250511-Worship Bulletin

The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. (Psalm 28:8-9)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 36:7-9; John 15:9, 6:35, 8:12

Minister: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

People: Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”

Minister: They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

People: Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Minister: For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

People: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

*Hymn of Adoration: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (No. 53)

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.

2 Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
how thy desires e'er have been
granted in what he ordaineth?

3 Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee!
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
ponder anew
what the Almighty will do,
if with his love he befriend thee.

4 Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee,
decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee.
How oft in grief
hath not he brought thee relief,
spreading his wings to o'ershade thee!

5 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen
sound from his people again;
gladly fore'er we adore him.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: God of All Grace, we praise you, for you have given us a Savior! Now we ask you to produce in us a faith to live by him, to make him all our desire, all our hope, all our glory. May he be the refuge we run to in time of trouble, the foundation on which we build our lives, the way in which we walk, the guide we follow, the example to whom we conform. He is our prophet, our priest, and our king. May we receive his instruction, rely on his intercession, and submit to his rule. To the praise of your glorious grace and in his mighty name we ask this. Amen.

*Confession of Faith: Westminster Confession of Faith, 8.1

Minister: What do you believe concerning the Lord Jesus Christ?

People: God was pleased, in his eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus, his only begotten Son, to be the mediator between God and man. As the mediator, he is the prophet, priest, and king, the Head and Savior of the church, the heir of all things, and the judge of the world. God gave to him, from all eternity, a people to be his seed and to be by him, in time, redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

*Gloria (Tune: “Lauda Anima”)

Glory be to him who loved us,
washed us from each spot and stain;
glory be to him who bought us,
made us kings with him to reign!
Glory, honor, power, blessing
to the Lamb that once was slain!

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

Hymn of Thanksgiving: Children of the Heavenly Father” (No. 131)

1. Children of the heav'nly Father,
Safely in his bosom gather;
Nesting bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e'er was given.

2. God his own does tend and nourish;
In his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them;
In hi mighty arms he bears them.

3. Neither life nor death shall ever
from the Lord his children sever;
Unto them his grace he showeth,
And their sorrows all he knoweth.

4. Praise the Lord in joyful numbers;
Your protector never slumbers;
At the will of your Defender,
Every foeman must surrender.

5. Though he giveth or he taketh
God his children ne’er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely
to preserve them pure and holy.

6. More secure is no one ever
than the loved ones of the Savior;
not yon star on high abiding
nor the bird in home-nest hiding.

CCLI 3036374

Public Confession

Unison: Almighty God, who is rich in mercy to all those who call upon you, hear us as we come to you, humbly confessing our sins and transgressions, and imploring your mercy and forgiveness. We have broken your holy laws by our deeds and by our words and by the sinful affections of our hearts. We confess before you our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and willfulness, and all our failures and shortcomings toward you and toward our fellow men. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, and of your great goodness grant that we may hereafter serve and please you in newness of life, through the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Silent Confession

Pastoral Prayer

The Promise of the Gospel

Minister: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)

People: To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “It Is Well with My Soul” (No. 691)

1 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."

Refrain:
It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.

2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and has shed his own blood for my soul. [Refrain]

3 My sin– O the bliss of this glorious thought!–
my sin, not in part, but the whole,
is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! [Refrain]

4 O Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
"Even so"– it is well with my soul. [Refrain]

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “Old Hundredth”)

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

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of The Holy Scriptures: Matthew 18:10-14

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Do Not Despise One Another” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Preparation “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” (Insert)

1 Beneath the cross of Jesus
I find a place to stand,
And wonder at such mercy
That calls me as I am;
For hands that should discard me
Hold wounds which tell me, “Come.”
Beneath the cross of Jesus
My unworthy soul is won.

2 Beneath the cross of Jesus
His family is my own—
Once strangers chasing selfish dreams,
Now one through grace alone.
How could I now dishonor
The ones that You have loved?
Beneath the cross of Jesus
See the children called by God.

3 Beneath the cross of Jesus—
The path before the crown—
We follow in His footsteps
Where promised hope is found.
How great the joy before us
To be His perfect bride;
Beneath the cross of Jesus
We will gladly live our lives.

CCLI 3036374

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation and Instructions

All who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and have been baptized and who are communicant members in good standing in an evangelical church are invited to come to participate in this sacred Sacrament of the Church. This is not a Presbyterian table, and we do not restrict it as such; it is the Lord’s Table. However, the church alone grants access to the table and must guard it from the leaven of unrighteousness (1 Cor. 5:6-8). Therefore, if you have not repented and trusted in Christ or if you are harboring sin in your life or if there is anyone with whom you are not at peace with so far as it depends on you (Rom. 12:18), please do not participate in this meal. We invite you instead to use this time to reflect and ask God to speak to your heart and give you more light and understanding. Children who have not been admitted to the table by the church should also refrain from partaking of the Supper.

For those who prefer, the outer ring of the tray is grape juice. The bread is gluten free.
Please hold the bread and cup until all have been served so that we may partake together.

*Departing Hymn: “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” (No. 521)

1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found;
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.

If you would like someone to pray with you, an Elder will be available at the front of the sanctuary following the service.