If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold. 

Thanksgiving and praise 

In Psalm 100:4-5 we are encouraged to praise and give thanks to God: 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  

We begin our service with a prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a song of praise. 

Almighty God, creator and redeemer, we praise you for the beauty of the world around us and for every gift we enjoy. 
Thank you for creating us to know you, to love you and to obey you. Most of all, we praise you for your amazing love in sending your Son to restore your world by dying for us and rising to give us new life. Accept our praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. 

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Bible Reading 

As we prepare to receive God’s word, let’s ask for God to be at work within us. 

We thank you heavenly Father, for inspiring all Scripture by the Holy Spirit. Help us by your Spirit so to hear your holy word that we may be equipped for every good work, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

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Jesus Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida

²² They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

²⁴ He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

²⁵ Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

²⁷ Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

²⁸ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Predicts His Death

³¹ He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³² He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

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Sermon 

Ben Carpentier will now preach the sermon  

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Prayers 

We are the people of God, but Scripture reminds us that we still sin. We need to confess our failures, knowing that the Lord Jesus intercedes for us with the Father, who freely forgives us, through his infinite goodness and mercy. 

So let us draw near to God with sincerity and confidence, and pray together. 

Heavenly Father, you have loved us with an everlasting love, but we have gone our own way and rejected your will for our lives. We are sorry for our sins and turn away from them. For the sake of your Son who died for us, forgive us, cleanse us, and change us. By your Holy Spirit, enable us to live for you and to please you in every way; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. 

In 1 John 1:9, those who confess their sins are assured with these words: 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

Allow Alison Roger to lead you in prayer…

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name,  your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven  
Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever.
Amen. 

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Announcements 

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Song 

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Benediction 

As we conclude our service, let’s be encouraged by these words from the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it! Amen. 

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.