260712: Worship Bulletin

The steadfast love of God endures all the day. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. Psalm 52:1,8

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Romans 8:31-37

Minister: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect?

People: It is God who justifies.

Minister: Who is to condemn?

People: Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Minister: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?....

People: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Unison: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

*Hymn of Adoration: “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” (SH No. 134)

1 O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free,
rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of thy love;
leading onward, leading homeward, to thy glorious rest above.

2 O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread his praise from shore to shore!
How he loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How he watcheth o'er his loved ones, died to call them all his own;
how for them he intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne.

3 O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of ev'ry love the best;
'tis an ocean vast of blessing, 'tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
and it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to thee.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Invocation

Unison: Praise be to you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for you have blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. You chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless before you. And in love you predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ. So we praise you for your glorious grace, which you have freely given us in your beloved Son—through whose blood we have redemption and forgiveness of sins. In his name we come to you. Amen.

From Ephesians 1

*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 18

Minister: Who is the Mediator who at the same time is true God and a true and righteous man?

People: Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

*Gloria (Tune: “Lauda Anima”)

Glory be to him who loved us, washed us from all sin and stain;
Glory be to him who bought us, made us kings with him to reign!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the Lamb that once was slain!

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 53:3-6

Minister: He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces. He was despised, and we esteemed him not.

People: Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

Minister: But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

People: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Hymn of Response: “Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended?” (SH No. 253)

1 Ah, holy Jesus, how have you offended,
that mortal judgment has on you descended?
By foes derided, by your own rejected,
O most afflicted!

2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon you?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, has undone you!
'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied you:
I crucified you.

3 Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
the slave has sinned, and the Son has suffered;
for our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.

4 For me, kind Jesus, was your incarnation,
your mortal sorrow, and your life's oblation;
your death of anguish and your bitter passion,
for my salvation.

5 Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay you,
I do adore you, and will ever pray you,
think on your pity and your love unswerving,
not my deserving.

Public Confession

Unison: We have sinned against you, O Lord, our Maker and Redeemer. Our natures are corrupt and sinful, prone to fall away from you, sluggish to do good, and swift to do evil. Vain and troubling thoughts have taken root in us, defiling and disquieting our minds, and crowding out what is good. We have carried burdens you have commanded us to cast upon you. We have neglected our duties to one another and have stirred up folly and anger instead of love and good works. We have been cold in our love to you, weak in our desires toward you, wavering in our walk with you, and slack in our service to you. For Christ’s sake, forgive us all our sins, and grant us peace in him—our Savior who died to reconcile us and lives to intercede for us. Amen.

Private Confession

Pastoral Prayer

Assurance of Pardon

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Before the Throne” (SH No. 121)

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 to 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 by his blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ my Savior and my God;
with Christ my Savior and my God!

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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 25:14-30

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “The Parable of the Talents” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response and Preparation: “Jesus, Keep Me near the Cross” (SH No. 435)

1 Jesus, keep me near the cross:
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calv'ry's mountain.

Chorus
In the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever,
till my ransomed soul shall find
rest beyond the river.

2 Near the cross, my trembling soul
heard the Savior calling;
there he died that I may know
grace and peace abounding.

3 Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o'er me.

4 Near the cross! My heart will stay,
hoping, trusting ever,
till my eyes shall see the face
of my blessed Savior.

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The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation and Instructions
All who have professed faith in Jesus Christ and have been baptized and who are communicant members in good standing in an evangelical church are invited to come to participate in this sacred Sacrament of the Church. This is not a Presbyterian table, and we do not restrict it as such; it is the Lord’s Table. However, the church alone grants access to the table and must guard it from the leaven of unrighteousness (1 Cor. 5:6-8). Therefore, if you have not repented and trusted in Christ or if you are harboring sin in your life or if there is anyone with whom you are not at peace with so far as it depends on you (Rom. 12:18), please do not participate in this meal. We invite you instead to use this time to reflect and ask God to speak to your heart and give you more light and understanding. Children who have not been admitted to the table by the church should also refrain from partaking of the Supper.

For those who prefer, the outer ring of the tray is grape juice. The bread is gluten free. Please hold the bread and cup until all have been served so that we may partake together.

*Departing Hymn: “Lift High the Cross” (SH No. 494)

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

1 Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod,
our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.

2 O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw men unto thee.

3 For thy blest cross which doth for us atone,
creation's praises raise before thy throne.

4 So shall our song of triumph ever be:
praise to the Crucified for victory!

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*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.