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worship as communal exchange
called to come in
God comes near and calls his people out of the world, and takes hold of us and brings us into the community of Himself.
SONG Praise to the Lord the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of creation
O my soul, praise Him for He is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear now to His temple draw near
Praise Him in glad adoration
Praise to the Lord! Who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings yea, so gently sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how all your longings have been
Granted in what He ordaineth
Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
If with His love He befriend thee
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him
Let the Amen sound from His people again
Gladly for aye we adore Him
we hear | from Psalm 57 and 46
(leader)Be merciful to us, O God, be merciful to us, for in you our souls take refuge.
(all)I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(all)Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
(leader)Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
(all)The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
we respond | SONG All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Let Angels prostrate fall
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race
Ye ransomed from the fall
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all
Let every kindred, every tribe
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all
O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all
confessing our sin
God the Spirit reminds us that God the Father has saved us through the righteous life and sacrificial death of Christ the Son – and in faith we rest on his gracious interest to renew us yet again.
we contemplate and confess | from the Heidelberg Catechism and Romans 7
Q1:What is your only comfort in life and in death?
A: That I, body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins.
Q2: How many things are necessary for you to know, that you, enjoying this comfort, may live and die happily?
A: Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out… So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand…Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
we rest | SONG Blessed is the One
Blessed is the one whose sins are overcome
Whom God has sheltered deep within His grace
Blessed is the one who trusts in God the Son
His steadfast love the sinner’s hiding place
Jesus,Your blood covers all my sin
Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing
What a Savior, Jesus
I will always hide at my Savior’s side
I find my refuge in His sovereign care
When the waters rise God will hear my cries
His steadfast love will hold me safely there
Jesus,Your blood covers all my sin
Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing
Jesus,Your blood covers all my sin
Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing
What a Savior, Jesus
we rest | from Psalm 32.1-2
(leader)Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!
(all)Blessed is the one against whom theLord counts no iniquity!
consecrated by Word
God declares the finished gospel of his Son, and continues his powerful, internal work of change/consecration by his Spirit.
we hear | Contagious Joy • Philippians 1:3-11
we respond | SONG Father Long Before Creation
Father long before creation
Thou hadst chosen us in love
And that love so deep, so moving
Draws us close to Christ above
Still it keeps us, still it keeps us
Firmly fixed in Christ alone
Though the world may change it’s fashion
Yet our God is e’er the same
His compassion and His cov’nant
Through all ages will remain
God’s own children, God’s own children
Must for ever praise His name.
God’s compassion is my story
Is my boasting all the day
Mercy free and never failing
Moves my will, directs my way
God so loved us, God so loved us
That His only Son He gave.
Loving Father now before Thee
We will ever praise Thy love
And our songs will sound unceasing
‘Til we reach our home above
Giving glory, giving glory
To our God and to the Lamb
Giving glory, giving glory
To our God and to the Lamb
SONG Jesus Paid it All
I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone
For nothing good have I
whereby Thy grace to claim
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat
benediction | Jude 24-25, 1 Timothy 1.17
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy…to the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.