The whole church does the work of ministry. The risen Lord has given his Church the gift of leaders, apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. Leaders equip all of us to be the body of Christ. The whole body must work together, with each member exercising their gifts so that we can be whole and complete. Only when all of us do the work of ministry under the care of godly leaders can we attain to the full stature of Christ.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

Our Father in heaven, through your Son you have sent the gift of leaders to your Church. Thank you for the way these leaders equip your saints to do the work of ministry. Thank you for the specific ministries you have given to each of us. Thank you that you have chosen to place us in your family and to use us for the praise of your glory. Help us today to see how you wish to use us to build up Christ’s body. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 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 

Blessed be you, our Lord Jesus Christ. You are risen and ascended in glory. You reign over all. We praise you for the plan you have had from before the world began. Use us today to bring you glory in unique and specific ways. Use all that we have, our gifts and talents, our weaknesses and even our faults. Use us to build up your body, and fill us with your love that we might grow into the fulness to which we are called. We pray this in your holy name, amen.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Lord Jesus Christ, do your work through me, that we might reach maturity.

The main business of the pastor is not the preparation and delivery of sermons. His principal duty is to develop, whether by sermon or by any other method, every member into a mature believer, able to witness effectively to others.

~ Roy J. Fish and J. E. Conant, Every Member Evangelism for Today. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1976. p. 17.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
Put on the Armor of God, Ephesians 6.10-18

Book Reading
Anizor and Voss, Representing Christ