In the Upper Room, before his passion and death, our Lord Jesus prayed as our high priest to God. Jesus prayed for his disciples, for those whom the Father had given him, and for those who would come to believe through the apostles. Jesus declared that he would no longer be in the world, but they would be in the world, and he would soon be coming to the Lord. Jesus asked the Holy Father to keep them in his name, those whom he had given to Christ, in order that they might be one, even as he and his Father were one.

Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

Gracious God and Holy Father, to whom the Lord Jesus prayed on behalf of his apostles, thank you for the life and ministry of our high priest, Jesus, for us today. We know that he ever lives to make intercession on our account, and without his ministry for us we could neither stand nor survive in this world of evil and sin. Help us to yield to our Savior, to affirm that he is praying for us constantly before your throne, and that you still listen to his prayers on our behalf. He is still our High Priest before you. 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, we are humbled when we hear your tender words to the Father for the sake of your apostles and those who would believe in you through their words. We are overwhelmed by your grace and love, your sympathy and kindness, and ask that you would ever assure us of your ongoing high priestly ministry for us. Without your prayers and intercession, without your provision and help, we cannot make it in this life. We will ever trust in you. In your name we pray, amen.

Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
O High Priest of God, who ever lives to make intercession for us as your people, represent us to the Father, for you know our need and our hearts.

The good news is, we can worship God the same way every day. We, too, can praise Him for His mighty acts. We can applaud His strength and acknowledge His power to defeat Satan, this world’s “god-king.” Along with Israel, we can proclaim that God is holy. And we can—and must—recognize God as our Deliverer, because just as He freed the Israelites to worship, He will free you from all that hinders your worship. Ego, depression, anger, fear—like the soldiers of Egypt, these will all drown. God wants to free you—today.

~ Vernon Whaley, Called to Worship: The Biblical Foundations of Our Response to God’s Call. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2009. p. 67.

Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
The Spirit Is Here, Acts 2.1-21

Book Reading
Whaley, Called to Worship