Celebration Sunday, September 3
Welcome to our Order of Service page! Each week, a team of pastors and staff get together to collaborate on the liturgy, or order of service, for Sunday. Every element is prayerfully and carefully crafted so that the Gospel, God’s redemptive story to save a people for Himself in and through His Son Jesus Christ, would be clear and compelling. We hope you’ll enjoy following along with us as we present and rehearse the Gospel again this morning.
Order of Service
CHORAL CALL TO CORPORATE WORSHIP
Holy is He (Holy, Holy, Holy)
ADORATION
My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62)
WELCOME & RESPONSIVE SCRIPTURE READING
Senior Pastor: David W. Hegg
Psalm 113; Psalm 115:1
ILLUMINATION
Open the Eyes of My Heart
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Behold Him
PRAYER OF CELEBRATION & BLESSING
Elder Chairman: John Beck
TESTIMONY & OUTREACH
The Stream: South Asia 1 Team
PROCLAMATION
A Kingdom-Worthy Life: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
Senior Pastor: David W. Hegg
THE LORD’S SUPPER
Spanish Ministries Pastor: David Cea
THANKSGIVING
Great is Thy Faithfulness
ANNOUNCEMENTS & BENEDICTION
Executive Pastor: Joe Keller & Leadership Team
The Doxology
Why do we give / pass the plate?
In every Christian tradition, there is generally a time in the gathering for giving an offering. Here at Grace, this usually comes between our time of corporate singing and the sermon. We take a few minutes to do this together as a church family to be reminded that our financial giving is an act of worship.
Our gifts become a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Psalm 50:14, 23) as we come before God, acknowledging His grandeur and infinite worth. We publicly give as a gathered church to be reminded of and demonstrate our utter dependence upon Him (John 15:5).
Now, giving can look very different for each person in this digital world. We may give by putting money in when we “pass the plate,” drop offerings in a collection box in the lobby, or give online as most worshippers currently do. How we give and how much we give is between ourselves and God.
The Bible teaches us that God is more concerned with our attitude in giving, not necessarily the amount itself. Money has a strange power over us and tends to insulate us from daily needs. As a result, very few of us have to ask God for daily bread. So, how do we live dependent upon God? Simply by giving sacrificially to the God who alone is our security.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:11)
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)