November 27, 2022

*Call to Worship | Proverbs 9:10 | Blake Arnoult

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

‍

Pastor:     The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, 

‍

People:       And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

‍

‍

*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

‍

Holy holy holy

All the saints adore Thee

Casting down their golden crowns

Around the glassy sea

Cherubim and seraphim

Falling down before Thee

Which wert and art

And evermore shalt be

‍

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

‍

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, Reginald Heber

‍

‍

*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?

‍

Answer: 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.

‍

‍

*Song of Confession | Gracious God

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

‍

Gracious God, great is our sin

But Holy Lord Great is Your love

‍

The burden’s too heavy to carry

The pain is too real to hide

The sin is too deep to undo

Lord hear our cry

‍

Forgive what our lips tremble to name

And take what our hearts can no longer bear

‍

Chorus

‍

Lord grant us grace to be more like you

Through Jesus Christ, the light of the world

Chorus

‍

// Set us free from a past we can’t change

Lord grant us grace

Give us a future where we can be changed

Lord grant us grace //

‍

Gracious God, great is our sin

But Holy Lord Great is Your love

‍

Chorus

‍

The burden’s too heavy to carry

It burns like a fire inside

The judgement is too much to bear

Lord hear our cry

Music and Lyrics: Rivan Bennevendo

‍

‍

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.

‍

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.

‍

‍

Assurance of Pardon | Psalm 130: 3-4, 7 | 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.

‍

3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

‍

7 Hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

‍

‍

*Song of Response | Come As You Are

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

‍

Come out of sadness from wherever you've been

Come broken hearted let rescue begin

Come find your mercy oh sinner come kneel

/ Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal /

‍

So lay down your burdens lay down your shame

All who are broken lift up your face

Oh wanderer come home you're not too far

So lay down your hurt lay down your heart

Come as you are

‍

There's hope for the hopeless and all those who've strayed

Come sit at the table come taste the grace

There's rest for the weary rest that endures

Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't cure

‍

Chorus

‍

Come as you are

Fall in his arms; Come as you are

‍

There's joy for the morning oh sinner be still

Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal

Earth has no sorrow that heaven can't heal

‍

Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Ben Glover, David Crowder, Matt Maher

‍

‍

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 | Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)

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

‍

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

You crush the enemy underneath my feet

You are my sword and shield

Though troubles linger still

Whom shall I fear

‍

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

‍

My strength is in Your name

For You alone can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear

Whom shall I fear

(Whom shall I fear)

‍

Chorus

‍

/(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/

‍

Chorus

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

‍

‍

Prayer for Christ’s Church

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

‍

‍

*Reading of Scripture | Mark 16:1-8 | Rev. Blake Arnoult

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

‍

1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

‍

Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

‍

The Preaching of the Word | Blake Arnoult

‍

“Fearful Stories of Jesus”

The Gospel of Mark: A Mosaic of Jesus

‍

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 | We Will Feast In The House Of Zion

We celebrate our communion 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.

‍

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.

‍

Chorus

‍

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!

‍

Chorus

‍

Every vow we've broken and betrayed;

You are the Faithful one.

And from the garden to the grave;

Bind us together, bring shalom!

‍

//Chorus//

Music and Lyrics: Sandra McCracken, Joshua Moore

‍

‍

Departing Song | It Is Well With My Soul

We begin to end in faith and song.

‍

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.”

‍

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

‍

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!

‍

Chorus

‍

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!

‍

Chorus

‍

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.

‍

//Chorus//

Music and Lyrics: Philip Bliss, Horatio Spafford

‍

‍

*Benediction | 2 Corinthians 13:14 | 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.

‍

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

‍

‍

ANNOUNCEMENTS

‍

Adult Christmas Party

December 4, 6-8pm

All adults are invited to join us at the home of Blake and Ryan Arnoult for our annual Christmas party on December 4 at 6pm! We will share a meal as we celebrate the Christmas season together! This is a BYOB, adults-only event. 

‍

Children’s Christmas Party

December 11, 11:30am-1pm

Kids and parents, join us for lunch at an awesome Christmas party hosted at the Donovan home on December 11, directly after the worship service! 

‍

Christmas Eve Service

December 24, 3-4:30pm

Cornerstone is gathering for our annual Christmas Eve fellowship at 3pm followed by a worship service at 3:30pm. Invite your friends and family to join us!

‍

Spring Calendar is Up!

Check out our spring calendar at cornerstonehouston.com!

‍

Visit our events page to subscribe to our calendar!