– – – -Liturgy for Sunday, May 3rd, 2015- – – –
“Unity and distinction—the principle at the heart of the Trinity—can be seen in much of what makes life so rich and beautiful. Woven into the fabric of the world are multiple reflections of the One who made it with unity and distinction as the parallel qualities of its existence.”
– from the ESV Study Bible
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11
Prelude: Take To The World (Aaron Tate)
Gathering Song: Let Us Love And Sing And Wonder (Indelible Grace)
Call to Worship – We believe God is who calls and enables us to worship Himself rightly, in Spirit and truth, so we go to His word in seek of that…
Psalm 33:1-9, 18-22
Leader: Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the Lord… make melody to him… Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
All: For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.
Leader: By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses.
All: Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Leader: Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.
All: Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Prayer of Invocation – We pray each week asking God to direct our hearts, “prone to wander” as they are, to Himself as we sing, speak, and listen in our worship gathering…
Adoration:
Holy, Holy, Holy (Dykes & Heber)
Awake My Soul (Sandra McCracken)
Call To Confession: Proverbs 28:13-14
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
Prayer Of Confession – “Yet I Sin” from The Valley Of Vision
ETERNAL FATHER,
Thou art good beyond all thought,
But I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind;
My lips are ready to confess,
but my heart is slow to feel,
and my ways reluctant to amend.
I bring my soul to thee;
break it, wound it, bend it, mould it.
Unmask to me sin’s deformity,
that I may hate it, abhor it, flee from it.
My faculties have been a weapon of revolt
against thee;
as a rebel I have misused my strength,
and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom.
Give me grace to bewail my insensate folly,
Grant me to know that the way of transgressors
is hard,
that evil paths are wretched paths,
that to depart from thee is to lose all good.
I have seen the purity and beauty of thy perfect law,
the happiness of those in whose heart it reigns,
the calm dignity of the walk to which it calls,
yet I daily violate and contemn its precepts.
Thy loving Spirit strives within me,
brings me Scripture warnings,
speaks in startling providences,
allures by secret whispers,
yet I choose devices and desires to my own hurt,
impiously resent, grieve,
and provoke him to abandon me.
(time of silent confession)
All these sins I mourn, lament, and for them
cry pardon.
Work in me more profound and abiding repentance;
Give me the fullness of a godly grief
that trembles and fears,
yet ever trusts and loves,
which is ever powerful, and ever confident;
Grant that through the tears of repentance
I may see more clearly the brightness
and glories of the saving cross.
Assurance In Christ: Titus 3:4-8
Leader: But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy,
All: by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Leader: The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.
All: These things are excellent and profitable for people.
Song of Response: The Love Of Christ Is Rich And Free (Indelible Grace)
May The Grace Of Christ Our Savior (words by John Newton) to the tune of Come Thou Fount
(Prayers for our City, Offering, and Doxology/Word of Praise)
Doxology
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
Hearing the Word: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 “Redeemed: The Work Of The Father, The Son, & The Holy Spirit” (sermon audio posted separately)
Celebration of Communion
Sending: Hear The Call Of The Kingdom (Getty Music)
Benediction: (Numbers 6:24-26)
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
Go in that peace!