THE LORD'S DAY

August 25, 2002 - 10:30 A.M.

Worship Theme: The Grip of God

PRELUDE

ACTIVITIES & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

PREPARING IN STILLNESS

INTROIT

If ye love me, keep my commandments
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter
That He may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.

CALL TO WORSHIP

PASTOR: The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne—if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne forever and ever.”

PEOPLE: For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here will I sit enthroned, for I have desired it — I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy.

ALL: Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool — arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy.

PASTOR: The Lord be with you!

PEOPLE: And also with you!

PRAISING THE LORD

CONFESSING OUR SINS PUBLICLY

Almighty God, you love us but we have not loved you. You call, but we have not listened. We walk away from neighbors in need, wrapped in our own concerns. We condone evil, prejudice, and greed.

God of grace, help us to admit our sin, so that as you come in mercy, we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.

CONFESSING OUR SINS PRIVATELY

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

LEADER: Hear the promises of God to those who truly repent of their sins and trust in Christ: Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now, lift up your hearts!

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord!

RESPONDING IN SONG

Wonderful, merciful Savior, precious Redeemer and Friend.
Who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men.
Oh, You rescue the souls of men.

You are the One that we praise, You are the One we adore,
You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for,
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace.
You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost the way.
Oh, we hopelessly lost the way.

Repeat Chorus

Almighty, infinite Father, faithfully loving Your own.
Here in our weakness You find us falling before Your throne.
Oh, we’re falling before Your throne.

Repeat Chorus

Dawn Rodgers & Eric Wyse © 1989 Word Music, Inc., Dayspring Music. CCLI #89178

THANKING GOD FOR HIS PRESENCE

LEADER: We give thanks to you, Lord, for you are good.
ALL: Your love endures forever. Amen.

CONFESSING OUR FAITH

LEADER: Since we have been delivered from our misery by grace alone through Christ, without any merit of our own, why must we yet do good works?

PEOPLE: Because Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, also renews us by His Holy Spirit to be His image, so that with our whole life we may show ourselves thankful to God for His benefits, and He may be praised by us. Further, that we ourselves may be assured of our faith by its fruits, and that by our godly walk of life we may win our neighbours for Christ.

PRAYING TOGETHER AS GOD'S PEOPLE

WORSHIPPING BY GIVING

• Choral Offertory
Create In Me A Clean Heart (Balthrop)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
And cast me not away from Thy Holy Presence,
And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation
And uphold me with Thy free Spirit.
Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways
And sinners shall be converted unto Thee.

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

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

HEARING SCRIPTURE - Psalm 139:1–12

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

Glory be to God the Father, glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit: Great Jehovah, Three in One,
Great Jehovah, Three in One.

Glory, glory, glory, glory, while eternal ages run.
Glory, glory, glory, glory, Great Jehovah, Three in One,
Great Jehovah, Three in One.

Glory be to Him who loved us, washed us from each spot and stain;
Glory be to Him who bought us, made us kings with Him to reign,
Made us kings with Him to reign!

Glory, glory, glory, glory, to the Lamb that once was slain.
Glory, glory, glory, glory, made us kings with Him to reign,
Made us kings with him to reign.

Glory, blessing, praise eternal! Thus the choir of angels sings,
“Honor, riches, pow’r, dominion!” Thus its praise creation brings,
Thus its praise creation brings.

Glory, glory, glory, glory, glory to the King of kings.
Glory, glory, glory, glory, thus its praise creation brings,
Thus its praise creation brings. (Repeat last chorus)

Words: Horatius Bonar; Music: Matt Huesmann © 1999 Matt Huesmann Music. Used by permission. CCLI #89178

Father in heaven, how we love You, we lift Your name in all the earth.
May Your kingdom be established in our praises,
As Your people declare Your mighty works.

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come;
Blessed be the Lord God Almighty, who reigns forevermore.

Bob Fitts © 1984 and this arr. © 1987 Scripture in Song. Admin. by Maranatha! Music. Used by permission. CCLI #89178

APPLYING GOD'S WORD

Running to Win - Philippians 3:12-14
(Text and Outline will be included on Sunday)

RESPONDING IN SONG

Take My Life And Let It Be

RECEIVING GOD'S BLESSING

PASTOR: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ!

ALL: The Lord is King forever! Hallelujah! Amen.

POSTLUDE