Bride

The Church is A...

By Rev. David Bonnema, August 20, 2024

9:30am

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Opening Song - “Great are You, Lord” - Makenzie Loudermilt

Time of Greeting

Children’s Time

Song - “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)”

Celebration of Refugee Ministry

Reflection on the Bride of Christ - Rev. Dana Seiler

Song - “The Lion and the Lamb”

Sermon - “The Church is a Bride”

John the Baptist said: Therefore, I am filled with joy at his . He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. —John 3:29b-30

What did John mean by this?

God gave John a vision of the end of time. The vision included a wedding: “Let us be glad and rejoice,
    and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the feast of the Lamb,
    and his bride has prepared herself.” —Revelation 19:7

Jesus is the groom. The church is the .

This metaphor teaches us three things:

  1. The depth of God’s love
  2. The anticipation of new
  3. Our response of celebration

Husbands, love your wives, just as loved the church and gave himself up for her… —Ephesians 5:25

Jesus loves the church like a husband loves his wife.

Offering and Prayer

Closing Song - “Goodness of God”

Benediction


11:00am

Prelude

Welcome - Rev. David Bonnema

Call to Worship - Rev. Dana Seiler

  • Leader: Walk in love, people of God;
  • People: We are beloved children of God.
  • Leader: Walk together as children of Light;
  • People: Light brings all that is good and right and true.
  • Leader: Walk side by side with one another,
  • People: We walk together as one in Christ Jesus. 

*Hymn - “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” - #376 Verses 1, 2, 4

Prayer of Confession:
Holy Lord, we are not pure, or so we believe. We see our own flaws and are so sure that You won’t love us because of them. We fail to remember Your declarations that we are Your beloved children and that nothing can separate us from that love. Help us to remember. Restore us to the beautiful relationship that You had in mind for us at creation, where we are whole and holy, in Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Passing of the Peace

Celebration of the Refugee Ministry

Reflection on the Bride of Christ

Anthem - “House of Prayer” - Mauldin - Unity Choir

Sermon - “The Church is a Bride” - Rev. David Bonnema

John the Baptist said: Therefore, I am filled with joy at his . He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. —John 3:29b-30

What did John mean by this?

God gave John a vision of the end of time. The vision included a wedding: “Let us be glad and rejoice,
    and let us give honor to him.
For the time has come for the feast of the Lamb,
    and his bride has prepared herself.” —Revelation 19:7

Jesus is the groom. The church is the .

This metaphor teaches us three things:

  1. The depth of God’s love
  2. The anticipation of new
  3. Our response of celebration

Husbands, love your wives, just as loved the church and gave himself up for her… —Ephesians 5:25

Jesus loves the church like a husband loves his wife.

Anthem - “Going Home” - Jeff Perks

Offering and Prayer of Thanksgiving

*Doxology

*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 - “O How He Loves You and Me” - #2108 2 Verses

*Benediction

*Postlude

*Please stand if you are able