The Lord’s Day

June 19, 2011

 

Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; save me because of Your lovingkindness.

(Psalm 6:4)

 

  Prelude

 

  Apostolic Greeting

 

*Call to Worship     Psalm 140:12, 13

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted

And justice for the poor.

Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;

The upright will dwell in Your presence.

 

*Gloria Patri     No. 734

 

*Prayer of Invocation

 

*Hymn Give to Our God Immortal Praise No. 3

 

  Public Confession

Heavenly Father, please have mercy on us and forgive our transgressions. Forgive our sinful words and attitudes; forgive our selfishness and ill-treatment of others. Forgive us for the sins we have committed against those in our own homes. And please teach us to forgive as we have been forgiven—all for the honor of our blessed Savior.

 

  Words of Assurance Psalm 5:4–7

You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; no evil dwells with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroy those who speak falsehood; the Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit. But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, at Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.

 

  Response O for a Closer Walk with God (facing page)

 

  Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

 

  Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

 

*Doxology No. 731

 

*Declaring Our Faith[†]   Fisher’s Catechism

Our Catechism states that there are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Why has this article of our holy religion been so much opposed by adversaries in every period of the church?

The devil and his instruments have opposed it because they know it is the primary object of our faith and worship; it not being enough for us to know what God is, as to His essential attributes, without knowing who He is, as to His personality, according as He has revealed Himself in His Word, to be Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

What is the meaning of the word Trinity, which is commonly used in expressing this doctrine?

It signifies the same with Tri-unity, or three in one; that is, three distinct persons, in one and the same individual or numerical essence.

 

  Pastoral Prayer

 

*Responsive Reading     Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day;

Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.

For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.”

“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.”

“With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.”

 

*Hymn This Is My Father’s World No. 111

 

*Public Reading of the Word   Acts 23:12–35

 

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

 

  Sermon    

 

  Hymn The Church’s One Foundation No. 347

 

  Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+

 

*Hymn Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation No. 342

 

*Benediction

 

*Threefold Amen   No. 740

 

* Congregation will please stand

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



[†] These questions and responses are based on Fisher’s Catechism, written by James Fisher in 1753.