251102: Worship Guide

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. Lamentations 3:22

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 13:5-6

Minister: I have trusted in your steadfast love;

People: my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Minister: I will sing to the Lord,

People: because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Unison: Come, let us sing to our God!

*Hymn of Adoration: “What Wondrous Love Is This” (No. 261)

1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

2 To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing!

3 And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on;
and when from death I'm free, I'll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on,
and through eternity I'll sing on!

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: Lord Jesus, before I loved you, you loved me—a child of wrath and your enemy. Love brought you from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to heaven where you intercede for me. Love caused you to be weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, scourged, spat upon, crucified, and pierced. Love led you to bow your head in death. This love is not intermittent, cold, or changeable; it does not cease or abate for all my enmity. Let me see your love everywhere, not only in the cross, but in the fellowship of believers and in the world around me. When I feel the warmth of the sun, may I praise you, the Sun of righteousness with healing power. When I feel the rain, may I think of the gospel showers that water my soul. Your infinite love is a mystery of mysteries, and my eternal rest lies in the eternal enjoyment of it. Amen.

adapted from The Valley of Vision

*Affirmation of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 1

Minister: What is your only comfort in life and death?

People: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.

Unison: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him!

*Gloria (Tune: “Truro”)

All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad—
the Trinity whom we adore
forever and forevermore.

The Revelation of God’s Will: Romans 12:9-21

Minister: Let love be genuine.

People: Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Minister: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

People: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Minister: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

People: Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Minister: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

People: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Minister: Live in harmony with one another.

People: Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Minister: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

People: If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Minister: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

People: To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Unison: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

*Hymn of Confession: “O Thou That Hear’st When Sinners Cry” (No. 485)

1 O thou that hear'st when sinners cry,
though all my crimes before thee lie,
behold them not with angry look,
but blot their mem'ry from thy book.

2 Create my nature pure within,
and form my soul averse to sin;
let thy good Spirit ne'er depart,
not hide thy presence from my heart.

3 I cannot live without thy light,
cast out and banished from thy sight;
thy holy joys, my God, restore,
and guard me, that I fall no more.

4 A broken heart, my God, my King,
is all the sacrifice I bring;
the God of grace will ne'er despise
a broken heart for sacrifice.

5 My soul lies humbled in the dust,
and owns thy dreadful sentence just:
look down, O Lord, with pitying eye,
and save the soul condemned to die.

6 Then will I teach the world thy ways;
sinners shall learn thy sovereign grace;
I'll lead them to my Savior's blood,
and they shall praise a pard'ning God.

Corporate Confession

Unison: Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess before you: our sinful nature, prone to evil and slothful in good; and all our shortcomings and offenses. You alone know how often we have sinned: in wandering from your ways, in wasting Your gifts, in forgetting your love. But, O Lord, have mercy upon us, who are ashamed and sorry for all that has displeased you. Teach us to hate our errors; cleanse us from our secret faults; and forgive our sins, for the sake of your dear Son. And O most holy and loving Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, enable us to live in your light and walk in your ways, according to the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.

Silent Confession

Pastoral Prayer

Assurance of Pardon

Minister: “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11–12)

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Man of Sorrows” (No. 246)

1 Man of Sorrows! what a name
for the Son of God, who came
ruined sinners to reclaim:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

2 Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
in my place condemned he stood,
sealed my pardon with his blood:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

3 Guilty, vile, and helpless, we;
spotless Lamb of God was he;
full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

4 Lifted up was he to die,
"It is finished!" was his cry:
now in heav'n exalted high:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

5 When he comes, our glorious King,
all his ransomed home to bring,
then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!

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 22:34-40

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “The Great Commandment” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “We Are God’s People” (No. 355)

1 We are God's people, the chosen of the Lord,
Born of His Spirit, established by His Word;
Our cornerstone is Christ alone,
And strong in Him we stand:
O let us live transparently
And walk heart to heart and hand in hand.

2 We are God’s loved ones, the Bride of Christ our Lord,
For we have known it, the love of God outpoured;
Now let us learn how to return
The gift of love once given:
O let us share each joy and care,
And live with a zeal that pleases Heaven.

3 We are the Body of which the Lord is Head,
Called to obey Him, now risen from the dead;
He wills us be a family,
Diverse yet truly one:
O let us give our gifts to God,
And so shall his work on earth be done.

4 We are a temple, the Spirit’s dwelling place,
Formed in great weakness, a cup to hold God’s grace;
We die alone, for on its own
Each ember loses fire:
Yet joined in one the flame burns on
To give warmth and light, and to inspire.

CCLI 3036374

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.