March 16, 2025

Order Of Worship

March 16, 2025

‍

*Call to Worship | Romans 10:20 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

God invites and calls us into his presence to worship him.

‍

²⁰ Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

   “I have been found by those who did not seek me;

       I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”

‍

*Song of Adoration | For All The Saints

We begin by responding with praise to God for who he is and for what he does.

‍

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,

To Thee by faith before the world confessed,

Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.

Alleluia, Allelu…

Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;

Thou, Lord, their captain in the well fought fight;

Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.

Alleluia, Allelu…

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,

Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,

And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.

Alleluia, Allelu…

But lo! There breaks a yet more glorious day;

The saints triumphant rise in bright array;

The King of glory passes on his way,

Alleluia, Allelu...

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,

Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Alleluia, Alleluia!

‍

Music and Lyrics: William How, Christopher Miner

‍

*Confession of Faith | Luke 18:9-14

With the church in history we confess a basic statement of what Christians believe.

‍

Leader: Jesus tells a parable in Luke 18: “⁹ to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:”

‍

Congregation: “¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

‍

*Song of Confession | In Christ Alone

Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are simply prayers that are sung. We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.

‍

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone, this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease!

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

‍

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This Gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

‍

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine –

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

‍

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

‍

Music and Lyrics: Keith Getty, Stuart Townend

‍

Confession of Sin | Agnus Dei

We fight the temptation to hide our sin and instead acknowledge it openly to God, but we do so in light of the grace offered in Jesus.

‍

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

‍

Assurance of Pardon | Ephesians 2:5  | Rev. Blake Arnoult

The good news of the gospel is that we are forgiven in Jesus Christ. This assurance is based on God’s words of promise and it is therefore certain.

‍

⁵ …by grace you have been saved…

‍

*Song of Response | Jesus, Lover Of My Soul

We respond in repentance and praise for God’s redemptive work in Christ.

‍

Jesus, lover of my soul,

Let me to Thy bosom fly,

While the nearer waters roll,

While the tempest still is high.

Hide me, O my Savior, hide,

’Til life’s storm is past;

Safe into the haven guide;

Receive my soul at last.

‍

Other refuge have I none,

I helpless, hang on Thee;

Leave, oh leave me not alone,

Support and comfort me.

All my trust on Thee is stayed,

All help from Thee I bring;

Cover my defenseless head

In the shadow of Thy wing.

‍

Thou, O Christ, are all I want,

Here more than all I find;

Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,

Heal the sick, and lead the blind.

Just and holy is Thy Name,

I am all unrighteousness;

False and full of sin I am;

Thou art full of truth and grace.

‍

Plenteous grace with Thee is found,

Grace to cover all my sin;

Let the healing streams abound;

Make and keep me pure within.

Thou of life the fountain art,

Let me take of Thee;

Spring Thou up within my heart;

For all eternity.

‍

Music and Lyrics: Charles Wesley

‍

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We offer our gratitude to God in prayer in response to his gifts and blessings to his people and ask that he make us faithful managers of these gifts.

‍

Song of Thanks | Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me

As we offer our prayers so we also offer up our thanks in song.

‍

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer,

There is no more for heaven now to give

He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom

My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

‍

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

For my life is wholly bound to his

Oh how strange and divine,

I can sing: all is mine!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

‍

The night is dark, but I am not forsaken

For by my side, the Saviour He will stay

I labor on in weakness and rejoicing

For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me

Through the deepest valley He will lead

Oh the night has been won,

And I shall overcome!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

‍

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven

The future sure, the price it has been paid

For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon

And He was raised to overthrow the grave

‍

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated

Jesus now and ever is my plea

Oh the chains are released,

I can sing: I am free!

Yet not I, but through Christ in me

‍

With every breath, I long to follow Jesus

For He has said that He will bring me home

And day by day I know He will renew me

Until I stand with joy before the throne

‍

/ To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus

All the glory evermore to Him

When the race is complete,

Still my lips shall repeat:

Yet not I, but through Christ in me! /

‍

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:

// Yet not I, but through Christ in me! //

‍

Music and Lyrics: D. Herbert, Brian T. Murphy, and Clint Wells

‍

Prayer for Christ’s Church

We lift up our requests to God knowing that he hears us when we pray.

‍

*Reading of Scripture | Ephesians 2:1-10  | Rev. Blake Arnoult

God reveals himself and his work and speaks to us his people through his Word.

‍

¹ And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

‍

Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

‍

The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult

‍

“Salvation By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone - Part 2”

Ephesians: The Gospel of the Church

‍

Pastoral Prayer

‍

Sacrament of Communion

Sacraments are visible signs of the invisible grace of God - what Christ does by his Holy Spirit within us. Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist), as the distribution of the elements of bread and wine, symbolizes a meal. Communion is a sign of fellowship. That sign signifies more than just the future heavenly fellowship that is to come. The outward sign signifies the inner reality that sinners already experience fellowship with God in the Spirit because of Jesus. Communion is not a meal for good people. It functions as a renewing seal to desperate sinners of that fellowship we have with our holy and gracious God.

‍

You will be invited to come forward. If you are not a Christian we encourage you to spend this time in reflection on what you’ve seen and heard in the worship. Children who have not received their first communion are welcome and encouraged to come forward with their families to witness their partaking. We invite children who are ready to make a public profession of faith in Christ to arrange a meeting with the elders, and thus become “communicants” at the Lord’s Table.

‍

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts!

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Words of Institution

‍

Pastor: Let us proclaim the mystery of the faith:

People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Hallelujah!

Pastor: Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. Hallelujah!

People: Therefore, let us keep the feast.

Pastor: The gifts of God for the people of God.

‍

Please let an usher know if it is difficult for you to come forward. We would be happy to serve you at your seat. All communion bread is gluten-free. All communion wine is made from  grape juice.

‍

A communion prayer for those searching for the truth:

Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth and the life. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open to me the reality of who you are. Give me the ability to follow you no matter what it might cost me. Give me an understanding for you that is coherent, convincing, and leads to the life that you promise. Amen.

‍

Communion Song | Afflicted Saint To Christ Draw Near

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

‍

Afflicted saint, to Christ draw near,

Your Savior’s gracious promise hear;

His faithful Word you can believe:

That as your days your strength shall be.

Your faith is weak, your foes are strong,

And if the conflict should be long,

The Lord will make the tempter flee

That as your days your strength shall be.

So, sing with joy, afflicted one;

The battle’s fierce, but the victory’s won!

God shall supply all that you need;

Yes, as your days your strength shall be.

Should persecution rage and flame,

Still trust in your Redeemer’s name.

In fiery trials you shall see

That as your days your strength shall be.

Chorus

When called to bear your weighty cross

Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,

Or deep distress or poverty,

Still as your days your strength shall be.

‍

Chorus

‍

Music and Lyrics: Constance Dever

Departing Song | On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand

We begin to end in faith and song.

‍

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,

And cast a wishful eye,

To Canaan’s fair and happy land,

Where my possessions lie.

‍

I am bound (I am bound),

I am bound (I am bound),

I am bound for the promised land.

‍

All o’er those wide extended plains,

Shines one eternal day;

There God the Son forever reigns,

And scatters night away.

‍

Chorus

‍

No chilling winds nor poisonous breath

Can reach that healthful shore;

Sickness, sorrow, pain and death,

Are felt and feared no more.

‍

Chorus

‍

When shall I reach that happy place,

And be forever blessed?

When shall I see my Father’s face,

And in His bosom rest?

‍

//Chorus//

‍

Music and Lyrics: Christopher Miner, Samuel Stennett

‍

*Benediction | Philippians 4:23 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

God sends us out with his blessing. A benediction is not a prayer. We don’t bow our heads. We lift them up and even lift up our hands to receive his blessing as we are sent out as participants in his mission to the city of man.

‍

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

‍