260503: Worship Bulletin

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:1-2)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

Christ, we do all adore thee, and we do praise thee forever;
for on the holy cross hast thou the world from sin redeemed.
TH No. 737

*Call to Worship: Isaiah 57:15

Minister: For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

People: who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

Minister: “I dwell in the high and holy place,

People: and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

Minister: to revive the spirit of the lowly,

People: and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

Unison: Come, let us sing to our holy God.

*Hymn of Adoration: “Holy, Holy, Holy” (TH No. 100)

1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: Great Jehovah, Mighty Father, the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: we praise you! When we consider the heavens, the moon and the stars you have set in place, we are amazed that you are mindful of us, that you care for us. And though you dwell in a high and holy place, you also make your home with those who are lowly and contrite in heart. We thank you that your Son, Emmanuel, came to earth and dwelt among us; that he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Humble us, Father, and draw us near to you. May we ever dwell in your shelter, O Most High. Amen.

*Confession of Faith (Heidelberg Catechism 125)

Minister: What is the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer?

People: Give us today our daily bread. That is: Provide us with all our bodily needs so that we may acknowledge that you are the only fountain of all good, and that our care and labor, and also your gifts, cannot do us any good without your blessing. Grant, therefore, that we may withdraw our trust from all creatures and place it only in you.

Unison: To you we lift up our eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! Our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.

*Gloria Tune: “Gloria Patri (Greatorex)”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

The Revelation of God’s Will: Romans 12:9-21

Minister: Let love be genuine.

People: Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Minister: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

People: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Minister: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

People: Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Minister: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

People: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Minister: Live in harmony with one another.

People: Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Minister: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

People: If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Minister: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

People: To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Unison: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

*Hymn of Response: “We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought” (TH No. 493, Tune: “St. Catherine”)

1 We have not known thee as we ought,
nor learned thy wisdom, grace and pow'r;
the things of earth have filled our thought,
and trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light thy truth to see,
and make us wise in knowing thee.

2 We have not feared thee as we ought,
nor bowed beneath thine awful eye,
nor guarded deed, and word, and thought,
remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know thee near,
and grant the grace of holy fear.

3 We have not loved thee as we ought,
nor cared that we are loved by thee;
thy presence we have coldly sought,
and feebly longed thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart
to feel and own the love thou art.

4 We have not served thee as we ought;
alas! the duties left undone,
the work with little fervor wrought,
the battles lost, or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal, and give the might,
for thee to toil, for thee to fight.

5 When shall we know thee as we ought,
and fear, and love, and serve aright!
When shall we, out of trial brought,
be perfect in the land of light!
Lord, may we day by day prepare
to see thy face, and serve thee there.

Prayer of Confession

Unison: Blessed Lord, your Word searches our hearts and convicts us and calls us to confess and repent. We confess that we are not poor in spirit: rather, we are proud and self-dependent. We confess that we do not mourn over our sin and the sin of others: rather, we hide and excuse our own sin, while judging others for their sin. We confess that we are not meek but are eager to defend our own rights and reputations, while caring little for your good name and the name of others. We confess that we easily forget the mercy we have received, and do not show mercy towards others. We acknowledge that for all these sins, we deserve your wrath and eternal punishment. We repent of our sin. And we give thanks that Jesus took our sin upon himself, that he paid for our sins with his own blood, and that he gave us his robes of righteousness. In his name we come to you. Amen.

Adapted from Prone to Wander: Prayers of Confession and Celebration by Duguid

Silent Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit….The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm 34:18, 22)

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Rock of Ages” (TH No. 499)

1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy riven side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure,
cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.

2 Not the labors of my hands
can fulfil thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears for ever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to thy cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the Fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyelids close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

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 heavn'ly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of The Holy Scriptures: Matthew 5:3

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit” (Rev. Michael Allen)

*Hymn of Response: “As the Hart Longs for Flowing Streams” (TH No. 662)

1 As the hart longs for flowing streams,
So longs my soul for thee O God.
My soul does thirst for the living God;
When shall I come to see thy face?

2 My tears have fed me day and night,
While men have said, “Where is your God?”
But I recall as my soul pours dry
The days of praise within thy house.

3 Why do I mourn and toil within,
When it is mine to hope in God?
I shall again sing praise to Him;
He is my help He is my God.

CCLI 3036374

*Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.