240929-worship bulletin

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

 Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 77:11-14

Minister: I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

People: Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God?

Minister: You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

Unison: Come, let us praise our God!

*Hymn of Adoration: “Holy, Holy, Holy,” (No. 100)

1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: Lord God, we praise you and give you thanks, for your word is right and true, and you are faithful and just in all you do. By your word the heavens were made. You spoke, and all things came to be. You foil the plans of the nations and thwart the purposes of the wicked, but your plans stand firm forever and the purposes of your heart through all generations. Therefore, we trust in you alone and hope in your unfailing love. You are our help and our shield. In you our hearts rejoice, and we trust in your holy name. Amen. (From Psalm 33)

*Confession of Faith (Heidelberg Catechism, Q 127)

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

People: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. That is: In ourselves we are so weak that we cannot stand even for a moment. Moreover, our sworn enemies – the devil, the world, and our own flesh – do not cease to attack us. Will you, therefore, uphold and strengthen us by the power of your Holy Spirit, so that in this spiritual war we may not go down to defeat, but always firmly resist our enemies, until we finally obtain the complete victory.

All: Thanks be to God!

*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.

 New Testament Reading: James 1:12-25

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 Prayers of Intercession

Unison: Oh God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray that we may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of you, fully pleasing you, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of you, our great God, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to you, our Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. You have delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of your beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. In his name we pray. Amen. 

 Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister: Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

People: Blessed be the Lord forever! Amen and Amen.

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Before the Throne of God Above” (SH No. 6)

1 Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea,
a great High Priest whose name is "Love,"
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands;
my name is written on His heart;
I know that while in heav'n He stands,
no tongue can bid me thence depart;
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

2 When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God the Just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me;
to look on Him and pardon me.

3 Behold Him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless Righteousness;
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself I cannot die;
my soul is purchased with His blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God;
with Christ my Savior and my God!

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 14:1-12

Minister:   This is the Word of God.

 Unison:     Thanks be to God for his Word!

 The Prayer for Illumination

 Sermon: “Sin Bewitches the Soul” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

 *Hymn of Response: “Nothing but the Blood” (No. 307)

1 What can wash away my sin?
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
what can make me whole again?
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know,
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2 For my cleansing this I see —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
for my pardon this my plea —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

3 Nothing can for sin atone —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
naught of good that I have done —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

4 This is all my hope and peace —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
this is all my righteousness —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

5 Now by this I'll overcome —
nothing but the blood of Jesus;
now by this I'll reach my home —
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

*The Benediction

 Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.