Liturgy: 7th Sunday After Pentecost, 1 John 3:16-24 (July 7, 2024)

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Hymns

Hymn GTG #308, “O God in Whom All Life Begins”
Hymn GTG #328, “Praise God, All You Nations”
Hymn GTG #757, “Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples”


Call to Worship (based on 1 John 3:18)

Leader: Friends, how do we follow the example of Christ?
People: We love not with words or speech, but with action and truth.
Leader: How do we share the gospel with the world?
People: We love not with words or speech, but with action and truth.
Leader: How do we celebrate these commitments?
People: Let us worship the living God of love!


Call to Confession (based on 1 John 3:23)

Leader: Scripture tells us that all those who keep God’s commandments dwell in God, and God dwells in them. Let us ask the Lord to dwell with us as we seek forgiveness by confessing our sin.


Popcorn Prayer of Confession (based on 1 John 3:16-17)

You are invited to speak a word or short phrase that describes a personal or collective sin of which you repent and seek forgiveness.

When the gathered community is finished sharing, we pray together:

People: Lord of Love, you show us what sacrifice means, but we pretend to misunderstand. You were willing to lay down your life for us, and you entreat us to do the same for one another. Yet we resist doing even the bare minimum - giving up our possessions to help someone in need. Forgive us for this sin. Remind us that all we have comes from you, and that all we are belongs to you. Open our hearts, O God, so that we might offer to the world what we learned from you – selfless and sacrificial love. In your mercy, hear our prayers…

(Silent prayers of personal confession)


Declaration of Forgiveness (based on 1 John 3:21)

Leader: Dear ones, even if our own hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things – including this knowledge which I share with you now: in Christ’s name, we are all forgiven!
People: Thanks be to God!