THE LORD'S DAY

October 27, 2002 - 10:30 A.M.

Worship Theme: The Providence of God

PRELUDE

ACTIVITIES & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

PREPARING IN STILLNESS

INTROIT

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy 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.

CALL TO WORSHIP

LEADER: I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from?

PEOPLE: My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

LEADER: He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;.

PEOPLE: Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

ALL: The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

PASTOR: The Lord be with you!

PEOPLE: And also with you!

PRAISING THE LORD

CONFESSING OUR SINS PUBLICLY

ALL: Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: Cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son. 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: The LORD says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Now, lift up your hearts!

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord!

RESPONDING IN SONG

So long have I wandered in darkness; in the shadows of grief and despair.
But the Lord in His mercy reminds me of the hope that He’s bringing to bear.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all of the days of my life.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all of the days,
All the days of my life.

His mercies are new ev’ry morning; His compassion and love never end.
His faithfulness reaches to the heavens and His blood sets me free from my sin.

Repeat Chorus

The Lord is my constant companion; by His Spirit, He makes Himself known.
He has placed His anointing upon me as a seal to declare me His own.

Repeat Chorus

Ensemble only: And evermore shall my heart overflow with His lovingkindness
And I shall dwell in my Savior’s house forever, and forever.

Everyone: Repeat Chorus<

Ingrid DuMosch & Calvin Bottoms © 1999 Matt Huesmann Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

O the blood of the Passover Lamb is applied to the door of my life,
No power of darkness could ever withstand the force of the blood sacrifice.
Though Satan will bring accusations, I let him know right where I stand,
For now there is no condemnation, I’m under the blood of the Lamb!

I’m under the blood of the Lamb that covers the guilt of my sin,
By the mercy of God, holy and righteous I stand;
I’m under the blood of the Lamb,
I’m safe and secure from the enemy’s plan,
No weapon formed against me can stand, I’m under the blood of the Lamb.

Martin J. Nystrom & Rhona Scelsi © 1991 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Used by permission. 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: What do you understand by the providence of God?

PEOPLE: God's providence is His almighty and ever present power, whereby, as with His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures, and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things, come not by chance but by His fatherly hand.

LEADER: What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by His providence?

PEOPLE: We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from His love; for all creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will they cannot so much as move.

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Charles Ashley Burck, covenant son of Michael & Julie Burck
Robert Watson Miller, covenant son of Jason & Jessica Miller

PRAYING TOGETHER FOR THE FAMILIES (baptismal prayer)

WORSHIPPING BY GIVING

• Choral Offertory - My Jesus, I Love Thee (Sjolund)

My Jesus, I love thee, I know Thou art mine; for thee all the follies of sin I resign
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus ’tis now

I love thee because thou hast first loved me, and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus ’tis now

In mansions of glory and endless delight I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus ’tis now

PRAISING OUR GOD

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 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 147: 1–20

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

I will offer up my life in spirit and truth,
Pouring out the oil of love as my worship to you.
In surrender I must give my ev'ry part,
Lord, receive the sacrifice of a broken heart.

Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring
To so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?
Savior, what can be said, what can be sung
As a praise of your name for the things you have done
Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part
Of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart.

You deserve my ev'ry breath, for you've paid the great cost,
Giving up your life to death, even death on a cross.
You took all my shame away, there defeated my sin,
Opened up the gates of heav'n and have beckoned me in.

Repeat Chorus

Matt Redman © 1994 Kingsway's Thankyou Music. Used by Permission. CCLI #89178

APPLYING GOD'S WORD

Giving and Receiving - Philippians 4:14-23

RESPONDING IN SONG

’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

RECEIVING GOD'S BLESSING

PASTOR: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!

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

POSTLUDE