260705: Worship Bulletin

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to his holy name!
Psalm 97:12

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 47:6-9

Minister: Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

People: For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

Minister: God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

People: The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.

Unison: For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!

*Hymn of Adoration: “Come, Thou Almighty King” (TH No. 101)

1 Come, thou Almighty King,
help us thy name to sing,
help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
o'er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

2 Come, thou Incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword,
our prayer attend.
Come, and thy people bless,
and give thy Word success;
Spirit of holiness,
on us descend.

3 Come, Holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour.
Thou who almighty art,
now rule in every heart,
and ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of pow'r.

4 To the great One in Three
eternal praises be,
hence evermore.
His sovereign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: Gracious Father and Almighty King, worshiping you is our greatest duty and our greatest joy. You are king over all creation, and all your works display your glory and fulfill your designs. You are king of all nations, and at your pleasure empires rise and fall. May you ever reign as king in our hearts, destroying every idol, subduing every foe, and freeing us to live in the light of your holiness, the abundance of your joy, and the wisdom of your ways. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who died for our sins, rose victorious, and now sits at your right hand. Amen.

*Affirmation of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 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: “Ode to Joy”)

Glory to you, God our Father, you are worthy of our praise;
In the highest realms of heaven, on your throne of majesty.
Glory to you, high and exalted, seated among the angel host.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we will praise you evermore!

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: “God, Be Merciful to Me” (TH No. 486)

1 God, be merciful to me,
on thy grace I rest my plea;
plenteous in compassion thou,
blot out my transgressions now;
wash me, make me pure within,
cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

2 My transgressions I confess,
grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against thy grace
and provoked thee to thy face;
I confess thy judgment just,
speechless, I thy mercy trust.

3 I am evil, born in sin;
thou desirest truth within.
thou alone my Savior art,
teach thy wisdom to my heart;
make me pure, thy grace bestow,
wash me whiter than the snow.

4 Broken, humbled to the dust
by thy wrath and judgment just,
let my contrite heart rejoice
and in gladness hear thy voice;
from my sins O hide thy face,
blot them out in boundless grace.

5 Gracious God, my heart renew,
make my spirit right and true;
cast me not away from thee,
let thy Spirit dwell in me;
thy salvation's joy impart,
steadfast make my willing heart.

6 Sinners then shall learn from me
and return, O God, to thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
and my tongue shall sing thy love;
touch my silent lips, O Lord,
and my mouth shall praise accord.

Corporate Confession

Unison: Gracious and loving Father, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future filled with hope, in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, our light and our life. Amen.

Silent Confession

Pastoral Prayer

Assurance of Pardon

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. (Ephesians 1:7-8a)

Hymn of Response: “God of Grace and God of Glory” (SH No. 475)

God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy pow'r;
crown thine ancient church's story,
bring her bud to glorious flow'r.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us,
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
for the living of these days, for the living of these days.

Cure thy children's warring madness,
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom's goal, lest we miss thy kingdom's goal.

Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore;
let the search for thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore, serving thee whom we adore.

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 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “The Will of God” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “Rejoice, the Lord Is King” (TH No. 310)

1 Rejoice, the Lord is King:
your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing,
and triumph evermore.

Refrain:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

2 Jesus the Savior reigns,
the God of truth and love;
when he had purged our stains,
he took his seat above. [Refrain]

3 His kingdom cannot fail,
he rules o'er earth and heav'n;
the keys of death and hell
are to our Jesus giv'n. [Refrain]

4 He sits at God's right hand
till all his foes submit,
and bow to his command,
and fall beneath his feet. [Refrain]

5 Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord, the Judge, shall come,
and take his servants up
to their eternal home. [Refrain]

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.