261101: Worship Bulletin

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He'll carry us when we can't carry on.
Raised in his power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect; his strength is perfect.

*Call to Worship: Isaiah 40:28-31, Psalm 28:7

Minister: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

People: He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

Minister: He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;

People: but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Unison: The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

*Hymn of Adoration: “God Is Our Strength and Refuge” (SH No. 542)

God is our Strength and Refuge,
a Helper ever near.
While resting in his shelter,
no evil will we fear—
not if the mountains crumble
into the angry sea,
nor if the surging ocean
exceeds its boundary.

A quiet stream refreshes
the city of our God;
his throne stands unaffected
while kingdoms rise and fall.
One word from Jacob's Savior
will melt the raging throng.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
he is our fortress strong.

Behold God's glorious power:
he makes all warfare cease.
Each weapon he will shatter;
the world will be at peace.
"Be still!" cries heaven's Sov'reign,
"Be still, for I am God!
All kingdoms—all creation—
will bow beneath my rod."

The violent sea turned placid
when Jesus cried, "Be still!"
Fears gone, twelve men stood gasping
when waves obeyed his will.
And soon the same voice speaking
will calm earth's rebel storm.
This Lord of hosts is with us
both now and evermore!
CCLI 3036379

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: We love you, O LORD, for you are our rock and our fortress and our deliverer, our God, our rock in whom we take refuge, our shield, the horn of our salvation, our stronghold. We call upon you, who are worthy of all praise, and we are saved from our enemies. Your way, O LORD, is perfect. Your word is true. Be exalted, O God of our salvation. We will praise you among the nations and sing to your name. In the name of Jesus we come to you. Amen.

From Psalm 18

*Affirmation of Faith: Westminster Larger Catechism 7

Minister: What is God?

People: God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

Unison: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

*Gloria Patri (Tune: “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.

Psalter Reading: Psalm 33:1-22

*Hymn of Praise: “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” (SH No. 57)

Sing praise to God who reigns above,
the God of all creation;
the God of pow'r, the God of love,
the God of our salvation;
with healing balm my soul he fills,
and ev'ry faithless murmur stills—
to God all praise and glory!

What God's almighty pow'r has made
in mercy he is keeping;
by morning glow or evening shade
his eye is never sleeping;
within the kingdom of his might,
lo! all is just and all is right—
to God all praise and glory!

The Lord is never far away,
but through all grief distressing,
an ever-present help and stay,
our peace and joy and blessing;
as with a mother's tender hand
he leads his own, his chosen band—
to God all praise and glory!

Thus all my toilsome way along
I sing aloud his praises,
that all may hear the grateful song
my voice unwearied raises:
"Be joyful in the Lord, my heart!
Both soul and body bear your part—
to God all praise and glory!"

The Prayers of the People

Minister: Father, we thank you for your works in Creation, for the beauty, splendor and majesty of the world in which we live.

People: We praise you for your works of Providence by which we are sustained, preserved, provided for and blessed:

Minister: We praise you specifically for the gifts of food, friendship, family and health.

People: We praise and thank you for your marvelous works in Redemption—that in the Lord, Jesus Christ, you have sought us, found us, saved us and brought us safely home to yourself.

Minister: For all your surpassing goodness to us, especially for the hope of your certain return, of eternal life and of the new heaven and the new earth, we worship and adore you.

Unison: Lord, hear our prayers of thanksgiving.

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister: I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. (Psalm 116:1-2,5)

People: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

*Hymn of Response: “Children of the Heavenly Father” (SH No. 656)

Children of the heav'nly Father
safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird nor star in heaven
such a refuge e'er was given.

God his own doth tend and nourish;
in his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them;
in his mighty arms he bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
from the Lord his children sever;
unto them his grace he showeth,
and their sorrows all he knoweth.

Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne'er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely
to preserve them pure and holy.

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: Acts 6:1-7

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Sympathy & Service” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

Ordination and Installation of Deacons

Roger Cocking
Glen Deal
Sonny Long
Victor Ramos
Owen Viersma

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

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.

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.

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.

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.