250309-Worship Bulletin

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Psalm 103:1-5, 22

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

People: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Minister: who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,

People: who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

Minister: who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Unison: Bless the Lord, O my soul!

*Hymn of Adoration: “Praise Ye the Father” (No. 107)

1 Praise ye the Father! For his loving-kindness,
tenderly cares he for his erring children;
praise him, ye angels, praise him in the heavens,
praise ye Jehovah!

2 Praise ye the Savior! Great is his compassion,
graciously cares he for his chosen people;
young men and maidens, ye old men and children,
praise ye the Savior!

3 Praise ye the Spirit! Comforter of Israel,
sent of the Father and the Son to bless us;
praise ye the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
praise ye the triune God!

*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)

*Affirmation of Faith (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 60)

Minister: How are you righteous before God?

People: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Although my conscience accuses me that I have grievously sinned against all God's commandments, have never kept any of them, and am still inclined to all evil, yet God, without any merit of my own, out of mere grace, imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ. He grants these to me as if I had never had nor committed any sin, and as if I myself had accomplished all the obedience which Christ has rendered for me, if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.

All: Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

*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.

Psalter Reading: Psalm 32

Minister: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

People: Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Minister: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

People: for day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.

Minister: Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.

People: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Minister: Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found:

People: surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.

Minister: You are my hiding place;

People: you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Minister: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

People: Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

Minister: Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

People: Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Hymn of Response: “O Lord Most High, with All May Heart” (No. 48, Tune: “As the Hart Longs”)

1 O Lord Most High, with all my heart
your wondrous works I will proclaim;
I will be glad and give you thanks
and sing the praises of your name.

2 The Lord, the everlasting King,
is seated on his judgment throne;
the righteous Judge of all the world
will make His perfect justice known.

3 Jehovah will a refuge prove,
a refuge strong for all oppressed,
a safe retreat, where weary souls
in troubled times may surely rest.
4 All they, O Lord, that know your name
their confidence in you will place,
for you have ne’er forsaken them
who earnestly have sought your face.

5 Sing praises to the Lord Most High,
to him who does in Zion dwell;
declare his mighty deeds abroad,
his deeds among the nations tell.

Public Confession

Unison: Father, we confess that our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked beyond our comprehension. We are more sinful than we know. But you, Lord, search our hearts and test our minds. Please, forgive our hidden sins and cleanse our hearts. We also confess that our hearts are rebellious, and we often sin willfully, knowingly. Please, Father, forgive us for these presumptuous sins. By the power of your Word and the Holy Spirit, please restrain our evil hearts. Do not let sin have dominion over us. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight. We come to you, in the name of Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

Private Confession

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Assurance

Minster: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)

People: To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen!

Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Arise, My Soul, Arise” (No. 305)

1 Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off your guilty fears:
the bleeding Sacrifice
in my behalf appears:
before the throne my Surety stands,
before the throne my Surety stands,
my name is written on his hands.

2 He ever lives above,
for me to intercede,
his all-redeeming love,
his precious blood to plead;
his blood atoned for ev'ry race,
his blood atoned for ev'ry race,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace.

3 Five bleeding wounds he bears,
received on Calvary;
they pour effectual prayers,
they strongly plead for me.
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry,
"Forgive him, O forgive," they cry,
"nor let that ransomed sinner die!"

4 My God is reconciled;
his pard'ning voice I hear;
he owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear;
with confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence I now draw nigh,
and "Father, Abba, Father!" cry.

Worship of God through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology (Tune: “Lasst Uns Erfreuen”)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
O Praise Him! O Praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

Reading of the Holy Scriptures: II Samuel 9

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “Hesed: The Antidote for Shame the Fuel for Love” (Rev. Austin Slater)

*Hymn of Response and Preparation: “Behold the Lamb” (SH No. 7)

1 Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us: and we remember:
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this Bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice,
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King.

2 The body of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
Torn for you: eat and remember
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life,
Paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this Bread of Life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King.

3 The blood that cleanses every stain of sin,
Shed for you: drink and remember
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God.
So we share in this Bread of Life,
And we drink of His sacrifice,
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King.

4 And so with thankfulness and faith
We rise to respond: and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering,
We proclaim: Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven
Around the table of the King.

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: “Before the Throne” (SH No. 6)

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 of 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.

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.