Worship Bulletin: 260426

The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

The Voluntary for Silent Prayer

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art,
and make me love thee as I ought to love.
“Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart” (TH No. 338)

*Call to Worship: Psalm 86:8-10

Minister: There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

People: All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.

Minister: For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Unison: Come, let us praise our God!

*Hymn of Adoration: “The Ends of All the Earth Shall Hear” (TH No. 368, sung to “Melita”)

1 The ends of all the earth shall hear
and turn unto the Lord in fear;
all kindreds of the earth shall own
and worship him as God alone.

Refrain:
All earth to him her homage brings,
the Lord of lords, the King of kings.

2 For his the kingdom, his of right,
he rules the nations by his might;
all earth to him her homage brings,
the Lord of lords, the King of kings. [Refrain]

3 Both rich and poor, both bond and free,
shall worship him on bended knee,
and children's children shall proclaim
the glorious honor of his name. [Refrain]

*Prayer of Adoration and Congregational Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, with the choir of victorious saints, we worship you with the Song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Father, in the mighty name of Jesus, our risen Savior, we come before you, to whom belongs the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

From Revelation 15:3-4

*Confession of Faith: Heidelberg Catechism 128

Minister: How do you conclude your prayer?

People: For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. That is: All this we ask of you because, as our King, having power over all things, you are both willing and able to give us all that is good, and because not we but your holy name should so receive all glory.

*Gloria (Tune: “To God Be the Glory”)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son
And give him the glory, great things he has done!

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49:5-7
New Testament Reading: Philippians 2:5-11

Hymn of Praise: “At the Name of Jesus” (TH No. 163)

1 At the name of Jesus ev'ry knee shall bow,
ev'ry tongue confess him King of Glory now.
'Tis the Father's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

2 At his voice creation sprang at once to sight,
all the angel faces, all the hosts of light,
thrones and dominations, stars upon their way,
all the heav'nly orders in their great array.

3 Humbled for a season to receive a name
from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious, when from death he passed.

4 In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue
all that is not holy, all that is not true:
crown him as your Captain in temptation's hour:
let his will enfold you in its light and pow'r.

5 Brothers, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
with his Father's glory, with his angel train;
for all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
and our hearts confess him King of glory now.

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.

Pastoral Prayer

Words of Encouragement

Minister: But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace….And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:13-20)

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

*Hymn of Thanksgiving: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” (SH No. 473)

1 Beneath the cross of Jesus
I find a place to stand,
and wonder at such mercy
that calls me as I am.
For hands that should discard me
hold wounds which tell me, "Come!"
Beneath the cross of Jesus
my unworthy soul is won.

2 Beneath the cross of Jesus,
his family is my own—
once strangers chasing selfish dreams,
now one through grace alone.
How could I now dishonor
the ones that you have loved?
Beneath the cross of Jesus
see the children called by God.

3 Beneath the cross of Jesus,
the path before the crown—
we follow in his footsteps
where promised hope is found.
How great the joy before us
to be his perfect bride!
Beneath the cross of Jesus
we will gladly live our lives.

CCLI 3036374

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: Matthew 2:1-12

Minister: This is the Word of God.

Unison: Thanks be to God for his Word!

*Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: “King Jesus and His Unlikely Worshipers” (Rev. Austin Slater)

*Hymn of Response: “O God, to Us Show Mercy” (TH No. 437)

1 O God, to us show mercy and bless us in your grace;
cause now to shine upon us the brightness of your face;
that so your way most holy on earth may soon be known,
and unto ev'ry people your saving grace be shown.

2 O God, let all men praise you, let all the nations sing;
in ev'ry land let praises and songs of gladness ring;
for you shall judge the people in truth and righteousness,
and through the earth the nations shall your just rule confess.

3 O God, let people praise you, let all the nations sing,
for earth in rich abundance to us her fruit shall bring.
The Lord our God shall bless us, our God shall blessing send,
and all the earth shall fear him to its remotest end.

*Benediction

Postlude

*Denotes congregational standing, if able.