250119 – Worship Bulletin

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 119:114, 115-116

Minister: You are my hiding place and my shield;

People: I hope in your word.

Minister: Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,

People: and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

Unison: Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!

*Hymn of Adoration: “How Firm a Foundation” (No. 94)

1 How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2 "Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed;
for I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

3 "When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.

4 "When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

5 "E'en down to old age all my people shall prove
my sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
and when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

6 "The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: Heavenly Father, my faith is in you, my expectations are from you, my love goes out toward you. I believe you, accept your Word, yield to your will, rely on your promises, and trust in your providence. I do not need signs and wonders to believe, for your Word is sure truth. I have cast my anchor in the port of your peace, knowing that the present and future are in your nail-pierced hands. You are so good, wise, just, and holy, that no mistake is possible to you. You are the fountain of all law; what you command is mine to obey. I yield to your sovereignty all that I am and have; do with me as you will. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Adapted from “Repose” in The Valley of Vision

*Affirmation of Faith: Westminster Confession of Faith 1.4

Minister: What do you believe concerning the Holy Scripture?

People: The authority of the Holy Scripture, because of which it ought to be believed and obeyed, does not depend upon the testimony of any man or church, but entirely upon God, its author (who is truth itself); therefore it is to be received, because it is the Word of God.

*Gloria Patri (Tune: “Duke Street”)

Glory to God the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To you, O blessed Trinity,
be praise throughout eternity!

The Psalter Reading: Psalm 119:89-112

Minister: Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

People: Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.

Minister: Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.

People: If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.

Minister: I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

People: Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts.

Minister: The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statues.

People: To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.

Minister: Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

People: Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.

Minister: I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statues.

People: I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.

Minister: I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.

People: I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.

Minister: How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

People: I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore, I hate every wrong path.

Minister: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

People: I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.

Minister: I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.

People: Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.

Minister: Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.

People: The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts.

Minister: Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.

People: My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

*Hymn of Approach: “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” (No. 528)

1 My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine;
now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away,
O let me from this day
be wholly thine.

2 May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire;
as thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
pure, warm, and changeless be,
a living fire.

3 While life's dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread,
be thou my guide;
bid darkness turn to day,
wipe sorrow's tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from thee aside.

4 When ends life's transient dream,
when death's cold, sullen stream
shall o'er me roll,
blest Savior, then, in love,
fear and distrust remove;
O bear me safe above,
a ransomed soul.

Congregational Prayers

Unison: Glorious Jehovah, My Covenant God: All your promises in Christ Jesus are yes and amen, and all shall be fulfilled. You have spoken them, and they shall be done, commanded, and they shall come to pass. Help me to leave my concerns in your hands, for you have power over evil, and bring from it an infinite progression of good, until your purposes are fulfilled. Bless me with Abraham’s faith that staggers not at promises through unbelief. Give me the confidence I ought to have in you, for you are worthy to be praised, and are blessed for evermore. Amen.

Adapted from “Divine Promises” in The Valley of Vision

Minister: Father, we pray for your people throughout the world; for our denomination; for this church; and for all ministers and missionaries.

People: We pray for the leaders of our nation and all who hold authority, that they would govern according to your truth, and especially that they would resolve to protect the lives of the unborn and defenseless.

Minister: We pray for the world, especially that you would bring peace to the nations torn apart by war. We pray for our brothers and sisters in these places as they offer the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ amid great danger.

People: We pray for our brothers and sisters who live in nations where worshiping you and proclaiming your gospel brings great persecution. Please grant them grace and peace, protection and boldness as they serve you.

Unison: And Father, we pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister: I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. (Ps. 116:1-2)

Unison: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

*Hymn of Response: “Be Thou My Vision” (No. 642)

1 Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art -
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

2 Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou my great Father, I thy true son;
thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

3 Be thou my battle shield, sword for my fight;
be thou my dignity, thou my delight,
thou my soul's shelter, thou my high tow'r;
raise thou me heav'n-ward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.

4 Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

5 High King of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'n's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
O Praise Him! O Praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of the Holy Scriptures: Matthew 16:1-12

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Watch and Beware” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “O Church, Arise” (SH No. 2)

1 O Church, arise, and put your armour on;
Hear the call of Christ our Captain.
For now the weak can say that they are strong
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth,
We’ll stand against the devil’s lies;
An army bold, whose battle-cry is Love,
Reaching out to those in darkness.

2 Our call to war, to love the captive soul
But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole,
We will fight with faith and valour.
When faced with trials on every side
We know the outcome is secure,
And Christ will have the prize for which He died,
An inheritance of nations.

3 Come see the cross, where love and mercy meet,
As the Son of God is stricken;
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,
For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away,
And Christ emerges from the grave,
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him.

4 So Spirit, come put strength in every stride,
Give grace for every hurdle,
That we may run with faith to win the prize
Of a servant good and faithful.
As saints of old still line the way,
Retelling triumphs of His grace,
We hear their calls and hunger for the day
When with Christ we stand in glory.

CCLI 3036374

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.