The Lord’s Day

September 30, 2007

  Prelude

  Apostolic Greeting

*Call to Worship                                                     Psalm 98:1-4

Minister: O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things,

Congregation: His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.

Minister: The Lord has made known His salvation;

Congregation: He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.

Minister: He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;

Congregation: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Minister: Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;

Congregation: Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.

*Gloria Patri                                                                         No. 734

*Prayer of Invocation

*Hymns             New Songs of Celebration Render          No. 14

Psalm 100B                 (facing page)

  Public Confession

All: We sing Your praises, O God, and we give thanks for Your perfection. We confess our sins and give thanks for Your mercy. Forgive all our transgressions. Lead us in paths of righteousness always.

Forgive the sins of our minds and speech. Fill our hearts with purity and our mouths with praise. Forgive our sins of complacency. Make us people of overflowing compassion.

Children: You are always good and kind, heavenly Father. And we thank You for watching over us. Please forgive our sins and teach us to love Your Word and Your ways all our lives.

Words of Assurance                                              Psalm 5:11, 12

Let all who take refuge in You be glad, let them ever sing for joy; and may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.

 Response               My Faith Looks Up to Thee        (last page)

  Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

  Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

*Doxology                                                                          No. 731

*Declaring Our Faith The Larger Catechism (57-59)

What benefits has Christ procured by His mediation?

Christ, by His mediation, has procured redemption, with all other benefits of the covenant of grace.

How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits which Christ has procured?

We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ has procured by the application of them unto us, which is the work especially of God the Holy Ghost.

Who are made partakers of redemption through Christ?

Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually communicated, to all those for whom Christ has purchased it; who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in Christ according to the gospel.

  Pastoral Prayer

*Responsive Reading                                    Proverbs 14:22-35

Will they not go astray who devise evil?

But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good. 

In all labor there is profit,

But mere talk leads only to poverty. 

The crown of the wise is their riches,

But the folly of fools is foolishness. 

A truthful witness saves lives,

But he who utters lies is treacherous. 

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,

And his children will have refuge. 

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

That one may avoid the snares of death. 

In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,

But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin. 

He who is slow to anger has great understanding,

But he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. 

A tranquil heart is life to the body,

But passion is rottenness to the bones. 

He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker,

But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. 

The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,

But the righteous has a refuge when he dies. 

Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,

But in the hearts of fools it is made known. 

Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a disgrace to any people. 

The king’s favor is toward a servant who acts wisely,

But his anger is toward him who acts shamefully.

*Hymn                  How Vast the Benefits Divine            No. 470

*Public Reading of the Word                             2 Corinthians 3

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

  Sermon                                                          Matthew 11:16-24

  Hymn              Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners!        No. 498

  Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper⁺

  Offering for the Ministry of the Deacons

*Hymn               I Know That My Redeemer Lives         No. 281

*Benediction

*Threefold Amen                                                               No. 740

* Congregation will please stand

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