261025: Worship Bulletin

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10

 

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 46

Minister: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble;

People: Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.

Minister: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

People: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Unison: Come, let us sing and praise our God!

*Hymn of Adoration: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (SH No. 465)

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.

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.

And tho' 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.

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!

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

O Lord, we are not worthy to have a glimpse of heaven, and unable with works to redeem ourselves from sin, death, the devil, and hell. For this we rejoice, praise and thank you, O God, for without price and out of pure grace you have granted us this boundless blessing in your dear Son through whom you take sin, death, and hell from us, and give to us all that belongs to him. Amen.

*Affirmation of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism 33, 35

Minister: What is justification?

People: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, in which he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Minister: What is sanctification?

People: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, by which we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die to sin, and live to righteousness.

Unison: Thanks be to God!

*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.

New Testament Reading: Romans 8:26-34

*Hymn of Response: “I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art” (SH No. 853)

I greet thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
my only trust and Savior of my heart,
who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
reigning omnipotent in ev'ry place:
so come, O King, and our whole being sway;
shine on us with the light of thy pure day.

Thou art the Life, by which alone we live,
and all our substance and our strength receive;
oh, comfort us in death's approaching hour,
strong-hearted then to face it by thy pow'r.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
no harshness hast thou and no bitterness:
make us to taste the sweet grace found in thee
and ever stay in thy sweet unity.

Our hope is in no other save in thee;
our faith is built upon thy promise free;
oh, grant to us such stronger hope and sure
that we can boldly conquer and endure.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Unison: Gracious, almighty God, we come to you today with thanksgiving for the gift of your beloved Son.

People: Great was his love and goodness

Minister: in undertaking our redemption, in consenting to be made sin for us, in conquering all our foes!

People: Great was his strength

Minister: in enduring the terrors of your divine wrath, in bearing away the load of our iniquities!

People: Great was your power

Minister: that raised him from the dead!

People: Great is his mercy

Minister: in ascending to heaven, being crowned and enthroned, and there interceding for us, helping us in time of temptation, and preparing a place to receive us!

People: Great is your wisdom

Minister: that devised this means of salvation.

People: Great is the grace of your call

Minister: to come hand in hand with him to you, our Father; to be knit to him eternally; to find in him our rest and peace; to behold his glory; to honor him who alone is worthy.

People: Great is the grace that gives us your Spirit

Minister: as teacher, guide, and power, that we may live repenting of sin, conquering Satan, and finding victory in life.

Unison: In the mighty, gracious, loving name of Jesus we come to you. Amen.

Adapted from “Victory” in The Valley of Vision

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?... And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (I Corinthians 6:9, 11)

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

*Hymn of Praise: “My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness” (SH No. 663)

My heart is filled with thankfulness
to him who bore my pain;
who plumbed the depths of my disgrace
and gave me life again;
who crushed my curse of sinfulness
and clothed me in his light,
and wrote his law of righteousness
with pow'r upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
to him who walks beside;
who floods my weaknesses with strength
and causes fears to fly;
whose ev'ry promise is enough
for ev'ry step I take,
sustaining me with arms of love
and crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness
to him who reigns above,
whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
whose ev'ry thought is love.
For ev'ry day I have on earth
is given by the King;
so I will give my life, my all,
to love and follow him.

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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: Genesis 1:26-28

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Made in the Image of God” (Rev. Daniel Levi)

*Hymn of Response: “God, All Nature Sings Thy Glory” (TH No. 122)

God, all nature sings thy glory,
and thy works proclaim thy might;
ordered vastness in the heavens,
ordered course of day and night;
beauty in the changing seasons,
beauty in the storming sea;
all the changing moods of nature
praise the changeless Trinity,

Clearer still we see thy hand
in man whom thou hast made for thee;
ruler of creation's glory,
image of thy majesty.
Music, art, the fruitful garden,
all the labor of his days,
are the calling of his Maker
to the harvest feast of praise.

But our sins have spoiled thine image,
nature, conscience only serve
as unceasing, grim reminders
of the wrath which we deserve.
Yet thy grace and saving mercy
in thy Word of truth revealed
claim the praise of all who know thee,
in the blood of Jesus sealed.

God of glory, power, mercy,
all creation praises thee;
we, thy creatures, would adore thee
now and through eternity.
Saved to magnify thy goodness,
grant us strength to do thy will;
with our acts as with our voices
thy commandments to fulfill.

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*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.