251019: Worship Bulletin

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Romans 8:31-37

Minister: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?

People: It is God who justifies.

Minister: Who is to condemn?

People: Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Minister: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?....

People: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Unison: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*Hymn of Adoration: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” (SH No. 10)

1 How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

2 Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

3 I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: Our Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, we ask that out of your glorious riches, you will strengthen us with power through your Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And we pray that being rooted and established in love, we may have power, along with all your chosen people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ—a love that surpasses knowledge. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

from Ephesians 3

*Confession of Faith: Westminster Confession of Faith 3.5

Minister: What do you believe concerning God’s eternal decree?

People: Those people who are predestined to life, God—before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and unchangeable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will—has chosen in Christ to everlasting glory. He chose them out of his free grace and love alone, not because he foresaw faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of these, or anything else in the creature, as conditions or causes moving him to do this; and all to the praise of his glorious grace.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

*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, laud and blessing
to the Lamb that once was slain!

New Testament Reading: I John 4:7-21

*Hymn of Approach: “May the Mind of Christ My Savior” ( No. 644)

1 May the mind of Christ my Savior
live in me from day to day,
by his love and pow'r controlling
all I do and say.

2 May the Word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through his pow'r.

3 May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.

4 May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
him exalting, self abasing,
this is victory.

5 May his beauty rest upon me
as I seek the lost to win,
and may they forget the channel,
seeing only him.

Prayers of the People

Unison: God of glory and love, from the beginning, you have loved us with a vast and boundless love. Before we took our first breath, your Son breathed his last and accomplished what we never could: our full and free salvation. You endured the searing loss of your most precious treasure to pay our ransom. For this we adore you.

You have called us to love one another as you love us. But we confess that we have failed to obey this command. Too often, we are often consumed with jealousy and resentment. Instead of laying down our lives for others, we require them to serve us and are angry when they fail to meet our expectations. Forgive us, Lord Jesus.

Holy Spirit, we need your strength and help. Convict us of our selfishness and pride, and soften our hearts to love and serve and forgive one another. Convince our hearts of your great love for us, and may that love compel us to extend grace and mercy to others. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Adapted from Prone to Wander: Prayers of Confession and Celebration

Silent Prayer/Meditation

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.

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

*Hymn of Praise: “O Savior, Precious Savior” (No. 159)

1 O Saviour, precious Saviour,
whom yet unseen we love,
O Name of might and favor,
all other names above;
we worship you, we bless you,
to you alone we sing;
we praise you, and confess you
our holy Lord and King.

2 O bringer of salvation,
who wondrously have wrought,
yourself the revelation
of love beyond our thought;
we worship you, we bless you,
to you alone we sing;
we praise you, and confess you
our gracious Lord and King.

3 In you all fulness dwelling,
all grace and pow'r outpours;
the glory all-excelling,
O Son of God, is yours;
we worship you, we bless you,
to you alone we sing;
we praise you, and confess you
our glorious Lord and King.

4 O grant the consummation
of this our song above
in endless adoration,
and everlasting love;
then shall we praise and bless you
where perfect praises ring,
and evermore confess you
our Savior and our King.

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”)

Let all things their Creator bless;
And worship Him in humbleness; Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise, Praise the Father, praise the Son;
And praise the Spirit, three in one;
O Praise Him! O Praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of the Holy Scriptures: Matthew 22:34-40

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “The Great Commandment” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “Take My Life and Let It Be” (No. 585)

1 Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.

3 Take my voice, and let me sing,
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
ev'ry pow'r as thou shalt choose,
ev'ry pow'r as thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take my self, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.

*Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.