240728-Worship Bulletin

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 145:10-13, I Timothy 1:17

Minister: All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,  and all your saints shall bless you!

People: They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Minister: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Unison: To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

*Hymn of Adoration: “The God of Abraham Praise” (No. 34)

1 The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above,
Ancient of everlasting days and God of love.
Jehovah! Great I AM! by earth and heav'n confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name, forever blest.

2 The God of Abraham praise, at whose supreme command
from earth I rise, and seek the joys at his right hand.
I all on earth forsake, its wisdom, fame, and pow'r,
and him my only portion make, my shield and tow'r.

3 He by himself hath sworn, I on his oath depend;
I shall, on eagles' wings upborne, to heav'n ascend,
I shall behold his face, I shall his pow'r adore,
and sing the wonders of his grace forevermore.

4 The goodly land I see, with peace and plenty blest,
a land of sacred liberty and endless rest.
There milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life forever grow, with mercy crowned.

5 There dwells the Lord our King, the Lord our Righteousness,
triumphant o'er the world and sin, the Prince of Peace.
On Zion's sacred height his kingdom he maintains,
and glorious with his saints in light forever reigns.

6 The whole triumphant host gives thanks to God on high;
"Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!" they ever cry.
Hail Abraham's God and mine! I join the heav'nly lays;
all might and majesty are thine, and endless praise.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: Glorious Jehovah, My Covenant God: All your promises in Christ Jesus are yes and amen, and all shall be fulfilled. You have spoken them, and they shall be done, commanded, and they shall come to pass. Help me to leave my concerns in your hands, for you have power over evil, and bring from it an infinite progression of good, until your purposes are fulfilled. Bless me with Abraham’s faith that staggers not at promises through unbelief. Give me the confidence I ought to have in you, for you are worthy to be praised, and are blessed for evermore. Amen.

*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism, Q 123

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

People: Your kingdom come. That is: So rule us by your Word and Spirit that more and more we submit to you. Preserve and increase your church. Destroy the works of the devil, every power that raises itself against you, and every conspiracy against your holy Word. Do all this until the fullness of your kingdom comes, wherein you shall be all in all.

*Gloria Patri (Tune: “Regent Square”)

Glory be to God the Father, glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit, God Almighty, Three in One!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory be to him alone!

New Testament Reading: Hebrews 11:8-28

Hymn of Praise: “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 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.

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Assurance

Minister: But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1-3)

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

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Now Thank We All Our God” (No. 98)

1 Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms,
hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

2 O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever-joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.

3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven–
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heav'n adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

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 12:43-50

Minister:   This is the Word of God.

Unison:     Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “The Kingdom Is First” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

Hymn of Response: “May the Mind of Christ My Savior” (No. 644)

1 May the mind of Christ my Savior
live in me from day to day,
by his love and pow'r controlling
all I do and say.

2 May the Word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through his pow'r.

3 May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.

4 May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
him exalting, self abasing,
this is victory.

5 May his beauty rest upon me
as I seek the lost to win,
and may they forget the channel,
seeing only him.

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.