The Lord’s Day

May 11, 2008

How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts.

We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

(Psalm 65:4)

  Prelude

  Apostolic Greeting

*Call to Worship                                                   Psalm 46:8-11

Come, behold the works of the Lord,

Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariots with fire.

“Cease striving and know that I am God”;

“I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

*Gloria Patri                                                                      No. 734

*Prayer of Invocation

*Hymn                        God the Lord Is King                   No. 47

  Public Confession

We thank You, O God, for Your faithfulness. We thank You for Your unfailing Word. Please forgive our angry words, heavenly Father. Make us people who speak with self-control and wisdom. Forgive our wicked thoughts. Make us people who dwell on that which is good and pure.

Forgive our lack of compassion for those in need. Make us people with open hearts and helping hands. Forgive our neglect of duty in our homes and relationships. Make us people of dedication, and give us the grace to persevere.

  Words of Assurance                                            John 10:27, 28

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

  Response           Praise Jehovah, All Ye Nations (inside front)

  Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

  Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

*Doxology                                                                          No. 731

*Declaring Our Faith           The Larger Catechism (172, 173)

May one who doubts of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation, come to the Lord’s Supper?

One who doubts of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God’s account has it, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, and sincerely desires to be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity.

May any who profess the faith, and desire to come to the Lord’s Supper, be kept from it?

Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous, notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire to come to the Lord’s Supper, may and ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power which Christ has left in His church, until they receive instruction, and manifest their reformation.

  Pastoral Prayer

*Responsive Reading Proverbs 24:19-34

Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked;

For there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. 

My son, fear the Lord and the king;

Do not associate with those who are given to change, for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin that comes from both of them?

These also are sayings of the wise, to show partiality in judgment is not good. 

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, nations will abhor him;

But to those who rebuke the wicked will be delight,

And a good blessing will come upon them. He kisses the lips who gives a right answer.

Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field;

Afterwards, then, build your house.

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,

And do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say, “Thus I shall do to him as he has done to me”;

“I will render to the man according to his work.”

I passed by the field of the sluggard and by the vineyard of the man lacking sense,

And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

When I saw, I reflected upon it; I looked, and received instruction.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,”

Then your poverty will come as a robber

And your want like an armed man.

*Hymn               Lord, We Bow Before Your Glory       (page 4)

*Public Reading of the Word                                  Colossians 3

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

  Sermon                                                                                          

  Hymn                            Thou Art the Way                     No. 154

  Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper⁺

*Hymn                      Rejoice, the Lord Is King               No. 309

*Benediction

*Threefold Amen                                                               No. 740

* Congregation will please stand

⁺ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin