the presence of his Kingdom. These signs and gifts are all manifestations of the one Holy Spirit in us all. He gives them for the common good of the Church and for the glory of God.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
Breathe on me, breath of God
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

~ Edwin Hatch 1855-89

Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, amen.

Te Deum Laudamus 
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Benediction 
Breathe in me, Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Attract my heart, Holy Spirit,
that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me, Holy Spirit,
that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit,
that I may always be holy.

~ Augustine of Hippo, 354-430

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Come, Holy Spirit, and demonstrate the wondrous, rich grace of the Father through the gifts and expressions you have given to God’s people, to each and every one.

Weekly Reflection on the Sovereign Love of God
Even as the incarnation took place in human form, so the forms of apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, and speakers in various tongues (1 Cor. 12:28) are the visible and tangible means through which “all things [are] done for edification” and all things are done “decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:26, 40).

~ Robert E. Webber and David Neff
Common Roots: The Original Call to an Ancient-Future Faith. p. 267.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
Come, Holy Spirit: Life Giver: Adoption, Romans 8.15-17

Book Reading
Heine, Classical Christian Doctrine

Our Corporate Disciplines
National Day of Prayer: Monday, September 13, 2021