260215: Worship Bulletin

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 9:1-2, 9-11

Minister: I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

People: I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Minister: The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

People: And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Unison: Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!

*Hymn of Adoration: “O Worship the King” (TH No. 2)

1 O worship the King all-glorious above,
O gratefully sing his pow'r and his love;
our shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

2 O tell of his might, O sing of his grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space.
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

3 The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, your pow'r has founded of old;
has 'stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
and round it has cast, like a mantle, the sea.

4 Your bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills; it descends to the plain;
and sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

5 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in you do we trust, nor find you to fail;
your mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

6 O measureless Might! Ineffable Love!
While angels delight to hymn you above,
the humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
with true adoration shall lisp to your praise.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: Lord God, you are my protecting arm, fortress, refuge, shield, and buckler. Fight for me and my foes must flee; uphold me and I cannot fall; strengthen me and I stand unmoved, unmovable; stand by me and Satan will depart; anoint my lips with a song of salvation and I shall shout your victory. In the powerful name of Jesus, who died and lives again, I come to you. Amen.

from “Conflict” in The Valley of Vision

*Affirmation of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 34

Minister: Why do we call Jesus our Lord?

People: Because he has ransomed us, body and soul, from all our sins, not with silver or gold but with his precious blood, and has freed us from all the power of the devil to make us his own possession.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

*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.
Over all God reigns forever, through all ages he is King;
unto him, your God, O Zion, joyful hallelujahs sing.

Psalter Reading: Psalm 46

*Hymn of Response: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (TH No. 92)

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and pow'r are great;
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.

4 That Word above all earthly pow'rs,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.

The Prayers of Intercession

Unison: Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth and in the world to come life everlasting.

Minister: Father, we pray for your people throughout the world; for our denomination; for this church; and for all ministers and missionaries. We pray especially for the staff of The Women’s Refuge and of Care Net; and for Amjad and Sarah in England, the Lees with RUF, Mike Osborne with Standing Stone Ministries, and the Mugaris in Zimbabwe.

People: We pray for the leaders of our nation and all who hold authority, that they would govern according to your truth, and especially that they would resolve to protect the lives of the unborn and defenseless.

Minister: We pray for the world, especially that you would bring peace and justice and deliverance to nations and peoples oppressed by war, by disaster, by tyranny, and by evil. We pray for our brothers and sisters in these places as they offer the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ amid great danger and opposition.

People: We pray for our children and future generations which will be born to them. May the knowledge of you, Lord, fill the earth through them.

Minister: May we have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

Unison: Lord, hear our prayer.

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister: On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Psalm 62:7-8)

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

*Hymn of Preparation: “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” (TH 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.

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”)

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One;
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Reading of the Holy Scriptures: Matthew 24:3-14

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “And Then the End Will Come” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Closing Hymn: “Lift High the Cross” (TH No. 263)

Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
till all the world adore his sacred name.

1 Come, brethren, follow where our Savior trod,
our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God. [Refrain]

2 Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
the hosts of God in conqu'ring ranks combine. [Refrain]

3 O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw men unto thee. [Refrain]

4 Thy kingdom come, that earth's despair may cease
beneath the shadow of its healing peace. [Refrain]

5 For thy blest cross which doth for us atone,
creation's praises rise before thy throne. [Refrain]

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.