April 13, 2025

Order Of Worship

April 13, 2025

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*Call to Worship | Psalm 34:3 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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Minister: Oh, magnify the LORD with me,

People: Let us exalt his name together!

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*Song of Adoration | Come People of the Risen King

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

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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.

Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!

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

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.

           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”!

/ Chorus /

Music and Lyrics: Keith Getty, Kristyn Lennox Getty, Stuart Townend

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*Confession of Faith | 1 Peter 4:8-11

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

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⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

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*Song of Confession | My Worth is Not in What I Own

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

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My worth is not in what I own

Not in the strength of flesh and bone

But in the costly wounds of love – At the cross.

My worth is not in skill or name

In win or lose, in pride or shame

But in the blood of Christ that flowed – At the cross.

I rejoice in my Redeemer

Greatest Treasure,

Wellspring of my soul

I will trust in Him, no other.

My soul is satisfied in Him alone.

As summer flowers we fade and die

Fame, youth and beauty hurry by

But life eternal calls to us – At the cross

I will not boast in wealth or might

Or human wisdom's fleeting light

But I will boast in knowing Christ – At the cross

Chorus

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Two wonders here that I confess

My worth and my unworthiness

My value fixed; my ransom paid – At the cross.

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Chorus

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Music and Lyrics: Keith & Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick

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Confession of Sin | Kyrie Eleison

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.

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Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

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Assurance of Pardon | John 3:16  | 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.

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For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

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*Song of Response | He Will Hold Me Fast

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

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When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast.

When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fast.

I could never keep my hold through life’s fearful path;

For my love is often cold, He must hold me fast.

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He will hold me fast; He will hold me fast!

For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast!

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Those He saves are His delight; Christ will hold me fast.

Precious in His holy sight; He will hold me fast.

He’ll not let my soul be lost, His promises shall last;

Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast.

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Chorus

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For my life He bled and died; Christ will hold me fast.

Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.

Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast;

‘Till our faith is turned to sight, when He comes at last!

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/Chorus/

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He began a work in us…

He’ll complete His work in us…

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He will hold us fast; He will hold us fast!

For our Savior loves us so, He will hold us fast!

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Music and Lyrics: Ada Habershon; Matt Merker

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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 | Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)

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

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You hear me when I call, you are my morning song

Though darkness fills the night it cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear

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You crush the enemy underneath my feet

You are my sword and shield though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear

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I know Who goes before me. I know Who stands behind

The God of angel armies is always by my side

The One who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine

The God of angel armies is always by my side

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My strength is in Your name. For You alone can save

You will deliver me. Yours is the victory

/ Whom shall I fear /

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Chorus

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/ And nothing formed against me shall stand

You hold the whole world in Your hands

I'm holding on to Your promises

You are faithful

You are faithful /

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Chorus

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Music and Lyrics: Scott Cash, Ed Cash, Chris Tomlin

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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 | Ephesians 4:1-16  | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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¹  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. ⁷ But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

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“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

   and he gave gifts to men.”

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⁹ (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹ And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, ¹² to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

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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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“Christ Equips His Church”

Ephesians: The Gospel of the Church

The Ordination and Installation of Officers

Ruling Elders to be Ordained and Installed: Chris Castaneda, Drew Willson

Deacons to be Ordained and Installed: Rivan Bennevendo, John Donovan, Nick Erwin

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Questions to the Candidates | RE Hugh Byrd

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as originally given, to be the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice?

2. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of this Church, as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures; and do you further promise that if at any time you find yourself out of accord with any of the fundamentals of this system of doctrine, you will, on your own initiative, make known to your Session the change which has taken place in your views since the assumption of this ordination vow?

3. Do you approve of the form of government and discipline of the Presbyterian Church in America, in conformity with the general principles of biblical polity?

4. Do you accept the office of ruling elder (or deacon, as the case may be) in this church, and promise faithfully to perform all the duties thereof, and to endeavor by the grace of God to adorn the profession of the Gospel in your life, and to set a worthy example before the Church of which God has made you an officer?

5. Do you promise subjection to your brethren in the Lord?

6. Do you promise to strive for the purity, peace, unity and edification of the Church?

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Question to the Congregation | RE Neal Wade

Do you, the members of this church, acknowledge and receive these brothers as ruling elders and deacons, and do you promise to yield them all that honor, encouragement and obedience in the Lord to which their office, according to the Word of God and the Constitution of this Church, entitles them?

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Prayer for Ordination & Laying on of Hands | RE Philip Whitley

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The Pronouncement | RE D.J. Beaty

I now pronounce and declare that Chris Castaneda and Drew Willson have been regularly elected, ordained, and installed as ruling elders, and that Rivan Bennevendo, John Donovan, and Nick Erwin have been regularly elected, ordained, and installed as deacons in this church, agreeable to the Word of God, and according to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America; and that as such they are entitled to all encouragement, honor and obedience in the Lord: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

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Charge to the New Officers | TE Blake Arnoult

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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 | Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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Dear refuge of my weary soul,

On Thee, when sorrows rise

On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,

My fainting hope relies

To Thee I tell each rising grief,

For Thou alone canst heal

Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,

For every pain I feel

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But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,

I fear to call Thee mine

The springs of comfort seem to fail,

And all my hopes decline

Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?

Thou art my only trust

And still my soul would cleave to Thee,

Though prostrate in the dust

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Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,

And shall I seek in vain?

And can the ear of sovereign grace,

Be deaf when I complain?

No still the ear of sovereign grace,

Attends the mourner’s prayer

Oh may I ever find access,

To breathe my sorrows there

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Thy mercy seat is open still,

Here let my soul retreat

With humble hope attend Thy will,

And wait beneath Thy feet,

Thy mercy seat is open still,

Here let my soul retreat

With humble hope attend Thy will,

And wait beneath Thy feet

Music and Lyrics: Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson

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Departing Song | It Is Well With My Soul

We begin to end in faith and song.

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When peace like a river, attendeth my way;

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say:

“It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

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It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

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Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come’

Let this blest assurance control;

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul!

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Chorus

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My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;

My sin, not in part but the whole;

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul!

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Chorus

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And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

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//Chorus//

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Music and Lyrics: Philip Bliss, Horatio Spafford

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*Benediction | Romans 15:5-6 | 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.

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⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, ⁶ that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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