May 28, 2023

*Call to Worship | Matthew 22:37-39 | Blake Arnoult

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

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37 Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

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*Song of Adoration | God Of Wonders

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

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Lord of all creation, of water earth and sky

The heavens are your Tabernacle, glory to the Lord on high

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God of wonders beyond our galaxy

You are Holy, Holy

The universe declares your Majesty

You are holy, holy

Lord of Heaven and Earth

Lord of Heaven and Earth

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Early in the morning, I will celebrate the light

When I stumble in the darkness, I will call your name by night

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Chorus

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// Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth //

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Chorus

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/// Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth ///

Music and Lyrics: Marc Byrd, Steve Hindalong

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*Confession of Faith | Matthew 5:38-44

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

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38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

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*Song of Confession | Have Mercy

Psalms, hymns, 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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Have mercy on me O God

Remember not my sin

Have mercy O Lord of love

Cleanse me from within

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By Your mercy clean my heart

And I’ll proclaim how great Thou art

Deliver me from guilt and shame

And I’ll sing out, “Praise His name”

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Wash me and I shall be

Whiter than snow

Mold me and make me whole

All to You I owe

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Chorus

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/ Let these broken bones rejoice

Give me gladness give me joy

Hide your face from all my sin

Renew this spirit once again /

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/ Chorus /

Music and Lyrics: Rivan Bennevendo

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Confession of Sin | Blake Arnoult

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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God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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Assurance of Pardon | Romans 5:8 | 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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8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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*Song of Response | Isaiah 43

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

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When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, 

And the waves will not overcome you. 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, 

I have called you by name, you are Mine.

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For I am the Lord your God (I am the Lord your God),

I am the Lord your God (I am)

The Holy One of Israel

Your Savior

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I am the Lord (do not fear)

I am the Lord (do not fear)

I am the Lord (do not fear)

I am the Lord (do not fear)

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When you walk through the fire you’ll not be burned, 

And the flames will not consume you. 

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, 

I have called you by name, you are Mine.

Chorus

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I am the Lord

Music and Lyrics: Anonymous

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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 | Be Thou My Vision

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

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Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart.

Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.

Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

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Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word;

I ever with Thee, and Thou with me, Lord.

Thou my great Father and I, Thy true son;

Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

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Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise;

Thou mine inheritance, now and always.

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,

High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

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/ O God be my everything, be my delight

Be Jesus my glory, my soul satisfied /

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High King of heaven, my victory is won,

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

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/ O God be my everything, be my delight

Be Jesus my glory, my soul satisfied /

Music and Lyrics: Mary Elizabeth Byrne

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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 | Romans 12:1-2; 14-21 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

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1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect…

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14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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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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“Christians in the World with Unbelievers”

Romans: The Power of God for Salvation

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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.

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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 | Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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Let us love and sing and wonder

Let us praise the Savior’s name

He has hushed the law’s loud thunder

He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame

He has washed us with His blood (x3)

He has brought us nigh to God

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Let us love the Lord Who bought us

Pitied us when enemies

Called us by His grace and taught us

Gave us ears and gave us eyes

He has washed us with His blood (x3)

He presents our souls to God

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Let us sing though fierce temptation

Threatens hard to bear us down

For the Lord, our strong salvation,

Holds in view the conqu’ror’s crown

He, Who washed us with His blood, (x3)

Soon will bring us home to God

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Let us wonder grace and justice

Join and point to mercy’s store

When through grace in Christ our trust is

Justice smiles and asks no more

He Who washed us with His blood (x3)

Has secured our way to God.

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Let us praise and join the chorus

Of the saints enthroned on high

Here they trusted Him before us

Now their praises fill the sky

Thou hast washed us with Thy blood (x3)

Thou art worthy Lamb of God

Music and Lyrics: Laura Taylor, John Newton

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Departing Song | Cornerstone

We begin to end in faith and song.

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My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus' name

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly trust in Jesus' name

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Christ alone, Cornerstone,

Weak made strong in the Savior's love

Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all

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When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

My anchor holds within the veil

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Chorus

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He is Lord, Lord of all

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Chorus

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When He shall come

With trumpet sound

Oh may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless, stand before the throne

Music and Lyrics: Edward Mote, Eric Liljero, Jonas Myrin, Reuben Morgan

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*Benediction | 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 | 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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16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Men’s Summer Gathering

Thursday, June 1, 7-9pm

Cornerstone men are invited to gather at the home of Blake Arnoult for a night of grilling and fellowship on Thursday, June 1 at 7pm! This is a BYOB event. 

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Women’s Summer Gathering

Friday, June 16, 7-9pm

Cornerstone women will be gathering the evening of June 16 for an exchange of favorite snacks and sips at the Byrd home! Bring your favorite snack or sip to share!

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