We Gather Together to Worship Our God
Prelude: Brother James’ Air (The Lord’s My Shepherd) James Leigh Macbeth Bain
Gathering Hymn: Majesty
Announcements:
Today:
- 9:00 Sunday School for all ages. Pre-k – 8th meet downstairs, the High School class meets in the Fireside Room, and the Adult Class meets in the Sanctuary.
- 10:30 Worship in the sanctuary.
- Following worship, Communicants’ Class meets. Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, Tonight, Young Adult Bible Study at Jay and Kayla’s (address in bulletin). Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, Tonight, “Respectable Sins” study at the church. This group begins with a potluck meal and fellowship, sing hymns together, study, and end in prayer.
- 6:00 pm, Tonight, “Respectable Sins” study at Allen and Karen’s. This is a great option for those in the Piedmont area. Dessert provided.
This Week:
- 6:20 am, Thursday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
- 8:00 am, Saturday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
General:
- September 10th—September 19th, Pastor Jeff and Carey are out of town. If you have a pastoral need, please contact an elder.
- 5:00 pm, September 15th, Fall Kick-off BBQ.
- 5:30 pm, September 18th, Kids’ Quest and Middle School Youth, for grades pre-k—8th resumes. Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, September 18th, Habits of the Household Study on Wednesday evenings during Kids’ Quest. This study helps you discover simple habits to create a home where kids and parents alike practice how to love God and each other.
- 6:15 pm, September 18th, High School Youth Group, grades 9-12th, at the Community Center resumes. Meal provided.
- Starting Thursday, September 19, at 10:00 am, and 6:30 pm, Women’s Bible Study begins. Please join us as we begin, “No Empty Word: Relentless Pursuit, A Study on Hosea.” See the newsletter for more information.
- September 22nd, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
- The Women’s Ministry team has several upcoming opportunities for you to engage in (Bible Study, Discipleship Groups, and the Fall Conference on October 11th and 12th). Please see the newsletter and/or the table in the Foyer for information and registration.
A Moment for Ministry: WRAP Team Opportunities
Responsive Call to Worship: Colossians 1: 15 – 20
Leader: Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
All: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Leader: And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
All: And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise: Hymnal #439 Christ Shall Have Dominion
We Confess Our Sin
Call to Confession:
Leader: O Lord, help us to come before you now understanding who you are and who we are. You inhabit eternity; we are but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. You dwell in the highest heaven and even this cannot contain you. We live in houses of clay. Your power is almighty. We are weak and frail. Your understanding is infinite; we know nothing as we ought to know it. You cannot behold evil; but we are wicked in thought, word, and deed.
Grant us in this moment to trust you, rather than our own hearts. Make us strong in the grace of Jesus as we confess our sins that we may know how to obtain relief from a guilty conscience. Help us not to excuse our sin but to bring it to the throne of grace to find mercy in our time of need. Hear our prayers as we silently and then corporately confess our sins to you.
Silent Confession of Sin
Corporate Prayer of Confession: Adapted from the Valley of Vision- The Broken Heart
All: Lord, I am guilty every day. My sins stack up to heaven but your goodness soars above them. My unrighteousness weighs me down to hell, but your righteousness lifts me to your throne. Everything in me calls for my rejection, but everything in you pleads for my acceptance. I appeal from the throne of perfect justice to your throne of boundless grace. Help me hear your voice assuring me: that by your stripes I am healed, that you became sin for me so I might be made righteous in you, that all my many sins are forgiven, buried in the ocean of your concealing blood. I’m guilty, but pardoned. Lost, but saved. Wandering, but found. Sinning, but cleansed. Give me a perpetually broken heart, keep me clinging to your cross, flood me every moment with grace.
Assurance of Pardon: Micah 7:18-19
Leader: Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgression? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Hymn of Assurance: Songs of Faith #16 Grace Alone
We Give Thanks To The Lord
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: He the Pearly Gates Will Open/Fred Blom
Doxology
We Hear God Speak
Small Talk
(Following this time, a nursery is available for ages 0-2, Toddlers’ Church for ages 2-4, and Children’s Church for ages 5-8.)
The Lord’s Prayer
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, The power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Prayer of God’s People
Being Reformed in An Unreformed World: Killing the Dragon of Pride Daniel 4
A copy of the sermon notes is available: 9-8-24 sermon notes
Hymn of Response: Hymnal #481 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
We Are Dismissed with God’s Blessing
Benediction
Hymn: Hymnal #115 (verse 5) All Creatures of Our God and King
Postlude