<p> I Timothy 1:12-17</p><p>(Because this passage is written in the first person singular, it makes for a good unison reading by the congregation!)</p><p>I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord. He gives me strength. He has considered me faithful and has assigned me to minister for him, even though I have a sinful past. I was ignorant in my unbelief; but I have received mercy, and the grace of our Lord overflowed with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. What I am about to say is true and can be fully accepted: Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners – and I am one of the foremost! That is why I received mercy – so that to the foremost of sinners, Jesus Christ might demonstrate the utmost patience, setting me up as an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. He is the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God. To him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.</p><p>Hymn/Chorus Suggestions: “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” (WELLESLEY) “At Calvary” [especially the refrain]</p><p>“Now Unto the King Eternal” “Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty”</p><p>CONSIDER sprinkling the refrain of “At Calvary” throughout the service: have a soloist sing it to open the service, use it as a prayer response, use it as a tag to another hymn, (beef it up some) and use it as the response to the offering. Mercy there was great, and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.</p><p>Hint: If you commonly sing a response to the offering (e.g. the “Doxology), it is often refreshing to use a fragment from another hymn used in the service earlier. In THIS service, the third stanza (or fourth, for that matter) of “Immortal, Invisible” would work nicely as an offertory response.</p>