The Lord’s Day

November 29, 2009

First Sunday of Advent

 

Prelude

 

  Lighting of the Advent Candle                         Genesis 3:14, 15

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; on your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life; and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise Him on the heel.”

 

Musical Offering                      Watchman, Tell Us of the Night

                                                                               (text on facing page)

 

*Call to Worship                              Psalm 44:25, 26; Isaiah 9:2

Our soul has sunk down into the dust;

Our body cleaves to the earth.

Rise up, O God, be our help,

And redeem us for the sake of Your lovingkindness.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.

Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.

 

*Gloria Patri                                                                                 No. 734

 

*Prayer of Invocation

 

*Hymn                 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus       No. 196

 

  Public Confession

O God, we make this confession in hope, knowing that our Savior has paid our debt. Forgive us for sinning with our words, actions, and mind. Forgive us for turning from one in need when You have given us so much. Teach us to walk in the way of truth and righteousness all the days of our lives.

 

Words of Assurance                                      Hebrews 10:19–23

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

 

Response                              Psalm 51E                     (following)

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings

 

Collection of the Tithe and Offerings

 

*Doxology                                                                          No. 731

 

*Declaring Our Faith[†]                 The Canons of Dordt: Article 17

What are we to believe concerning the death of an infant?

Since we must make judgments about God’s will from His Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature but by virtue of the gracious covenant in which they together with their parents are included, godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom God calls out of this life in infancy.

 

  Pastoral Prayer

 

*Responsive Reading                                                          Psalm 6

Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger,

Nor discipline me in Your wrath.

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;

Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

My soul also is greatly troubled.

But You, O Lord—how long?

Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;

Save me for the sake of Your steadfast love.

For in death there is no remembrance of You;

In Sheol who will give You praise?

I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears;

I drench my couch with my weeping.

My eye wastes away because of grief;

It grows weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil,

For the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.

The Lord has heard my plea;

The Lord accepts my prayer.

All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;

They shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

 

*Hymn                     Hail to the Lord’s Anointed             No. 311

 

 

 

 

*Public Reading of the Word           The Gospel of John 8:12–30

 

*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word

 

Sermon                          Naboth’s Vineyard                 1 Kings 21

 

Hymn                           Thou Who Wast Rich                    No. 230

 

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+

 

*Hymn                 Fountain of Never-Ceasing Grace          No. 519

 

*Benediction

 

*Threefold Amen                                                                 No. 740

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Congregation will please stand

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



[†] Based on The Canons of Dordt (edited for use in the worship bulletin)