The Lord’s Day, June 16, 2024

10:30 AM Morning Service

 

“The king is not saved by his great army;  a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,  on those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 33:16-18

 

Prelude

 

Welcome and Announcements

 

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

 

*Call to Worship: Psalm 28:6-7

Minister:   Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

People:      The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

Minister:   my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

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

 

*Hymn of Adoration: “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past” (No. 30)

 

1 Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

2 Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

3 Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same.

4 A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.
5 The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
with all their lives and cares,
are carried downward by your flood,
and lost in foll'wing years.

6 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the op'ning day.

7 Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come:
O be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home.

 

 

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

O Lord, as long as we live, may we sing your praises! We do not put our trust in the rulers of this world, for they will die, and their plans will come to an end. But we place our hope in you, for you are the Creator of heaven, the earth, the seas, and all that is in them. You are faithful forever and righteous altogether, bringing justice to the oppressed, lifting up those who are bowed down, upholding the widow and fatherless, but bringing ruin to the ways of the wicked. You, O Lord, will reign forever! In this we rejoice! In this we hope! Amen. (From Psalm 146)

 

 

*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 94

Minister:   What does the LORD require in the first commandment?

People:      That for the sake of my very salvation I avoid and flee all idolatry, witchcraft, superstition, and prayer to saints or to other creatures. Further, that I rightly come to know the only true God, trust in him alone, submit to him with all humility and patience, expect all good from him only, and love, fear, and honor him with all my heart. In short, that I forsake all creatures rather than do the least thing against his will.

*Gloria (Tune: “Lauda Anima”)

Glory be to God the Father, glory be to God the Son,

Glory be to God the Spirit: great Jehovah, Three in One!

Glory, power, honor, blessing while eternal ages run!

 

New Testament Reading: Romans 8:31-39

 

Hymn of Preparation: “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.

 

 

The Prayers of Intercession

Unison:     Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace and for the hope of glory. Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of Thy truth and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.

Minister:   Father, we pray for your people throughout the world; for our denomination; for this church; and for all ministers and missionaries.

People:      We pray for the leaders of our nation and all who hold authority, especially that they would resolve to protect the lives of the unborn and defenseless.

Minister:   We pray for the world, especially that you would bring peace to people and nations devastated by war, disaster, disease, evil leaders, and false religions. We pray for our brothers and sisters in these places as they offer the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ amid great danger and opposition.

People:      We pray for our children and future generations which will be born to them. May the knowledge of you, Lord, fill the earth through them.

Minister:   May we have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

Unison:     Lord, hear our prayers.

Pastoral Prayer

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven: Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

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…. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. (Psalm 116:1-2, 5)

 

Unison:     Thanks be to God!

 

*Hymn of Preparation: “O Jesus, We Adore Thee” (No. 255)

 

1 O Jesus, we adore thee,
upon the cross, our King!
We bow our hearts before thee,
thy gracious name we sing.
That name hath brought salvation,
that name in life our stay,
our peace, our consolation,
when life shall fade away.

2 Yet doth the world disdain thee,
still passing by the cross;
Lord, may our hearts retain thee;
all else we count but loss.
Ah, Lord, our sins arraigned thee,
and nailed thee to the tree:
our pride, our Lord, disdained thee;
yet deign our hope to be.
3 O glorious King, we bless thee,
no longer pass thee by;
O Jesus, we confess thee
the Son enthroned on high.
Lord, grant to us remission;
life through thy death restore;
yea, grant us the fruition
of life forevermore.

 

 

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: Psalm 44

 

The Prayer for Illumination

 

Sermon: “Praying in the Dark” (Rev. Clayton Shaver)

 

 

*Hymn of Response: “O Come, My Soul, Bless Thou the Lord” (No. 6)

 

1 O come, my soul, bless thou the Lord thy Maker,
and all within me bless his holy name;
bless thou the Lord, forget not all his mercies,
his pard'ning grace and saving love proclaim.

Refrain:
Bless him forever, wondrous in might,
bless him, his servants that in his will delight.

2 Good is the Lord and full of kind compassion,
most slow to anger, plenteous in love;
rich is his grace to all that humbly seek him,
boundless and endless as the heav'ns above.

3 His love is like a father's to his children,
tender and kind to all who fear his name;
for well he knows our weakness and our frailty,
he knows that we are dust, he knows our frame.

4 We fade and die like flow'rs that grow in beauty,
like tender grass that soon will disappear;
but evermore the love of God is changeless,
still shown to those who look to him in fear.

5 High in the heav'ns his throne is fixed forever,
his kingdom rules o'er all from pole to pole;
bless ye the Lord through all his wide dominion,
bless his most holy name, O thou my soul.

 

 

*The Benediction

 

Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.

Happy Father’s Day!

If you would like someone to pray with you, an Elder will be available at the front of the sanctuary following the service.

 

 

Announcements

 

• Midweek Study

Our midweek study of the Westminster Confession of Faith meets each Wednesday at 6:30 PM, at the church. This study is open to the entire congregation, including children according to the parents’ desire. Materials are provided. We will not, however, provide a nursery.

 

• Summer Hiatus

The Men’s Wednesday Fellowship and the Persecuted Church Prayer Group will resume in September.

 

• Baby Bottle Campaign for Care Net Pregnancy Center of IRC

Fill a Bottle, Save a LIFE! Help Care Net share the truth with young women and teens who find themselves facing an unplanned pregnancy. The campaign ends today. If you have a bottle filled but haven’t returned it yet, please do so by next Sunday. Thank you!