THE LORD'S DAY

December 29, 2002 - 10:30 A.M.

Worship Theme: God My Savior

PRELUDE

ACTIVITIES & CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

PREPARING IN STILLNESS

INTROIT

I will arise and go to Jesus, he will embrace me with his arms
In the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms
Come thou fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise

CALL TO WORSHIP

PASTOR: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

PEOPLE: Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

PASTOR: The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

PEOPLE: Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.

PASTOR: The Lord be with you!

PEOPLE: And also with you!

PRAISING THE LORD

PUBLIC CONFESSION OF SIN

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.

SILENT CONFESSION OF SIN

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

LEADER: Hear the promises of God to those who truly repent of their sins and trust in Christ: If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 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

Too wonderful for comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard.
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom? Who can fathom the depth of Your love?
You are beautiful beyond description, Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You; I stand, I stand in awe of You;
Holy God, to whom all praise is due, I stand in awe of You.

Mark Altrogge © 1987 People of Destiny International/Pleasant Hills 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.

CONFESSION OF FAITH

LEADER: What is your only comfort in life and death?

PEOPLE: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.

PRAYING TOGETHER FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

WORSHIPPING BY GIVING

• Offertory - What Wondrous Love Is This
Text on page 261 of the hymnal

PRAISING OUR GOD

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

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 - Romans 8: 28-39

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

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

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

APPLYING GOD'S WORD

“Who Me, Afraid?” - Psalm 27

RESPONDING IN SONG

It Is Well With My Soul

BENEDICTION

PASTOR: He called you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

ALL: Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen.

POSTLUDE