Acts of the Apostles: A Healing at the Beautiful Gate

Please participate in the following liturgy, reading aloud all the parts in bold italics.

Call to Worship:

Are any among us suffering?
We will pray.
Are any cheerful?
We will sing songs of praise.
Are any among us sick?
We will call on the name of the Wounded Healer.
Have any committed sins?
We confess our sins to each other, that we might be healed.

Father God, Creator & Sustainer of all things,
we turn our hearts to you now.
Lord Jesus, Author & Perfecter of our faith,
we fix our eyes on you now.
Holy Spirit, Counselor & Comforter,
we open ourselves to you now.
Amen.

Song: Graves into Gardens

I searched the world, but it couldn’t fill me
Man’s empty praise and treasures that fade are never enough
Then You came along, and put me back together
And every desire is now satisfied
Here in Your love

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

I’m not afraid, to show You my weakness
my failures and flaws
Lord, You’ve seem them all
And You still call me friend

‘Cause the God of the mountain
Is the God of the valley
There’s not a place
Your mercy and grace
Won’t find me again

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

You turn mourning to dancing
You give beauty for ashes
You turn shame into glory
You’re the only one who can

You turn graves into gardens
You turn bones into armies
You turn seas into highways
You’re the only one who can

Oh, there’s nothing better than You
There’s nothing better than You
Lord, there’s nothing
Nothing is better than You

Scripture Readings: Acts 3:1-10

Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Prayers of the People

The Lord be with you
And with your spirit.
Let us pray.

Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy

O God, in view of the great love and mercy you have shown us,
We pray for our world:

Offer a spontaneous prayer for the welfare of the world(unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.

God, we place all your people into your care,
whether gathered or scattered around the world,
we lift up your Church, its members, and mission:

Offer a spontaneous prayer for the Church around the world (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.

We lift up our prayers for the community around us,
all in Atlanta, North Fulton, Forysth, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties,
and for the community even nearer to us,
those we love and neighbor:

Offer a spontaneous prayer for all whose lives are closely linked with ours (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.

We hold up in your great light those in the darkness of deep pain,
those who suffer, all who are sick,
and the many who are worn down:

Offer a spontaneous prayer for all who suffer or are in trouble (unmute your microphone and speak for all to hear)

Lord in Your mercy,
Hear our Prayer.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy.

Acts of the Apostles: Perfect Weakness

Song: Way Maker

You are here, moving in our midst
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, working in this place
I worship You, I worship You

You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

You are here, touching every heart
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, healing every heart
I worship You, I worship You

You are here, turning lives around
I worship You, I worship You
You are here, mending every heart
I worship You, I worship You

You are Way Maker, Miracle Worker,
Promise Keeper, Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are

Confession & Assurance

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in Your will,
and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.

Silent confession (space to confess our sins and wait in God’s presence).

The Lord has already shown you mercy.
The Lord has already had compassion on you.
Jesus strengthens our weak knees
When we still have a long way to go.

Be free!
We are forgiven.
Laugh out loud!
We are forgiven.
Love God with everything!
We are loved.

Silent assurance (space to receive God’s merciful love and say “thank you” in response)

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Is the Father with us?
He is.
Is Christ among us?
He is.
Is the Spirit here?
He is.

This is our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are his people.
We are redeemed.

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Sacrament of Desire

Now, in union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of Your Church,
I present to You my soul and body
with the earnest prayer that I will remain united to you.
And since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
I pray that you would come to me spiritually.
I unite myself to you, and embrace you with my soul’s affection.
Let nothing separate me from you,
that I may live and die in Your love.
Amen.

Community Life

The Cross of Christ

All our problems,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ!
All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ!
And all our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ!

Blessing & Sending

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
   wherever he may send you.
May he guide you in the wilderness,
   protect you in the storm.
May he bring you home rejoicing
   at the wonders he has shown you.
May he bring you home rejoicing,
   once again into our doors.

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.