The Lord’s Day, June 23, 2024

10:30 AM Morning Service

 

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

 

Prelude

 

Welcome and Announcements

 

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

 

*Call to Worship: Psalm 145:1-7

Minister:   I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.

People:      Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

Minister:   On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

People:      They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,

Minister:   and I will declare your greatness.

People:      They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Unison:     Come, let us sing of our God!

 

*Hymn of Adoration: "I Sing the Almighty Power of God" (No. 119)

 

1 I sing th'almighty pow'r of God
that made the mountains rise,
that spread the flowing seas abroad,
and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day;
the moon shines full at his command
and all the stars obey.

2 I sing the goodness of the Lord
that filled the earth with food;
he formed the creatures with his word,
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how your wonders are displayed
where'er I turn mine eye,
if I survey the ground I tread
or gaze upon the sky!
3 There's not a plant or flow'r below
but makes your glories known;
and clouds arise and tempests blow,
by order from your throne;
while all that borrows life from you
is ever in your care,
and everywhere that man can be,
you, God, are present there.

 

 

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! The heavens declare your glory; the skies proclaim your handiwork. The sun and moon and stars praise your name, for at your command they were created. When we consider the heavens, what is man that you are mindful of him? For we are but dust. Like flowers, we flourish and then fade. But you are from everlasting to everlasting; you are unchanging. Your love is steadfast; your mercies never come to an end. And in your mercy, you set your love upon us. Your Son became flesh and dwelt among us. And with his blood, he redeemed us—to the praise of your glory! How majestic is your name!

 

 

*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism, Q 103

Minister:   What does God require in the fourth commandment?

 

People:      First, that the ministry of the gospel and the schools be maintained and that, especially on the day of rest, I diligently attend the church of God to hear God's Word, to use the sacraments, to call publicly upon the LORD, and to give Christian offerings for the poor. Second, that all the days of my life I rest from my evil works, let the LORD work in me through his Holy Spirit, and so begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.

 

*Hallelujah (Tune: "Ode to Joy")

Hallelujah, praise Jehovah, O my soul, Jehovah praise;

I will sing the glorious praises of my God through all my days.

Heav’n and earth the Lord created, seas and all that they contain;

He delivers from oppression, righteousness He will maintain.

 

Psalter Reading: Psalm 92

Minister:   It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Mos High,

People:      to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.

Minister:   For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

People:      How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!

Minister:   The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand,

People:      that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.

Minister:   But you, O Lord, are exalted forever.

People:      For surely your enemies, O Lord, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.

Minister:   You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me.

People:      My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.

Minister:   The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

People:      planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

Minister:   They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,

People:      proclaiming, "The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."

 

*Hymn of Preparation: "Immortal, Invisible" (No. 38)

 

1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2 Unresting, unhasting and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
3 Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
all praise we would render; O help us to see
'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

 

 

 

 

 

The Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving

Unison:     Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this day, protecting us from dangers and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Preserve us with your mighty power that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity. Drive from this place, O Lord, all snares of the enemy and, in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose. In the name and by the power of him who lay down in the grave and rose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Redeemer and Friend.  Amen.

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 of Thanksgiving

 

Pastoral Prayer

 

Words of Encouragement

Minister:   How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. (Psalm 38:7-9)

 

People:      Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

 

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: "Blessed Assurance" (No. 693)

 

1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]

 

 

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 12:1-14

Minister:   This is the Word of God.

 

Unison:     Thanks be to God for his Word!

 

*The Prayer for Illumination

 

Sermon: "Lord of the Sabbath" (Rev. Seth Wallace)

 

*Hymn of Response: "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" (No. 508)

 

1 Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high:
hide me, O my Savior, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!

2 Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me!
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

3 Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
more than all in thee I find:
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name;
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am,
thou art full of truth and grace.

4 Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within:
thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.

 

 

*Benediction

 

Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.

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.

• Women’s Lunch

When Women’s Bible Study ended in the spring, the women present wanted to get together over the summer for fellowship.  The first opportunity to do that will be on July 11 at Captain Hiram’s (Black Fins) for lunch at 11:30 AM. If you are interested in participating, please contact Winnie at wpaauw@yahoo.com

Then on August 8 we plan to meet at the church at noon for a salad luncheon and play some ice breaker games to get to know one another a little better. If you are interested in attending, please contact Bev at bellbevera@gmail.com. All women of the church are invited to both get-togethers, not just those who attend Bible study.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for some fun and sistership on July 11 and August 8.  Bring a friend too.