March 21

This Sunday was an overview of the vision that our church was built on, going back to the seed verse of Isaiah 61:1-4. This passage defines who we are, and who we are not yet.

Reign In Us (Starfield)

Confession

Sovereign Lord,

You have given us your spirit,
and sent us into the world,
but often, our response has been anemic.

We have turned our backs on the poor,
hardening our hearts as we pass them by.
We have beaten down the broken,
offering condemnation instead of acceptance.
We have built walls to keep people imprisoned,
and ended up imprisoning ourselves.

We have failed to understand
that we too are broken and poor.

Forgive us, God,
and break down the walls we have built.

Replace our despondency with vision,
our ashes with beauty,
our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh,
so we can be people who join you
in the renovation of all things.

Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Because God loves you,
he will continue to be your advocate,
until your goodness shines like a bright light,
your salvation burns bright like a flame.

The world will see your goodness,
and even kings will see your glory.
You will have a new vision,
which the Lord himself will give you.

You will be like a beautiful crown in the Lord's hand,
like a king's crown in your God's hand.

You will never again be called the People that God Left,
nor your land the Land the God Destroyed.
You will be called the People God Loves,
and your land will be called the Bride of God,
because the Lord loves you.
And your land will belong to him
as a bride belongs to her husband.

As a young man commits himself to his bride,
so your children will commit themselves to you.
As a man rejoices over his wife,
so your God rejoices over you.

Sanctuary (Eugene Kim)

This Is Our God

Response Song: The Benediction