Call to Worship
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods.
In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also.
The sea is His for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years, I was grieved with that generation, and said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”
– Psalm 95
Thanksgiving
Gracious Father, thank You for the gift of the men of Lakewood Methodist Church. Thank You for their service in Your kingdom, their love and faithfulness in their families and communities, their examples of faith and righteousness in daily living. Bless the work of their hands, Father, build them up in Your love and be their strength. Amen
Scripture Reading
17 Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.
18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
and he who guards his master will be honored.
19 As in water face reflects face,
so the heart of man reflects the man.
Prayer of Intercession
O Lord, direct our steps this day into the way of peace, and strengthen our hearts to obey Your commandments. May the Dayspring visit us from on high, and give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, that they may adore You for Your mercy, follow You for Your truth, desire You for Your sweetness, for You are the blessed God of Israel, now and forever. (An ancient Collect, A.D. 440)
Lord, thank You for the many blessings of the men of Lakewood Church. Bless the work of their hands, and give them faithful friends, joy in their fellowship, and accountability partners to encourage them in their walk with You. Help the men to share their burdens with You, their burden-bearer, and fill them with the knowledge of Your great love. May the men trust in Your power and hold fast to their true identity in Christ. Protect them, Father, from the evil one and from the ways of the world. We pray in Jesus’ name.
As The Spirit Leads
Please continue in prayer for any personal, church, community, nation, or world needs, concerns, or thanksgivings.
Lord’s Prayer
Let us close by praying the words that Jesus taught.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Refer: Matthew 6:9–13
Thank you for joining us in prayer. We hope you join us tomorrow.
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
—Numbers 6:24–26
