The Lord’s Day

October 28, 2007

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,

but he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.

(Psalm 32.10)

  Prelude

  Apostolic Greeting

*Call to Worship                                                   Psalm 106:1-3

Minister: Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

Congregation: For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Minister: Who can speak of the mighty deeds of the Lord, or can show forth all His praise?

Congregation: How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times!

*Gloria Patri                                                                       No. 734

*Prayer of Invocation

*Hymn            Mighty God, While Angels Bless You         No. 8

  Public Confession

All: O God, because we know of the sacrifice made on our behalf, we confidently ask for Your forgiveness of our sins. Forgive our transgressions of thought, speech, and conduct. Grant to us a spirit of repentance so that we might have our joy restored.

We wait on You, heavenly Father, the One who cares for us. And we honor You, O Christ, for giving Yourself in our place.

Children: As Your covenant children, heavenly Father, we ask that You would help us walk before You in holiness all our days. Cause us to flee from sin. And please forgive all our transgressions.

  Words of Assurance                              2 Corinthians 5:17-19

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

  Response                         Lead Me, Lord              (inside front)

  Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

  Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

*Doxology                                                                          No. 731

*Declaring Our Faith The Larger Catechism (67, 68)

What is effectual calling?

Effectual calling is the work of God’s almighty power and grace, whereby (out of His free and special love to His elect, and from nothing in them moving Him thereunto) He does, in His accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus Christ, by His Word and Spirit; savingly enlightening their minds, renewing and powerfully determining their wills, so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby made willing and able freely to answer His call, and to accept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein.

Are the elect only effectually called?

All the elect, and they only, are effectually called; although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by the ministry of the Word, and have some common operations of the Spirit; who, for their willful neglect and contempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their unbelief, do never truly come to Jesus Christ.

  Pastoral Prayer

*Responsive Reading                                    Proverbs 15:21-33

Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,

But a man of understanding walks straight.

Without consultation, plans are frustrated,

But with many counselors they succeed.

A man has joy in an apt answer,

And how delightful is a timely word!

The path of life leads upward for the wise

That he may keep away from Sheol below.

The Lord will tear down the house of the proud,

But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

But pleasant words are pure.

He who profits illicitly troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

The Lord is far from the wicked,

But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Bright eyes gladden the heart and good news puts fat on the bones.

He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.

He who neglects discipline despises himself,

But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom,

And before honor comes humility.

*Hymn                 Crown Him with Many Crowns          No. 295

*Public Reading of the Word                             2 Corinthians 7

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

  Sermon                                                                                          

  Hymn                           Be Thou My Vision                    No. 642

  Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper⁺

*Hymn                                  Hallelujah!                          (page 4)

*Benediction

*Hymn                    O God beyond All Praising              No. 660

* Congregation will please stand

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