The Worship of God March 7, 2010

Welcome in the name of the Lord Jesus! If you are a guest with us, please be sure to sign our Registry when it is passed during the service. Children are welcome in our worship. We have a nursery available for children 3 and under. Children 4 to 6 years of age may be dismissed to Godly Play prior to the sermon. Thank you for joining us today and may the Lord richly bless you. Song of Assembly1 You Are the Lord Smith

Worthy we stand saved by His hand. Great is Your name in all the earth. Worthy alone Christ on the throne,

Your kingdom will reign forever. You are the Lord Most High!

Welcome and Preparation for Worship “There is nothing in this world, or out of this world, more to be wished by every one of you than to be conjoined with Jesus Christ, and once for all made one with Him, the God of glory. This heavenly and celestial conjunction is procured and brought about by two special means. It is brought about by means of the Word and preaching of the Gospel, and it is brought about by means of the Sacraments and their ministration. The Word leads us to Christ by the ear; the Sacraments lead us to Christ by the eye. . . . But there is one thing that you must always remember: there is no doctrine either of the simple Word or of the Sacraments, that is able to move us if Christ takes away His Holy Spirit. Therefore whenever you come to hear the doctrine, whether it be of the Sacraments or of the simple Word, ask that God may be present by His Holy Spirit.” Robert Bruce, The Mystery of the Lord’s Supper, 1590 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” The Apostle Paul, Romans 15:13 Call to Worship2 Psalm 136:1-9 Leader: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, People: for his steadfast love endures forever. Leader: Give thanks to the God of gods, People: for his steadfast love endures forever. Leader: Give thanks to the Lord of lords, People: for his steadfast love endures forever; Leader: to him who alone does great wonders, People: for his steadfast love endures forever; Leader: to him who by understanding made the heavens, People: for his steadfast love endures forever; Leader: to him who spread out the earth above the waters, People: for his steadfast love endures forever; Leader: to him who made the great lights, People: for his steadfast love endures forever; Leader: the sun to rule over the day, People: for his steadfast love endures forever; Leader: the moon and stars to rule over the night, People: for his steadfast love endures forever;

1 All songs used by permission or covered under CCLI license # 391165. 2 We believe that God always initiates with sinners, so we begin worship with his invitation and command to us to gather in His name.

Prayer of Adoration & Praise Hymn of Praise O for A Thousand Tongues to Sing Wesley

O for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace.

Jesus! The Name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease,

’Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of reigning sin, he sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, his blood availed for me.

My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,

To spread thro’all the earth abroad, the honors of Thy name. Confession of Faith Heidelberg Catechism Question 13 Leader: What is your only comfort in life and in death? People: That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, 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 the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him. Who Can Satisfy My Soul? Jernigan

Who can satisfy my soul like You? Who on earth could comfort me and love me like You do.

Who could ever be more faithful, true? I will trust in You. I will trust in You, my God.

Living Water, rain down Your life on me,

Cleansing me, refreshing me with life abundantly. River full of life, I’ll go where You lead.

And I will trust in You, I will trust in You, my God.

There is a fountain who is the King, Victorious Warrior and Lord of everything.

My Rock, my Shelter, my very own, Blessed Redeemer, Who reigns upon the throne!

Who could ever be more faithful true?

Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus, there is none but You!

3 The Heidelberg Catechism was composed by Zacharius Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus in Germany in 1563. It soon became the most ecumenical of the Reformed catechisms and confessions and is the most widely used and most warmly praised catechism of the Reformation period.

Call to Confession of Sin Romans 6:11-14 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Corporate Confession of Sin Leader: Holy Lord, we are guilty of pride and unbelief, of failure to find your mind in your Word, of neglect to seek you in our daily lives. People: Our violations and shortcomings present our consciences with a long list of accusations, but they will not stand! For we lay them all now on Christ, our sacrifice and advocate. Leader: Lord, subdue our weaknesses and selfishness, granting us grace to live above them. Let us not be mastered by them, but have you rule over us in liberty and power. People: We praise and thank you for your wisdom and love. Deliver us from every evil habit, everything that dims the brightness of your grace in us, everything that prevents us from taking our deepest delight in you. Amen. Assurance of Pardon in Christ Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

Worship with Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Great God Who Saves Story Oh, the promises of God, the rock on which I stand,

The truths to which I cling. His love that knows no bounds; He showers us with grace,

Withholding no good thing.

When I stumble and my faith is small, I will call Your name, great God who saves.

And I would have despaired if I had not believed

That You would come to me, great God who saves. And in my darkest hour, Your mercy and Your power

Are reaching out to me, great God who saves.

Oh, the mystery of God, who holds all space and time, Yet knows my every need.

The vastness of Your power, the strength You give the weak; I soar on eagle’s wings.

And in my pain and in my need,

You heard me calling out Your name. When I was blind and could not see,

You stepped in and saved a wretch like me, And saved a wretch like me.

Great God who saves.

Our Great God Ortega

Eternal God unchanging, mysterious and unknown, Your boundless love unfailing in grace and mercy shown.

Bright seraphim in endless flight around Your glorious throne; They raise their voices day and night in praise to You alone.

Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God! Hallelujah! Glory be to our great God!

Lord, we are weak and frail, helpless in the storm.

Surround us with Your angels, hold us in Your arms. Our cold and ruthless enemy, his pleasure is our harm.

Rise up, O Lord, and he will flee before our sov’reign God.

Let every creature in the sea and every flying bird; Let every mountain, every field and valley of the earth; Let all the moons and all the stars in all the universe

Sing praises to the living God who rules them by His word. Prayers of Thanksgiving & Petition Offering When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Choir Gilbert M. Martin Sermon4 Pastor Tommy Lee Series: “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28) XLV. The Fellowship of His Suffering Matthew 14:1-12 The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper A Word About Communion - The bread and juice you see on the Communion table may not look like much to the casual observer. In fact, it is merely bread and juice. What makes this meal special is that the Lord Jesus Christ is spiritually present in a unique way. This sacrament is not something to be taken lightly but neither is it a time to be somber; rather, we should be filled with thankfulness and joy. Our Savior, out of His great mercy, bids His people to come to this meal. If you are a member of a church who embraces the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are at peace with your fellow Christians, we welcome you to this table. Come and consider with us our Lord’s body and shed blood symbolized in the bread and juice. Rejoice with us in our union with Him and with each other as His Covenant people. I Will Glory In My Redeemer Cook

I will glory in my Redeemer, Whose priceless blood has ransomed me,

Mine was the sin that drove the bitter nails And hung Him on that judgment tree.

I will glory in my Redeemer Who crushed the power of sin and death,

My only Savior before the holy Judge, The Lamb who is my righteousness, The Lamb who is my righteousness.

4 4, 5, & 6 year-old children may be dismissed before the sermon to Godly Play in room 173.

I will glory in my Redeemer, My life He bought, my love He owns,

I have no longings for another, I’m satisfied in Him alone.

I will glory in my Redeemer, His faithfulness my standing place,

Though foes are mighty and rush upon me, My feet are firm, held by His grace, My feet are firm held by His grace.

I will glory in my Redeemer,

Who carries me on eagle’s wings, He crowns my life with lovingkindness,

His triumph song I’ll ever sing. I will glory in my Redeemer,

Who waits for me at gates of gold, And when he calls me it will be paradise,

His face forever to behold, His face forever to behold.

Benediction5 Amos 9:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 May he who builds his lofty palace in the heavens And sets it foundation on the earth, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out over the face of the land Grant you an awareness of His love that you may be Always joyful, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances For this is the will of God for you. My Faith Has Found a Resting Place Edmunds

My faith has found a resting place from guilt my soul is freed I trust the Everliving One, His wounds for me shall plead.

I need no other argument I need no other plea,

It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.

5 Just as God called us into His presence at the beginning, so now He commands His blessing upon us as we depart. We look up and extend our hands in a posture of thanksgiving as we receive this great gift. Our final response to God’s assurance of His peace and presence upon those who are in Christ is a chorus of joyful song.