*The Lord’s Greeting and Promise: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father” (Colossians 1:2).
*The Lord’s Call to Worship: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
* Psalm: 148A From Heaven O Praise the LORD!
* Prayer
* Hymn: 456 Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!
The Lord’s Word
New Testament Reading: 1 John 5:1-15

Our Response
Confessing our Sins:
O Lord, we come to you with the penitence of the prodigal son, confessing that we have sinned against heaven and in your sight. Blessed be your name! You give freely of the bread of life to all who come to you, and you bestow a father’s blessing on every returning wanderer. We have wandered from you. We have used the goods you have given us as though they belonged to us, forgetting that our life and breath and all things are from you. Often we have lived as if we had no heavenly Father to thank for his goodness. We have strayed far from you, and have found no one else to satisfy, feed, and nourish us. We sought things for our wants in earthly pleasures, but they were only as husks to our souls. And now we come back crying, “Why should we perish with hunger, when there is bread enough in our Father’s house to spare?” Oh, we thank you that we feel our wanderings, and, by your prompting, been inclined to come back to you. O God, be merciful to us, for we are sinners. Grant us forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the obedient Son. Amen. (Adapted prayer based on the parable of the prodigal son)

The Lord’s Love and Grace
Assurance of Pardon: “If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)

Our Response
* Hymn: 342 Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted
* Corporate Confession of Faith: The Athanasian Creed (Trinity Psalter Hymnal
p. 853), brackets [3] to [14]
Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Word & Sacrament
* Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:22-44:5
Sermon: “Burdened by God!?”

Our Response
*Hymn: 400 Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me
The Lord’s Supper
The inner rings contain grape juice & the outer rings contain wine.

Our Response
*Hymn: 216 Praise to the LORD, the Almighty
The Lord’s Blessing
*Benediction


* Please stand if you are able to do so comfortably.