250330-Worship Bulletin

The Lord is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. Psalm 28:8-9

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 23

Minister: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

People: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Minister: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Unison: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

*Hymn of Adoration: “How Firm a Foundation” (No. 94)

1 How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!
What more can he say than to you he has said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2 "Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed;
for I am your God, and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

3 "When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.

4 "When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

5 "E'en down to old age all my people shall prove
my sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
and when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.

6 "The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: Our Father, Everlasting God, Creator of the ends of the earth: In your Word and in your creation, we delight to behold you. In great might, you rule over all. You measure the waters in the hollow of your hand. You mark off the heavens with a span. You weigh the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance. To you, all the nations are like a drop from a bucket. Yet like a shepherd, you tend your flock: you gather us in your arms, you carry us close to your heart, you gently lead us. You never grow faint or weary, and your understanding is unsearchable. So when we are faint, you give us power. When we have no might, you increase our strength. For all this we praise you and thank you. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
From Isaiah 40

*Confession of Faith (Westminster Larger Catechism 7)

Minister: What is God?

People: God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

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

*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.

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 34

*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.

Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving

Unison: We extol you, our God and King. Every day we will bless you, and we will praise your name forever and ever. For you are great and greatly to be praised.

Minister: One generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts. They will speak of the might of your awesome deeds, pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness, and sing aloud of your righteousness.

People: For you, Lord, are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. You are good to all, and your mercy is over all you have made.

Minister: You are faithful in all your words.

People: You are kind in all your works.

Minister: You are righteous in all your ways.

People: We thank you that you uphold us when we are falling and raise us up when we are bowed down.

Minister: We thank you that you provide all we need.

People: We thank you that you are near to us when we call on you in truth.

Minister: We thank you that you hear the cry of those who fear you and that you save them.

Unison: Therefore, our mouths will speak your praises, O Lord, and we will bless your holy name forever and ever. Amen.
From Psalm 145

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Assurance

Minister: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” (John 10:27-29)

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

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” (No. 647, Tune: “Dundee”)

1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.

2 It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
'tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary rest.

3 Dear Name! the rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding place,
my never-failing treas'ry filled
with boundless stores of grace;

4 Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
my Prophet, Priest, and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
accept the praise I bring.

5 Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I'll praise thee as I ought.

6 Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy name
refresh my soul in death.

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: I Timothy 3:1-7

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Elder: Shepherds of the Flock” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “From All that Dwell below the Skies” (No. 7)

1 From all that dwell below the skies
let the Creator’s praise arise;
let the Redeemer’s name be sung
through every land, by every tongue.

2 In every land begin the song;
to every land the strains belong.
In cheerful sound all voices raise
and fill the world with joyful praise.

3 Eternal are your mercies, Lord;
eternal truth attends your word.
Your praise shall sound from shore to shore
till suns rise and set no more.

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.