The Lord’s Day
May 15, 2011
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.
(Psalm 33:12)
Prelude
Apostolic Greeting
*Call to Worship Psalm 103:1–5
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymn Praise to the Lord, the Almighty No. 53
Public Confession
We offer to You our praise, O Lord. We praise You because of Your greatness and holiness. We praise You because You have redeemed us in Christ Jesus, and we are Your saints. Forgive our many sins, we pray. Cause us to love truth and righteousness. Work in us that which is pleasing to You.
Words of Assurance Psalm 32:1, 2
How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Response I Know That My Redeemer Lives (facing page)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
*Doxology No. 731
*Declaring Our Faith2 Heidelberg Catechism
What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?
It is to receive from God the remission of sins, for the sake of Christ’s blood, which He shed for us by His sacrifice on the cross.
Where has Christ promised us that He will wash us by His blood and Spirit, as we are washed with the water of baptism?
He promised in the Great Commission: “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” This promise is repeated where the Scripture calls baptism the “washing of regeneration.”
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Psalm 92:1–9
It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night,
With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, with resounding music upon the lyre.
For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.
How great are Your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep.
A senseless man has no knowledge, nor does a stupid man understand this: that when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
But You, O Lord, are on high forever.
For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord, for, behold, Your enemies will perish;
All who do iniquity will be scattered.
*Hymn How Good It Is to Thank the Lord No. 635
*Public Reading of the Word Acts 19:21–20:6
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon Conclusion of Nehemiah Nehemiah 13
Hymn How Blest Is He Whose Trespass No. 551
Sacrament of Baptism Leon, Robin, and Bradley Bloomer
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
*Hymn Christ, of All My Hopes the Ground No. 518
*Benediction
*Threefold Amen No. 740
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin
2 These questions and responses are based on the Heidelberg Catechism.