September 8, 2024

*Call to Worship | 2 Corinthians 1:3 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

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*Song of Adoration | Holy, Holy, Holy

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

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

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Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who wert and art and ever more shall be.

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Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

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Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

_{Music and Lyrics: John Bacchus Dykes and Reginald Heber}

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*Confession of Faith | Heidelberg Catechism Q.1 

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

Question: What is your only comfort in life and death?

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People: That I am not my own,

but belong with body and soul,

both in life and in death, 

to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 

He has fully paid for all my sins

with his precious blood, 

and has set me free

from all the power of the devil. 

He also preserves me in such a way 

that without the will of my heavenly Father

not a hair can fall from my head; 

indeed, all things must work together

for my salvation. 

Therefore, by his Holy Spirit

he also assures me

of eternal life 

and makes me heartily willing and ready

from now on to live for him.

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*Song of Confession | Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

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

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: Anne Steele and Kevin Twit}

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Confession of Sin | based on Psalm 42 | Rev. 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.}

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 | 2 Corinthians 4:17 | 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.}

17 This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

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*Song of Response | Nothing but the Blood

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

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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For my pardon, this I see,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

For my cleansing this my plea,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Nothing can for sin atone,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

Naught of good that I have done,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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This is all my hope and peace,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

This is all my righteousness,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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Chorus

_{Music and Lyrics: Robert Lowry}

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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 | Jesus I My Cross Have Taken

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

Jesus, I my cross have taken,

All to leave and follow Thee.

Destitute, despised, forsaken,

Thou from hence my all shall be.

Perish every fond ambition,

All I’ve sought or hoped or known.

Yet how rich is my condition!

God and heaven are still my own.

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Let the world despise and leave me,

They have left my Savior, too.

Human hearts and looks deceive me;

Thou art not, like them, untrue.

O while Thou dost smile upon me,

God of wisdom, love, and might,

Foes may hate and friends disown me,

Show Thy face and all is bright.

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Soul, then know thy full salvation

Rise o’er sin and fear and care

Joy to find in every station,

Something still to do or bear.

Think what Spirit dwells within thee,

Think what Father’s smiles are thine,

Think that Jesus died to win thee,

Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

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Haste thee on from grace to glory,

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.

Heaven’s eternal days before thee,

God’s own hand shall guide us there.

Soon shall close thy earthly mission,

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,

Hope shall change to glad fruition,

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

_{Music and Lyrics: Henry Francis Lyte, Billy Foote}

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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 | 1 Peter 1:1-2 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, 

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To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: 

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May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

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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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“Homesick and Hopeful”

1 Peter: Homesick and Hopeful

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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 | Grace Alone

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

I was an orphan lost at the fall

Running away when I'd hear you call

But Father you worked your will

I had no righteousness of my own

I had no right to draw near your throne

But Father you loved me still

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And in love before you laid the world's foundation

You predestined to adopt me as your own

You have raised me up so high above my station

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I'm a child of God by grace and grace alone

You left your home to seek out the lost

You knew the great and terrible cost

But Jesus your face was set

I worked my fingers down to the bone

But nothing I did could ever atone

But Jesus you paid my debt

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By Your blood I have redemption and salvation

Lord you died that I might reap what you have sown

And you rose that I might be a new creation

I am born again by grace and grace alone

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I was in darkness all of my life

I never knew the day from the night

But Spirit you made me see

I swore I knew the way on my own

Head full of rocks a heart made of stone

But Spirit you moved in me

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And at your touch my sleeping spirit was awakened

On my darkened heart the light of Christ has shone

Called into a kingdom that cannot be shaken

Heaven's citizen by grace and grace alone

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So I'll stand in faith by grace and grace alone

I will run the race by grace and grace alone

I will slay my sin by grace and grace alone

I will reach the end by grace and grace alone

_{Music and Lyrics: Dustin Kensrue}

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Departing Song | We Will Feast in the House of Zion

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

We will feast in the house of Zion.

We will sing with our hearts restored.

“He has done great things!”, we will say together.

We will feast and weep no more.

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We will not be burned by the fire;

He is the Lord, our God.

We are not consumed by the flood;

Upheld, protected, gathered up.

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Chorus

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In the dark of night, before the dawn;

My soul, be not afraid.

For the promised morning, oh, how long?

Oh, God of Jacob, be my strength!

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Chorus

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Every vow we've broken and betrayed;

You are the Faithful one.

And from the garden to the grave;

Bind us together, bring shalom!

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//Chorus//

_{Music and Lyrics: Sandra McCracken, Joshua Moore}

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*Benediction | Romans 15:13 | 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.}

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Bible Studies

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Women’s Morning Study: Wednesday, September 11

Join us for our weekly women’s study on Prayer each Wednesday this fall!

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Women’s Evening Study: Thursday, October 3

Our women’s evening study on Prayer will meet on Thursday, October 3! Join us at the home of Susan Arnoult at 7pm.

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Men’s Morning Study: Friday, October 4

Our men’s study on Prayer will meet on Friday, October 4 at 7am at Bean and Bottle! 9655 Katy Freeway Suite 100. 

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Kids’ Sunday School

Sunday, September 15, 9am

Cornerstone Kids’ Sunday School continues on Sunday, September 15 for the 2nd lesson of our 10-week series on Justification! 

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Youth Bible Study

Sunday, September 15, 9am

Cornerstone Kids’ Sunday School continues on Sunday, September 15 for the 2nd lesson of our 10-week series on Justification!

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Men’s Retreat

Saturday, October 5

Cornerstone men are invited to join us October 5th for a day retreat just outside of Houston to the Plank farm in New Ulm. We keep it simple. Come rest in some open spaces and enjoy fellowship and friendship and good food and drink. Friends welcome.

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Women’s Gathering

Tuesday, October 15

Cornerstone women are invited to join us at the Beaty Home  on Tuesday, October 15 for our next quarterly gathering! Friends welcome!

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