Worship Bulletin: 250810

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 130

Minister: If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

People: But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

Minister: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope….O Israel, hope in the Lord!

People: For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

*Hymn of Adoration: “My Hope Is in the Lord” (No. 523)

1 My Hope is in the Lord,
who gave Himself for me
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary

Refrain
For me He died; For me He lives,
And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

2 No merit of my own
His anger to suppress,
My only hope is found in Jesus' righteousness

3 And now for me He stands
before the Father's throne;
He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

4 His grace has planned it all,
'Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.

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*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Lord God, our Hope: Our sins are many and our afflictions at times hard to bear; it is because of your great love that we are not consumed. We praise you, for your steadfast love never ceases; your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness! You are good to those who wait on you and seek you. So may we wait on you, for you, Lord, are our portion. May we wait quietly for you, O God of our Salvation.

from Lamentations 3

*Affirmation of Faith (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 21)

Minister: What is true faith?

People: True faith is a sure knowledge whereby I accept as true all that God has revealed to us in his Word. At the same time, it is a firm confidence that not only to others, but also to me, God has granted forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness, and salvation, out of mere grace, only for the sake of Christ's merits. This faith the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel.

*Gloria (Tune: “Lauda Anima”)

Glory be to Him who loved us,
Washed us from each sinful stain;
Glory be to Him who made us
Priests and kings with Him to reign;
Glory, worship, laud and blessing
To the Lamb who once was slain.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53

*Hymn of Response: “Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed” (No. 254)

1 Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for such a worm as I!

2 Was it for crimes that I had done
he groaned upon the tree!
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut his glories in,
when Christ, the mighty Maker, died
for man the creature's sin.

4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes in tears.

5 But drops of grief can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe;
here, Lord, I give myself away,
'tis all that I can do.

The Prayers of the People

Unison: To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation. Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! For your name's sake, pardon my guilt, for it is great. Turn to me and be gracious to me when I am lonely and afflicted. When the troubles of my heart are enlarged, bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins. You are good and upright, O LORD; teach me your ways, and lead me in your paths of steadfast love and faithfulness.

From Psalm 25

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Assurance

Minister: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

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

*Hymn of Response: “In Christ Alone” (SH No. 9)

1 In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

2 In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied –
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

3 There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine –
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

4 No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand:
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

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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: Titus 1:10-2:1

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Faith for Today, Not Yesteryear” (Rev. Michael Allen)

*Hymn of Preparation: “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.

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: “We Rest on Thee” (No. 449)

1 We rest on thee - our shield and our defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender,
"We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."
strong in thy strength, safe in thy keeping tender,
"We rest on thee, and in thy name we go."

2 Yea, "in thy name," O Captain of salvation!
In thy dear name, all other names above;
Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation,
our Prince of glory and our King of love.
Jesus our righteousness, our sure foundation,
our Prince of glory and our King of love.

3 "We go" in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
and needing more each day thy grace to know:
yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on thee, and in thy name we go.”
yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on thee, and in thy name we go.”

4 "We rest on thee" - our shield and our defender!
Thine is the battle, thine shall be the praise;
when passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
victors - we rest with thee, through endless days.
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
victors - we rest with thee, through endless days.

*Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.