Worship Bulletin – 2025.06.01

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

*Call to Worship: Revelation 19:1-7

Minister: After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

People: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just….

Minister: And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying,

People: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”

Minister: Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

People: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready.”

*Hymn of Adoration: “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim” (No. 165)

1 Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,
and publish abroad his wonderful name;
the name, all victorious, of Jesus extol;
his kingdom is glorious and rules over all.

2 God ruleth on high, almighty to save;
and still he is nigh– his presence we have.
The great congregation his triumph shall sing,
ascribing salvation to Jesus, our King.

3 Salvation to God, who sits on the throne!
Let all cry aloud and honor the Son.
The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.

4 Then let us adore, and give him his right,
all glory and pow'r, and wisdom and might,
all honor and blessing, with angels above,
and thanks never ceasing for infinite love.

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Unison: God of Love and Mercy: We bless you for the love you have for your bride, the church. You loved us and gave yourself for us that you might sanctify us, having cleansed us by the washing of water with the word, so that you might present us to yourself in splendor. And on that day, at the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we will shout with the multitude of the redeemed, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory!” In His mighty name we pray, Amen.

*Affirmation of Faith (Westminster Shorter Catechism, 42)

Minister: What is the sum of the ten commandments?

People: The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.

*Gloria (Tune: “Crusader’s Hymn”)

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.

The Revelation of God’s Will: Romans 12:9-21

Minister: Let love be genuine.

People: Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Minister: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

People: Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Minister: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

People: Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Minister: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

People: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Minister: Live in harmony with one another.

People: Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Minister: Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

People: If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Minister: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

People: To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Unison: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

*Hymn of Response: “We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought” (No. 493, Tune: “St. Catherine”)

1 We have not known thee as we ought,
nor learned thy wisdom, grace and pow'r;
the things of earth have filled our thought,
and trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light thy truth to see,
and make us wise in knowing thee.

2 We have not feared thee as we ought,
nor bowed beneath thine awful eye,
nor guarded deed, and word, and thought,
remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know thee near,
and grant the grace of holy fear.

3 We have not loved thee as we ought,
nor cared that we are loved by thee;
thy presence we have coldly sought,
and feebly longed thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart
to feel and own the love thou art.

4 We have not served thee as we ought;
alas! the duties left undone,
the work with little fervor wrought,
the battles lost, or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal, and give the might,
for thee to toil, for thee to fight.

5 When shall we know thee as we ought,
and fear, and love, and serve aright!
When shall we, out of trial brought,
be perfect in the land of light!
Lord, may we day by day prepare
to see thy face, and serve thee there.

Corporate Confession

Unison: We come before you as sinners who have not kept your law. We have not loved you with all our hearts, minds, and strength. And we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Your kind and generous law of love calls us to humility, but we are full of pride. You call us to gentleness and patience, but we have been violent and impatient to one another. You have urged us to bear with one another in love, but we have been arrogant and self-centered. In hypocrisy, we point out others’ failures without love and grace. In selfish apathy, we reject or ignore others because we simply do not care about them. We confess our sins to you and ask your forgiveness. And we give thanks for the humble, gentle, patient, sacrificial love you have shown us in your Son, Jesus Christ. In his name we come to you. Amen.

Silent Confession

Pastoral Prayer

Assurance of Pardon

Minister: Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25b-27)

*Hymn of Response: “Children of the Heavenly Father” (No. 131)

1. Children of the heav'nly Father,
Safely in his bosom gather;
Nesting bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e'er was given.

2. God his own does tend and nourish;
In his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them;
In hi mighty arms he bears them.

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

4. Praise the Lord in joyful numbers;
Your protector never slumbers;
At the will of your Defender,
Every foeman must surrender.

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

6. More secure is no one ever
than the loved ones of the Savior;
not yon star on high abiding
nor the bird in home-nest hiding.

CCLI 3036374

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 19:1-12

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*The Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “The Gift of Marriage” (Rev. Seth Wallace)

*Hymn of Response: “Rejoice, All Ye Believers” (No. 320)

1 Rejoice, all ye believers,
and let your lights appear;
the evening is advancing,
and darker night is near:
the Bridegroom is arising,
and soon he draweth nigh;
up, pray, and watch, and wrestle:
at midnight comes the cry.

2 See that your lamps are burning;
replenish them with oil;
and wait for your salvation,
the end of earthly toil.
The watchers on the mountain
proclaim the Bridegroom near;
go meet him as he cometh,
with alleluias clear.

3 Ye saints, who here in patience
your cross and suff'rings bore,
shall live and reign forever,
when sorrow is no more:
around the throne of glory
the Lamb ye shall behold,
in triumph cast before him
your diadems of gold.

4 Our hope and expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
arise, thou sun so longed for,
o'er this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted,
we plead, O Lord to see
the day of earth's redemption
that brings us unto thee.

*The Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregation standing, if able.