250725: Worship Bulletin
"...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge..."
Morning Worship Service on The Lord's Day, July 27, 2025
Morning Worship Service on The Lord's Day, July 27, 2025
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
The Voluntary for Silent Prayer
*Call to Worship: Lamentations 3:22-23
Minister: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
People: his mercies never come to an end;
Minister: they are new every morning;
Unison: great is your faithfulness!
*Hymn of Adoration: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (No. 32)
1 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. [Refrain]
3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! [Refrain]
*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer
Unison: O Lord, as long as we live, may we sing your praises! We do not put our trust in the rulers of this world, for they will die, and their plans will come to an end. But we place our hope in you, for you are the Creator of heaven, the earth, the seas, and all that is in them. You are faithful forever and righteous altogether, bringing justice to the oppressed, lifting up those who are bowed down, upholding the widow and fatherless, but bringing ruin to the ways of the wicked. You, O Lord, will reign forever! In this we rejoice! In this we hope! Amen.
From Psalm 146
*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 1
Minister: What is your only comfort in life and death?
People: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Unison: Thanks be to God!
*Gloria (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 57
Minister: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge.
People: I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Minister: I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.
People: He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness.
Minister: I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
People: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Minister: They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress.
People: They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves.
Minister: My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
People: Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
Minister: I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
People: For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Minister: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
People: let your glory be over all the earth.
*Hymn of Response: “Now Thank We All Our God” (No. 98)
1 Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms,
hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
2 O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever-joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.
3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven–
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heav'n adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
The Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving
Unison: Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this day, protecting us from dangers and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Preserve us with your mighty power that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity. Drive from this place, O Lord, all snares of the enemy and, in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose. In the name and by the power of Him who lay down in the grave and rose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Redeemer and Friend. Amen.
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.
Silent Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer
Words of Encouragement
Minister: I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3
Unison: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
*Hymn of Preparation: “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” (No. 535)
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 watches 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.
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: Ephesians 3:14-21
Minister: This is the Word of God.
Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!
*Prayer for Illumination
Sermon: “Strength to Live” (Rev. Kevin Gardner)
*Hymn of Response: “Be Still My Soul” (No. 689)
1 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2 Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3 Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the vale of tears,
then shall you better know his love, his heart,
who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul: your Jesus can repay
from his own fullness all he takes away.
4 Be still, my soul: the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
*Benediction
Postlude
*Denotes congregational standing, if able.
Morning Worship Service on The Lord's Day, July 27, 2025
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
The Voluntary for Silent Prayer
*Call to Worship: Lamentations 3:22-23
Minister: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
People: his mercies never come to an end;
Minister: they are new every morning;
Unison: great is your faithfulness!
*Hymn of Adoration: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” (No. 32)
1 Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
all I have needed thy hand hath provided -
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. [Refrain]
3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! [Refrain]
*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer
Unison: O Lord, as long as we live, may we sing your praises! We do not put our trust in the rulers of this world, for they will die, and their plans will come to an end. But we place our hope in you, for you are the Creator of heaven, the earth, the seas, and all that is in them. You are faithful forever and righteous altogether, bringing justice to the oppressed, lifting up those who are bowed down, upholding the widow and fatherless, but bringing ruin to the ways of the wicked. You, O Lord, will reign forever! In this we rejoice! In this we hope! Amen.
From Psalm 146
*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 1
Minister: What is your only comfort in life and death?
People: That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Unison: Thanks be to God!
*Gloria (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 57
Minister: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge.
People: I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.
Minister: I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me.
People: He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness.
Minister: I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
People: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Minister: They spread a net for my feet—I was bowed down in distress.
People: They dug a pit in my path—but they have fallen into it themselves.
Minister: My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
People: Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
Minister: I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
People: For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Minister: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
People: let your glory be over all the earth.
*Hymn of Response: “Now Thank We All Our God” (No. 98)
1 Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things hath done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms,
hath blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
2 O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever-joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.
3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven–
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heav'n adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
The Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving
Unison: Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this day, protecting us from dangers and uncertainties, both known and unknown. Preserve us with your mighty power that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity. Drive from this place, O Lord, all snares of the enemy and, in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose. In the name and by the power of Him who lay down in the grave and rose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord, Redeemer and Friend. Amen.
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.
Silent Prayer of Thanksgiving
Pastoral Prayer
Words of Encouragement
Minister: I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3
Unison: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
*Hymn of Preparation: “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” (No. 535)
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 watches 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.
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: Ephesians 3:14-21
Minister: This is the Word of God.
Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!
*Prayer for Illumination
Sermon: “Strength to Live” (Rev. Kevin Gardner)
*Hymn of Response: “Be Still My Soul” (No. 689)
1 Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heav'nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
2 Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
3 Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the vale of tears,
then shall you better know his love, his heart,
who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul: your Jesus can repay
from his own fullness all he takes away.
4 Be still, my soul: the hour is hast'ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
*Benediction
Postlude
*Denotes congregational standing, if able.
July 26, 2025
