To live as a citizen of the Kingdom, we must see ourselves in light of God’s Word concerning us. We who believe in Christ have been grafted into a Story so big that the entire universe and all of time will not contain it. We are now, by faith, recipients of the Kingdom’s authority and rule, baptized by the Spirit as members into the body of Christ. We have been granted an entirely new identity with a new nature, set free from the futility of empty religion and legalism, all in order that we might represent Christ in this world as his ambassadors and agents.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
Eternal God, thank you for the power of the message of reconciliation. You were in Christ, reconciling the world to yourself, and now through the Gospel, the nations can be forgiven in you again. Grant us grace to represent your name among them as ambassadors, that Christ may be seen and embraced as the righteousness of God. In his name we pray, amen.

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 
Lord Jesus, who can understand, without the Spirit’s wisdom, the statement, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come”? Our old life of sin and slavery is over, and the new life of forgiveness and devotion to you has arrived. Never allow the weight of this truth to become overly familiar to us. Fill us with the newness of your Gospel, and make us ready ambassadors to share with those in our circles. For your sake we pray, amen.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Renew us, we pray, that we may be true and faithful ambassadors for Christ.

Weekly Reflection on the Priesthood of all Believers
Whatever the case, the activities of representation, peacemaking, and service (as part of a team) were integral to be both an emissary and a Hebrew priest.

~ Scott Breslin, Embracing Our Priestly Nature at Work: A Theology and Practice for Ordinary Saints. Eugene OR: Resource Publications, 2017. p. 32.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
Enter the Priesthood of All Believers, 1 Peter 2.4-10

Book Reading
Breslin, Embracing Our Priestly Nature at Work

Our Corporate Disciplines
Book Discussion: Tuesday, July 5, 2022