Drawing Near

Strange Stories: "THAT's in the Bible?"

By Rev. Dana Seiler, September 11, 2022

9:30am

Welcome - Rev. Dana Seiler

Stephen Ministry - Kim Tompkins

Opening Songs - “How Great Thou Art"/“Living Hope” - Erin Maynor

Time of Greeting

Children’s Message - Bailey Beam

Sermon - “Drawing Near”

What was most strange to you about the story of the Dry Bones in Ezekiel?

What areas of you life (now or before) have you experience a dryness?

What did you do to combat the dryness?

In what ways can you draw near to God?

What do you think is the overarching message of this strange story from Ezekiel? How does it speak to you in our present day context?

Song - “Come Alive”

Offering and Prayer of Thanksgiving - Greg Conrad

Scripture Reading - John 15:9-17 - Maxine Cherry

Commissioning our Stephen Ministers

Closing Song - “Graves Into Gardens”

Benediction

Postlude


11:00am

Prelude - “Aria on Amazing Grace" by Lehenbauer - Martha Geissler & Jeff Perks

Welcome - Rev. Dana Seiler

Stephen Ministry - Kim Tompkins

Call to Worship - Rev. David Bonnema

  • Leader: We have come today, broken, battered, and lifeless.
  • People: Breathe new life into us that we might live.
  • Leader: We are dead and unaware of when our death occurred.
  • People: Breathe new life into us that we might live.
  • Leader: We need God’s resurrection power in our lives today.
  • People: Breathe new life into us that we might live.
  • Leader: Let us worship our eternal God, the God of life.
  • People: Breathe new life into us that we might live.

Hymn - “Love Lifted Me” - see screen

Prayer of Confession

O God, today we come to confess that our lives are not all that they could be. There are places in our lives that are dark and decaying, and yet we enjoy them. We enjoy the very things that promote death instead of turning to You for light and life. Forgive us when we are so overwhelmed and overburdened that we fail to cry out to you. Renew us with Your grace and ground us with Your Spirit that we might be empowered to live in the love of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray today, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Passing of the Peace

Children’s Message - Bailey Beam

Anthem - “Dry Bones” by Fettke/Grasse - Unity Choir

Sermon - “Drawing Near” - Rev. Dana Seiler

What was most strange to you about the story of the Dry Bones in Ezekiel?

What areas of you life (now or before) have you experience a dryness?

What did you do to combat the dryness?

In what ways can you draw near to God?

What do you think is the overarching message of this strange story from Ezekiel? How does it speak to you in our present day context?

Anthem - “Let Praises Fill This Place” by Christopher

Offering - Greg Conrad

Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Reading - John 15:9-17 - Maxine Cherry

Commissioning our Stephen Ministers

Affirmation of Faith - 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth 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 Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Closing Hymn - “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” - #316

Benediction

Postlude - “Concerto in G Minor, movement III” by Vivaldi