The Lord’s Day

February 15, 2009

 

The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and kind in all His deeds.

(Psalm 145:17)

 

 

 

Prelude

 

Apostolic Greeting

 

*Call to Worship Psalm 66:16–20

Come and hear, all who fear God,

And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.

I cried to Him with my mouth,

And He was extolled with my tongue.

If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear;

But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer,

Nor His lovingkindness from me.

 

*Gloria Patri        No. 734

 

*Prayer of Invocation

 

*Hymns   Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise No. 38

   Praise to the Lord, the Almighty No. 53

 

Public Confession

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we acknowledge You as the only true God, as the God who is infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection. We confess that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed. Have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in righteousness, and bring us to everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Words of Assurance           Colossians 3:1–4

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

 

Response   Searcher of Hearts   (facing page)

 

Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

 

*Doxology           No. 731

 

*Declaring Our Faith[†]      The Authority of Scripture

What is the chief purpose of those books judged canonical?

We receive all these books and these only as holy and canonical, for the regulating, founding, and establishing of our faith.

Why do we believe these books to be the Word of God?

We believe without a doubt all things contained in them—not so much because the Church receives and approves them as such but above all because the Holy Spirit testifies in our hearts that they are from God, and also because they prove themselves to be from God.

 

Pastoral Prayer

 

*Responsive Reading  Psalm 28

To Thee, O Lord, I call;

My rock, do not be deaf to me, lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 

Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help,

When I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary. 

Do not drag me away with the wicked

And with those who work iniquity; who speak peace with their neighbors, while evil is in their hearts. 

Requite them according to their work and according to the evil of their practices;

Requite them according to the deeds of their hands; repay them their recompense.

Because they do not regard the works of the Lord nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up.

Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. 

The Lord is their strength,

And He is a saving defense to His anointed. 

Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance;

Be their shepherd also, and carry them forever.

 

*Hymn   Join All the Glorious Names   No. 301

 

 

 

 

 

*Public Reading of the Word  1 Peter 3

 

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

 

Sermon   Marks of Practical Christianity   James 1:19–27

 

  Hymn   We Have Not Known Thee As We Ought   No. 493

 

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+

 

*Hymn   May the Mind of Christ My Savior   No. 644

 

*Benediction

 

*Threefold Amen       No. 740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Congregation will please stand

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

 



[†] Based on The Belgic Confession (edited for use in the worship bulletin)