The Lord’s Day, April 7, 2024

10:30 AM Morning Service

 

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.

 The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;

you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.

Psalm 45:6-7a

 

Prelude

 

Welcome and Announcements

 

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

 

*Call to Worship: Daniel 4:34-37

Minister:   I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

People:      for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

Minister:   all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”….

People:      Praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Unison:     Come, let us praise the LORD!

*Hymn of Adoration: “O Worship the King” (No. 2, verse 5 a cappella)

 

1 O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his pow'r and his love;
our shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

2 O tell of his might, O sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

3 The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, your pow'r has founded of old;
has 'stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it has cast, like a mantle, the sea.

4 Your bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills; it descends to the plain;
and sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

5 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail;
your mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

6 O measureless Might! Ineffable Love!
While angels delight to hymn you above,
the humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
with true adoration shall lisp to your praise.

 

 

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

King of Glory, Divine Majesty: Every perfection adorns your nature and sustains your throne. The heavens and earth are yours, the world is yours and its fullness. Your power created the universe from nothing; your wisdom has managed all its multiple concerns, presiding over nations, families, and individuals. Your goodness is boundless; all creatures wait on you, are supplied by you, and are satisfied in you. To the weary you give rest. The ignorant you make wise unto salvation. For the helpless, your strength is made perfect in weakness. And the poor and needy you bless with Christ’s unsearchable riches. Blessed be your name forever! Amen.

Adapted from “God All-Sufficient” from The Valley of Vision

 

 

*Affirmation of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism, No. 128

Minister:   How do you conclude your prayer?

 

People:      For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. That is: All this we ask of you because, as our King, having power over all things, you are both willing and able to give us all that is good, and because not we but your holy name should so receive all glory forever.

 

*Gloria Patri (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: Ex. 20:1-17; Mt. 22:37-40

Unison:     “And God spoke all these words saying: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 

People:      You shall have no other gods before me.

Minister:   You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

People:      You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

Minister:   Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.

People:      For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.  Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Minister:   Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

People:      You shall not murder.

Minister:   You shall not commit adultery.

People:      You shall not steal.

Minister:   You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

People:      You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’”

Unison:     “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, mind and strength…and your neighbor as yourself.”

 

*Hymn of Confession: “God, Be Merciful to Me” (No. 486, verses 1-4)

 

1 God, be merciful to me,
on thy grace I rest my plea;
plenteous in compassion thou,
blot out my transgressions now;
wash me, make me pure within,
cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

2 My transgressions I confess,
grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against thy grace
and provoked thee to thy face;
I confess thy judgment just,
speechless, I thy mercy trust.

3 I am evil, born in sin;
thou desirest truth within.
thou alone my Savior art,
teach thy wisdom to my heart;
make me pure, thy grace bestow,
wash me whiter than the snow.

4 Broken, humbled to the dust
by thy wrath and judgment just,
let my contrite heart rejoice
and in gladness hear thy voice;
from my sins O hide thy face,
blot them out in boundless grace.

 

 

 

Corporate Confession

Almighty and most merciful God and Father: we have erred and strayed from your ways; like lost sheep we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts; we have offended against your holy laws; we have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and, apart from Jesus Christ, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us; spare those, O God, who confess their faults; restore those who are penitent according to your promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord; and grant, O merciful Father, for His sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, sober and righteous life to the glory of your holy Name and the salvation of our own souls.  Amen.

 

Silent Confession

 

Pastoral Prayer

 

Assurance of Pardon

Unison:     Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)

 

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “God, Be Merciful to Me” (No. 486, verses 5-6)

 

5 Gracious God, my heart renew,
make my spirit right and true;
cast me not away from thee,
let thy Spirit dwell in me;
thy salvation's joy impart,
steadfast make my willing heart.

6 Sinners then shall learn from me
and return, O God, to thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
and my tongue shall sing thy love;
touch my silent lips, O Lord,
and my mouth shall praise accord.

 

 

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;

 

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

 

Reading of The Holy Scriptures: Daniel 5

Minister:   This is the Word of God.

 

Unison:     Thanks be to God for his Word!

 

The Prayer for Illumination

 

Sermon: “Numbered, Weighed, and Divided” (Rev. Clayton Shaver)

 

*Hymn of Response: “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!

 

 

*The Benediction

 

Postlude

 

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.

 

 

 

 

 

Announcements

 

• Collecting Games for Care Net

Isabelle McShea's American Heritage Girls troop is collecting new and/or gently used games for Care Net. The games need to be appropriate for children. Puzzles, card games, board games, and outdoor games are welcome. Please bring them to church by April 21. If you bring a used game, please ensure that no pieces are missing or damaged. Thank you!

 

• Fellowship Luncheon

Everyone is invited to an international luncheon following the worship service on April 21. If you have a favorite international main dish, side, salad or dessert, please sign up on the sheet located in the narthex or online at www.ctkvb.org. If you’d like to bring a copy of your recipe to share, please do so. It’s important to sign up so that the Fellowship Committee will know how many saints plan to attend. It has been rumored that luncheons consumed at CTK are void of calories, carbs and catalpa. So, come, join in and see for yourself!

 

• Fun & Fellowship Night

Please make plans to join us at 6:00 PM on Friday, April 19, for an evening of fun and fellowship. More details to follow.

 

• Women’s Book Group

Ladies, you are invited to participate in a book group meeting, which will take place at the church on April 11 and 18, beginning at 10:30 AM. We will read and discuss Joni: An Unforgettable Story. Pastor Seth referred to Joni in one of his recent sermons, and the leaders of Bible Study thought it would be inspiring to learn more about Joni’s journey. Books may be purchased online for around $14. At each session, we will also have a time for praise, prayer, and petition. Bring a friend!

 

• Men’s Fellowship Time

Men’s Fellowship Time is every Wednesday at 7:00 AM at Nettie’s Roadside Restaurant, 2555 27th Ave Suite G-6 in Vero Beach.