September 25, 2022

*Call to Worship | Revelation 5:11-12 | Blake Arnoult

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

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11 I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, 

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might

and honor and glory and blessing!”

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*Song of Adoration | Jesus I Come

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

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Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,

Jesus, I come; Jesus I come.

Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my sickness into Thy health,

Out of my wanting and into Thy wealth,

Out of my sin and into Thyself,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

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Out of my shameful failure and loss,

Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.

Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,

Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,

Out of distress into jubilant psalm,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

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Out of unrest and arrogant pride,

Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.

Into Thy blessed will to abide,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,

Out of despair into raptures above,

Upward forever on wings like a dove,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

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Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,

Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come.

Into the joy and light of Thy home,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of the depths of ruin untold,

Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,

Ever Thy glorious face to behold,

Jesus, I come to Thee.

Music and Lyrics: Greg Thompson, WilliamSleeper

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*Confession of Faith | 1 Peter 2:6-8

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

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6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

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*Song of Confession | All I Have Is Christ

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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I once was lost in darkest night

Yet thought I knew the way

The sin that promised joy and life

Had led me to the grave

I had no hope that You would own

A rebel to Your will

And if You had not loved me first

I would refuse You still

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But as I ran my hell bound race

Indifferent to the cost

You looked upon my helpless state

And led me to the cross

And I beheld God’s love displayed

You suffered in my place

You bore the wrath reserved for me

Now all I know is grace!

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Hallelujah all I have is Christ

Hallelujah Jesus is my life

Now Lord I would be Yours alone

And live so all might see

The strength to follow Your commands

Could never come from me

O Father use my ransomed life

In any way You choose

And let my song forever be

My only boast is You

Chorus

Music and Lyrics: Jordan Kauflin

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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.

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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 | Ephesians 1:7 | 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.

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7 In Jesus Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

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*Song of Response | Doxology

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

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/ Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. /

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// Amen //

Music and Lyrics: Thomas Ken, Thomas Tallis

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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.

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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 Lyte, Bill Moore

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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 | Mark 2:1-12 | Blake Arnoult

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

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1 And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

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Pastor: The Word of the Lord

People: Thanks be to God

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The Preaching of the Word | Blake Arnoult

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“Conflict Stories of Jesus”

The Gospel of Mark: A Mosaic of Jesus

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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 | When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

We celebrate our communion in faith and song.

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When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

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Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

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See from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

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Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were an offering far too small:

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Music and Lyrics: Isaac Watts

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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//

Music and Lyrics: Horatio Spafford, Philip Bliss

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*Benediction | Philippians 4:7 | 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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7 The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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