March 31, 2024

*Call to Worship | based on 1 Peter 3:1-5 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

People: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Pastor: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

People: He has given us new life and hope. He has raised Jesus from the dead.

Pastor: God has claimed us as his own. 

People: He has brought us out of darkness. He has made us light to the world.

Pastor: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

People: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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*Song of Adoration | Christ The Lord Is Risen Today

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

Christ the Lord is risen today alleluia

Sons of men and angels say alleluia

Raise your joys and triumphs high alleluia

Sing ye heavens and earth reply alleluia

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Lives again our glorious King alleluia

Where O death is now thy sting alleluia

Once he died our souls to save alleluia

Where's thy victory boasting grave alleluia

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Love's redeeming work is done alleluia

Fought the fight the battle won alleluia

Death in vain forbids Him rise alleluia

Christ hath opened paradise alleluia

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Soar we now where Christ has led alleluia

Following our exalted Head alleluia

Made like Him like Him we rise alleluia

Ours the cross the grave the skies alleluia

_{‍Music and Lyrics: Charles Wesley}

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*Confession of Faith | Nicene Creed

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

‍We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

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And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.

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And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

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*Song of Confession | Jesus Paid It All

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

I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small;

Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.”

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Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

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Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots and melt the heart of stone.

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Chorus

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And when before the throne I stand in Him complete,

"Jesus died my soul to save" my lips shall still repeat

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Chorus

_{Music and Lyrics: Elvina M. Hall}

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Confession of Sin 

^{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.}

‍O Mighty Father, the tomb calls forth my adoring wonder, for it is empty and Christ is risen! Grant me to be crucified with Christ that I may live a new life. For I wish to be dead and buried to sin, to selfishness, to the world, that I might not hear the voice of the evil one and be seduced by his lusts. Purge me from selfishness, pride, the fear of man, and the desire to be highly esteemed by others. Grant me to stand with my dying Savior, to be content to be rejected, and to be willing to suffer for His sake. Grant me more of His resurrection life. May it rule me, may I walk in its power, and be strengthened through its influence, through Jesus Christ, my resurrected and ascended Lord! Amen.

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Assurance of Pardon | Luke 24:45-48 | 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.}

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.

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*Song of Response | Grace Greater Than Our Sin

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

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled

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Grace, grace, God’s grace

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within

Grace, grace, God’s grace

Grace that is greater than all our sin

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Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold

Threaten the soul with infinite loss

Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold

Points to the refuge, the mighty cross

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Chorus

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide

What can avail to wash it away?

Look, There is flowing a crimson tide

Brighter than snow you may be today

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Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see His face

Will you this moment His grace receive

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Chorus

_{Music and Lyrics: Julia Harriette Johnston and Daniel Brink Towner}

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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.}

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Song of Thanks | Come People Of The Risen King

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

Come, people of the Risen King,

Who delight to bring Him praise;

Come all and tune your hearts to sing

To the Morning Star of grace.

From the shifting shadows of the earth

We will lift our eyes to Him,

Where steady arms of mercy reach

To gather children in.

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Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!

One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

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Come, those whose joy is morning sun,

And those weeping through the night;

Come, those who tell of battles won,

And those struggling in the fight.

For His perfect love will never change,

And His mercies never cease,

But follow us through all our days

With the certain hope of peace.

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Chorus

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Come, young and old from every land -

Men and women of the faith;

Come, those with full or empty hands -

Find the riches of His grace.

Over all the world, His people sing -

Shore to shore we hear them call

The Truth that cries through every age:

 “Our God is all in all”!

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/ Chorus /

_{Music and Lyrics: Keith Getty, Kristyn Lennox Getty, Stuart Townend}

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Prayer for Christ’s Church

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

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*Reading of Scripture | Acts 2:22-37 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

28 You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your 

presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

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36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

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Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

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The Preaching of the Word | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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“Resurrection Sunday”

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Pastoral Prayer

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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.

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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. 

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Communion Song | How Great Thou Art

^{We celebrate our communion in faith and song.}

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made.

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder

Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed

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Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee

How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

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And when I think of God, His Son not sparing

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin

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Chorus

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When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation

And lead me home, what joy shall fill my heart

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And then proclaim, My God, how great You are!

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Chorus

^{Music and Lyrics: Carl Gustav Boberg, Stuart K. Hine}

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Departing Song | Because He Lives

^{We begin to end in faith and song.}

God sent His Son they called Him Jesus

He came to love heal and forgive

He bled and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove

My Savior lives

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Because He lives I can face tomorrow

Because He lives all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living

Just because He lives

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How sweet to hold our newborn baby

And feel the pride and joy he gives

But greater still the calm assurance

This child can face uncertain days

Because Christ lives

Chorus

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And then one day I'll cross that river

I'll fight life's final war with pain

And then as death gives way to vict'ry

I'll see the lights of glory

And I'll know He reigns

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Chorus

_{Music and Lyrics: Gloria Gaither and William J. Gaither}

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*Benediction | John 11:25 | 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.}

25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Kid’s Sunday School

Resumes next week on April 7!

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Youth Sunday Bible Study

Resumes next week on April 7!

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Bible Studies

Women’s Weekly Study: Wednesday, April 3

Our weekly women’s study of the Book of Hebrews takes place at 10am on Wednesdays at the home of Marion Wade.

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Women’s Evening Study: Thursday, April 4

Monthly on the first Thursday of each month at 7pm at the home of Susan and Jeff Arnoult.

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Men’s Morning Study: Friday, April 5

Monthly on the first Friday of each month, 7am at Bean and Bottle. 9655 Katy Freeway Suite 100.

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Women’s Gathering

Tuesday, April 9, 7pm

All women are invited to join us on April 9 for our next women’s gathering at 7pm on April 9 at the home of Kim Willson. Friends are welcome!

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Youth Gathering

Sunday, April 14, 11:30am

Save the date! Our 5th-12th graders will be gathering together again directly after the worship service on April 14! More details to come!

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