Welcome | Rev. Andrew Field, Executive Pastor
Call to Worship | Psalm 66
Leader: Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.
All: All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.
Song of Praise | Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Come, Thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love
Here I find my greatest treasure
Hither by Thy help I’ve come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He to rescue me from danger
Bought me with His precious blood
Teach me ever to adore Thee
May I still Thy goodness prove
While the hope of endless glory
Fills my heart with joy and love
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Song of Praise | Ascribe to the Lord
Ascribe to the lord
You heavens proclaim
Ascribe to the Lord
Glory and strength
The glory due his name
In the splendor of holiness
Ascribe to the Lord
In the day and the night
Ascribe to the Lord
All power and might
And in his name delight
The Lord Emmanuel
Ascribe to the lord
You heavens proclaim
Ascribe to the Lord
Glory and strength
The glory due his name
In the splendor of holiness
Ascribe to the Lord
In the day and the night
Ascribe to the Lord
All power and might
And in his name delight
The Lord Emmanuel
The voice of the Lord moves the waters
The voice of the Lord is wonderful
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars
The voice of the Lord is powerful
The voice of the Lord is among us
He’s born in a manger and cries out with his voice
He makes our broken hearts rejoice
Ascribe to the lord
You heavens proclaim
Ascribe to the Lord
Glory and strength
The glory due his name
In the splendor of holiness
Ascribe to the Lord
In the day and the night
Ascribe to the Lord
All power and might
And in his name delight
The Lord Emmanuel
Come Lord Jesus, King above
Come and save the ones you love
Be our strength and our shield
And bless us, Prince of Peace
Come Lord Jesus, be our light
Pierce the dark, upend the night
Turn our sorrow to cries of glory
Our weeping to songs of joy
Ascribe to the lord
You heavens proclaim
Ascribe to the Lord
Glory and strength
The glory due his name
In the splendor of holiness
Ascribe to the Lord
In the day and the night
Ascribe to the Lord
All power and might
And in his name delight
The Lord Emmanuel
And in his name delight
The Lord Emmanuel
Prayer of Adoration (Concluded by the Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on 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, forever and ever. Amen.
Doxology | I Love You Lord / Holy, Holy, Holy
I love You Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
O my soul, rejoice
Take joy, my King
In what You hear
May it be a sweet, sweet sound
In Your ear
Holy, holy, holy (I love You Lord)
Lord God Almighty (And I lift my voice)
All Thy works shall praise Thy name (To worship You)
In earth, and sky, and sea (O my soul, rejoice)
Holy, holy, holy (Take joy, my King)
Merciful and mighty (In what You hear)
God in three Persons (May it be a sweet, sweet sound)
Blessed Trinity (In your ear)
Prayer of Confession | From Psalm 51
Leader: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy.
All: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Leader: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
All: Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight
Leader: Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
All: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Silent Confession
Words of Encouragement | Romans 10:9,11
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
Prayer of Lament
Leader’s Introduction
The prophet Isaiah invites us to call on God, who answers amid affliction. So we now pray our lament—the Bible’s language for God’s people facing suffering and injustice, crying honestly to Him from a broken world. Lament is found in the Psalms, Lamentations, Job, Jeremiah, and Jesus’ tears; it equips us—privileged or pained—to blend sorrow with joy in fuller faith: by naming injustice, confessing sin, holding hope, and acting redemptively. As we pray, at the end of each section, let’s join our voices together and say “with hopeful hearts, we ask “How Long, O Lord?”. Let us lament together.
Leader’s Prayer
God of mercy, you formed us from the dust and breathed into us the breath of life. Yet the world groans beneath the weight of its wounds, and we too bear the marks of its fracture. Hear us as we bring before you our sorrow for what is broken and our longing for the day you will make all things new.
We lament sickness that lingers in our bodies and pain that will not ease. The weariness of aging and the nearness of death for some of those we love weigh heavily on us. Anxiety and depression that clouds the mind, and addictions that steal our freedom and joy. Heal us, Lord—as even now, our bodies still wait for wholeness. And so…
All: With hopeful hearts, we ask, “How long, O Lord?”
We lament the wounding of our relationships – marriages strained by our sins, misunderstandings and silence. Friendships that have been lost through offense, and families who are divided by pride or pain and politics. Communities fractured under fear, distrust, and difference. Restore what we cannot repair, before our love grows cold and our hearts hardened toward one another. And so…
All: With hopeful hearts, we ask, “How long, O Lord?”
We lament the good things we have lost – work that has become toil instead of calling—labor that drains but no longer fulfills, and ambitions that have slipped through our hands. We grieve relationships left behind, places once filled with belonging and comfort now distant or gone. We feel the loss of security, stability, and dreams that once guided us. We miss loved ones, and hopes have faded. Teach us to trust you in the empty spaces where our joy once lived. And so…
All: With hopeful hearts, we ask, “How long, O Lord?”
We lament the injustice that scars your world. The abuse of power and the silence that protects it, the widening gap between the comfortable and the desperate. Prejudice still divides your children, and violence wounds both victim and perpetrator. We grieve the weariness of those who labor for what is right and see little change, and the numbness that tempts us to look away. Greed devours your creation, and indifference deadens compassion. Awaken us, Lord—make us steadfast in love and fearless in mercy until your justice rolls down like rivers. And so…
All: With hopeful hearts, we ask, “How long, O Lord?”
Leader: Let us bring before God our own sorrows and the broken places we carry in our hearts.
(Silence for Naming Personal Griefs.)
Leader: God of compassion, gather the cries of your people. Through the cross of your Son, heal what sin has broken and fill us with the fierce hope of your coming kingdom—where every tear will be wiped away, and all things finally made new.
All: Amen.
Song of Praise | Psalm 126
Our mouths they were filled, filled with laughter
Our tongues they were loosed, loosed with joy
Restore us, O Lord Restore us, O Lord
Although we are weeping, Lord help us keep sowing
The seeds of Your Kingdom for the day You will reap them
Your sheaves we will carry, Lord please do not tarry
All those who sow weeping will go out with songs of joy
The nations will say, “He has done great things!”
The nations will sing songs of joy
Restore us, O Lord, Restore us, O Lord
Offering
Gracious God, everything we have comes from you. As we remember who you are and all you have done for us, enable us to be truly generous—with our money, our time, and all we are and have. Use what we give for your glory and the good of our city. Amen.
Greetings and Announcements
Scripture Reading | Matthew 11:1-11
1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (NIV)
Sermon | Is He the One? by Rev. Bijan Mirtolooi
Apostle’s Creed
All: 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, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of
God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the
living 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.
*[meaning, the true Christian church of all times and all places]
Prayer of Approach
Words of Institution
Minister: Therefore we proclaim the mystery of the faith:
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Minister: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
All: Therefore let us keep the feast.
Minister: The gifts of God for the people of God.
Invitation: We welcome all baptized Christians who actively trust in Jesus for salvation, forsake their sin, and are members of gospel churches to receive Communion. Baptized children may receive Communion when they are confirmed in their faith. If you are not ready to receive Communion, please use this time to meditate on one of these prayers.
Prayer for those searching for truth:
Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. Please guide me, teach me, and open me to the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the free, beautiful, and good life you promise. Amen.
Prayer of belief:
Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Amen.
[If you are praying in belief for the first time today, please share with a church leader or one of the pastors so we can help you.]
Distribution of the Bread and Wine
Song of Response | Before the Throne of God
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great high priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Behold Him there! The risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The king of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my savior and my God
With Christ my savior and my God
Partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ
Song of Response | Build My Life
Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, oh, we live for You
Jesus, the Name above every other name
Jesus, the only One who could ever save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, we live for You
Holy, there is no one like You, there is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and
Show me who You are and fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
Jesus, the name above every other name
Jesus, the only One who could ever save
You’re worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, oh, we live for You
Holy, there is no one like You, there is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and
Show me who You are and fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
I will build my life upon Your love, it is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone and I will not be shaken
I will build my life upon Your love, it is a firm foundation
I will put my trust in You alone and I will not be shaken
Holy, there is no one like You, there is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and
Show me who You are and fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
Holy, there is no one like You, there is none beside You
Open up my eyes in wonder and
Show me who You are and fill me with Your heart
And lead me in Your love to those around me
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: Gracious Lord, we give you thanks for calling us out of the darkness and into your glorious light. When we remember the price you paid, the death of your only Son, we wonder and marvel at the greatness of your love. We give our lives to you Lord, and pray that through your Spirit you would teach us how to live according to your will. Send us out now to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of your mercy. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Benediction and Dismissal
Minister: Let us go forth to serve the world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All: Thanks be to God!
Musicians
Sungwon Kim | Acoustic Guitar
Leo Traversa | Bass
Damon DueWhite | Drums
Victor Lin | Piano & Vocals
Bonne Kramer | Vocals
Elizabeth Lewis | Vocals
Song Credits
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing | John Wyeth and Robert Robinson; CCLI#108389
Ascribe to the Lord | Chris Weldon, Alex Fleeman, Corey Fleeman
I Love You Lord/Holy, Holy, Holy | Laurie Klein, John Dykes, Reginald Heber; CCLI#25266
Psalm 126 | Words & Music: Isaac Wardell; CCLI#7023230
Before the Throne of God Above | By Vikki Cook and Charitie Lees Bancroft; CCLI#4113586
Build My Life | By Brett Younker, Karl Martin, Kirby Kaple, Matt Redman, Pat Barrett; CCLI#7070345