240915 – Worship Bulletin

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:11)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Isaiah 46:3-5, 9-11

Minister: “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb;

People: even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Minister: To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike?

People: I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying,

Minister: ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose….I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.’”

Unison: Come, let us sing and praise our God!

*Hymn of Adoration: “O Father, You Are Sovereign” (No. 75)

1 O Father, you are sovereign
in all the worlds you made;
your mighty word was spoken
and light and life obeyed.
Your voice commands the seasons
and bounds the ocean’s shore,
sets stars within their courses
and stills the tempests’ roar.

2 O Father, you are sovereign
in all affairs of man;
no pow'rs of death or darkness
can thwart Your perfect plan.
All chance and change transcending,
supreme in time and space,
you hold your trusting children
secure in your embrace.

3 O Father, you are sovereign
the Lord of human pain,
transmuting earthly sorrows
to gold of heav'nly gain.
All evil over-ruling,
as none but Conqu'ror could,
your love pursues its purpose —
our souls’ eternal good.

4 O Father, you are sovereign!
We see you dimly now,
but soon before your triumph
earth’s every knee shall bow.
With this glad hope before us
our faith springs up anew:
our sovereign Lord and Savior,
we trust and worship you!

CCLI 3036374

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: O God All-Sufficient, you have made and you uphold all things by the word of your power. Darkness is your pavilion; you walk on the wings of the wind. All nations are as nothing before you; one generation succeeds another, and we hasten back to the dust. But you, unchangeable and incorruptible, are for ever and ever, God over all, blessed eternally. You are infinitely great and glorious. We are your offspring and your care. You have made us. You have watched over us with more than fatherly love, more than maternal tenderness. Your divine power has given us all things necessary for life and godliness. Let us bless you at all times and never forget how you have forgiven our iniquities, healed our diseases, redeemed our lives from destruction, crowned us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfied our mouths with good things, and renewed our youth like the eagle’s. In the name of Jesus we come to you. Amen.

Adapted from “Second Day Morning, God Over All” in The Valley of Vision

*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 28

Minister: What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by his providence?

People: We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from his love; for all creatures are so completely in his hand that without his will they cannot so much as move.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

*Hallelujah (Tune: “Hyfrydol”)

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise;
I will sing the glorious praises of my God through all my days.
Over all God reigns forever, through all ages he is King;
Unto him, your God, O Zion, joyful hallelujahs sing.

Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3:22-26

*Hymn of Preparation: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (No.32)

1 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. [Refrain]

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! [Refrain]

The Prayers of the People

Minister: Father, we thank you for your works in Creation, for the beauty, splendor and majesty of the world in which we live.

People: We praise you for your works of Providence by which we are sustained, preserved, provided for and blessed:

Minister: We praise you specifically for the gifts of food, friendship, family and health.

People: We praise and thank you for your marvelous works in Redemption—that in the Lord, Jesus Christ, you have sought us, found us, saved us and brought us safely home to yourself.

Minister: For all your surpassing goodness to us, especially for the hope of your certain return, of eternal life and of the new heaven and the new earth, we worship and adore you.

Unison: Lord, hear our prayers of thanksgiving. 

Silent Prayer and Meditation

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister:   Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery….Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:14-18)

<p style="padding-left: 40px;Unison:     Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

*Hymn of Consecration: “My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness” (SH No. 17)

1 My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who bore my pain;
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
And gave me life again.
Who crushed my curse of sinfulness,
And clothed me with His light,
And wrote His law of righteousness
With power upon my heart.

2 My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who walks beside;
Who floods my weaknesses with strength
And causes fears to fly;
Whose every promise is enough
For every step I take,
Sustaining me with arms of love
And crowning me with grace.

3 My heart is filled with thankfulness
To Him who reigns above;
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose every thought is love.
For every day I have on earth
Is given by the King.
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow Him.

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 13:44-52

Minister:   This is the Word of God.

Unison:     Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “The Kingdom’s Treasure” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*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.

*The Benediction

Postlude