THE LORD'S DAY

August 5, 2001 - 10:30 A.M.

Worship Theme: The God of Comfort

PRELUDE

ACTIVITIES & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

PREPARING IN STILLNESS

WELCOMING THE ASSEMBLY

PASTOR: The Lord be with you!
PEOPLE: And also with you!

DRAWING NEAR TO WORSHIP

Our God, Our Help in Ages Past - Hymn 30
(stanzas 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 with 'Amen')

CONFESSING OUR SINS

ALL: Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess before you our sinful nature-prone to evil and slothful in good-and all our shortcomings and offenses against You. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from Your ways, in wasting Your gifts, in forgetting Your love.

O Lord, have mercy on us, who are ashamed and sorry for all wherein we have displeased You. Teach us to hate our errors, cleanse us from our secret faults, and forgive our sins for the sake of Your dear Son. And O most holy and loving Father, send Your purifying grace into our hearts, we beseech You, that we may henceforth live in Your light and walk in Your ways, according to the commandments of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

PASTOR: Hear the promises of God to those who truly repent of their sins and trust in Christ: The Lord does not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; He does not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Now, lift up your hearts!

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord!

CALL TO WORSHIP

PASTOR: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

PEOPLE: He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

PASTOR: For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

ALL: He has provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever-holy and awesome is his name.

PRAISING OUR LORD

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty - Hymn 53
(stanzas 1, 2, 3, 5)

THANKING GOD FOR HIS PRESENCE

PASTOR: We give thanks to you, Lord, for you are good.

ALL: Your love endures forever. Amen.

PRAYING TOGETHER FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

PASTOR: Lord, in your mercy:
ALL: Hear our prayer.

WORSHIPPING BY GIVING

• Westminster Confession of Faith, XXVI

• Life Change - Please bring your LIFEChange Offering to the front after the offering plate has passed your row.
• Prayer - The pastor and another church elder will be available in the front to pray personally with anyone during the offertory.

PRAISING OUR GOD

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.

DEDICATING OUR LIVES & GIFTS

LEADER: Yours, O Lord, are grandeur and power, majesty, splendor, and glory.

ALL: All in the heavens and on the earth is yours, and of your own we give you. Amen.

HEARING SCRIPTURE - Isaiah 40:1-11

READER: This is the Word of the Lord.
CONGREGATION: Thanks be to God!

GREETING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE

• Children ages 4-5 dismissed to Children's Church in Rooms M1 & M3.

PREPARING TO HEAR GOD'S WORD

King of Heaven

King of heaven, Lord of me, I don't understand this mystery.
I can't comprehend how You can be King of heaven and Lord of me.

The hand that made the moon and stars is the hand that reaches down to me.
The Holy One for the lowly comes and lays aside His majesty.
The eyes that always watch the world are the eyes that see inside of me.
How great a love that You are mindful of and Father to the least of these.

Repeat Chorus

The One that could have worn the crown wore the thorns upon His head.
The Prince has come as a pauper's son; the First became the Last instead.
His shoulders should have worn robes and yet, He chose the sinner's cross.
The great I AM became the Lamb and gave Himself to save the lost.

King of heaven, Lord of me, I don't understand this mystery.
I can't comprehend how You can be King of heaven and Lord of me,
King of Heaven and Lord of me.

Paul Fields, Matt Huesmann, & Grant Cunningham *1998 River Oaks Music (BMI) Matt Huesmann (ASCAP). Used by permission. CCLI #89178

Think About His Love

Think about His love, think about his goodness,
Think about His grace that's brought us through.
For as high as the heavens above, so great is the measure of our Father's love;
Great is the measure of our Father's love.

How could I forget his love? How could I forget His mercy?
He satisfies, He satisfies, He satisfies my desires.
Great is the measure of our Father's love.

Walt Harrah © 1987 Integrity's Hosanna! Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

As the Deer

As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee.
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship Thee.

You alone are my strength, my shield; to You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship Thee.

You're my friend and You are my brother, even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other, so much more than anything.

Repeat Chorus

I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye.

Repeat Chorus

Martin Nystrom * 1984 and this arr. * 1986 Maranatha! Music. Used by permission. CCLI #89178

APPLYING GOD'S WORD

Destination Rome - Acts 23:1-13
(Text and Outline will be included on Sunday)

RESPONDING IN SONG

Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus - Hymn 571

RECEIVING GOD'S BLESSING

POSTLUDE