Providence Presbyterian Church

Transcription

1 Welcome to Providence Presbyterian Church (PCA) Jim Angehr, Pastor/Teaching Elder Ruling Elders Al Bauerle Peter Griffith Dr. Mark Gring Brandon Mulkey Dell Schipper On Sabbatical: Tim Milovich and Lonnie Snider Meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Center 53 rd Street and Elgin Avenue Sunday School (for all ages)... 9:30 a.m. Worship Service... 10:30 a.m. Nursery is available for children up to 4 years Vision Statement We at Providence Presbyterian Church long to see God s kingdom peace in Christ His shalom come upon Lubbock and West Texas in greater fulness. Mission Statement The community of Providence Presbyterian Church seeks, by our words and actions, to love Lubbock and West Texas with the shalom of Jesus Christ. We want to engage Lubbock and West Texas in the arenas of proclaiming truth, contributing to and renewing culture, and practicing mercy with justice. We will seek to plant a closely-networked series of medium-sized churches that will reflect both the city of Lubbock and the heavenly city to come. Providence Presbyterian Church Presbyterian Church in America February 14, 2010 James Angehr, Pastor P. O. Box Lubbock, Texas /

2 * PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Hymn 170 THE LORD S DAY February 14, 2010 Fairest Lord Jesus Tune: Münster Gesangbuch, Tune. Silesian fold song, Schlesische Volkslieder, Leipzig, * CALL TO WORSHIP 1 Corinthians 15:50-57 Mystery and Victory 50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. * Congregation Standing All music copied by permission of CCLI # Page Page 2 -

3 * HYMN 296 All Hail the Power of Jesus Name! Words: Edward Perronet (v. 1-4), 1779; John Rippon (v. 5-6), Music: Oliver Holden, * INVOCATION * HYMN 420 At the Lamb s High Feast We Sing Words: Latin Hymn, 8 th Century; Translated by Robert Campbell, Music: George J. Elvey, Page Page 4 -

4 CONFESSION OF SIN Our Lord Christ, We have sinned against you, and rebelled against you. As prophet, you have revealed to us your will for our salvation. Yet we question if you are true, trust in other voices, run to other prophets, find other stories more seductive, and wish for only affirmation and never correction. We have sinned against you. As priest, you have offered yourself for the Father s justice and have reconciled sinners to the Almighty. Yet we question if by faith we are truly forgiven, wallow in guilt, swim in pride, wash our hands in other rivers, and deny that we were sinful at birth, from the time our mothers conceived us. We have sinned against you. As king, you rule, and reign, and defend. Yet we question if you are ruling well, desire more power for ourselves, spurn any authority over our own, crave different defenders, and believe that we would be better rulers. We have sinned against you. Yet we plead, our Christ, that you would intercede and forgive even now, on the basis of your obedience to death, even death on a cross. May we bow our knees, and our tongues confess, that you are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. - Page 5 - ASSURANCE OF PARDON IN CHRIST CONFESSION OF FAITH This perseverance of the saints depends not upon [Christians'] own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ; the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them; and the nature of the covenant of grace: from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof. Westminster Confession of Faith 17.2 OFFERING OLD TESTAMENT READING 2 Samuel 19:1-15 Joab Rebukes David 1 It was told Joab, Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom. 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, The king is grieving for his son. 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son! 5 Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 6 because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. - Page 6 -

5 7 Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the Lord, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now. 8 Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate. And all the people came before the king. David Returns to Jerusalem Now Israel had fled every man to his own home. 9 And all the people were arguing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies and saved us from the hand of the Philistines, and now he has fled out of the land from Absalom. 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back? 11 And King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests: Say to the elders of Judah, Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house, when the word of all Israel has come to the king? 12 You are my brothers; you are my bone and my flesh. Why then should you be the last to bring back the king? 13 And say to Amasa, Are you not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me and more also, if you are not commander of my army from now on in place of Joab. 14 And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, Return, both you and all your servants. 15 So the king came back to the Jordan, and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring the king over the Jordan. - Page 7 - * HYMN Come Ye Sinners 2000, Words by Joseph Hart, 1759; Music by Matthew Smith 1. Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus, ready, stands to save you, Full of pity, joined with power. He is able, He is able; He is willing; doubt no more. 2. Come ye needy, come, and welcome, God's free bounty glorify; True belief and true repentance, Every grace that brings you nigh. Without money, without money Come to Jesus Christ and buy. 3. Come, ye weary, heavy laden, Bruised and broken by the fall; If you tarry 'til you're better, You will never come at all. Not the righteous, not the righteous; Sinners Jesus came to call. 4. Let not conscience make you linger, Nor of fitness fondly dream; All the fitness He requireth Is to feel your need of Him. This He gives you, this He gives you, 'Tis the Spirit's rising beam. 5. Lo! The Incarnate God, ascended; Pleads the merit of His blood. Venture on Him; venture wholly, Let no other trust intrude. None but Jesus, none but Jesus Can do helpless sinners good. - Page 8 -

6 * HYMN 358 For All the Saints Words: William Walsham How, 1864, Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, PRAYER OF INTERCESSION SERMON Acts 7:54-8:1a The Stoning of Stephen 7:54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 8:1 And Saul approved of his execution. - Page 9 -

7 SACRAMENT OF THE LORD S SUPPER We hold the elements while they are being passed, so we can partake together. * DOXOLOGY Hymn 733 (Tune: All Creatures of Our God and King) Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him, all creatures here below: Alleluia, Alleluia! Praise him above, ye heav nly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! * BENEDICTION All Scripture References from: The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, A publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Prayers of Meditation For Those Not Participating in Communion Prayer for Those Searching for Truth Lord Jesus, You claim to be the way, the truth, and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following You as I consider the reasons for doing so. If what You claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and show me the reality of who You are. Amen. Prayer of Belief Heavenly Father, I admit that I am more sinful than I ever before believed, but, through Your Son Jesus, I can be more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank You that He lived the life I should have lived, and paid the debt and punishment I deserved. Receive me now for His sake. I turn from my sins and receive Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. Amen. Prayer for Those Struggling with Sin Lord Jesus, help me to look to You as the fulfillment of all my needs, and to turn from every false satisfaction to feed on You, the true and living bread. Enable me to lay aside the sin that clings so closely, and run with perseverance the race set before me, looking to You, the pioneer and perfecter of my faith. Amen. Prayer of Commitment Lord Jesus, You have called us to follow You in a life of committed discipleship in Your church. Grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit. Amen. - Page Page 12 -

8 Church Year Calendar Transfiguration Sunday, February 14, the Ninth Sunday of Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, February 17, the First Day of Lent Epiphany focuses on the revelation of who Jesus is; it begins at with his baptism and the voice of God declaring, "This is my Son, with whom I am pleased." Epiphany ends with the transfiguration in which the divine nature of Jesus's person is shown, and the voice of God says, "This is my Son; listen to him." In both moments Jesus is revealed as the unique Son of God; the first reveals the glory of his humility as he publicly identifies with sinners through his baptism, and the second reveals his divine nature. The scripture passages traditionally associated with Transfiguration Sunday include Psalm 99, which recalls God's descent upon Mt. Sinai in the Exodus and praises his majesty, power, justice, and forgiveness. But the transfiguration of Christ, found in Luke 9:28-36 and the parallel passages in Mark and Luke, surpass even the events at Mt. Sinai. When Jesus is transfigured and his divine glory is plainly seen, Moses and Elijah appear with him, showing that Jesus fulfills both the Law and the Prophets. They speak with Jesus of his departure (literally, his Exodus) at Jerusalem. Nothing else compares for that departure, his death, alone can accomplish the eternal salvation of God's people, including Moses and Elijah themselves. In light of this, in II Corinthians 3:12-4:6, the Apostle speaks of seeing the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ. Only in him can we now see that light by faith, confident that we will see it forever face to face in the new heavens and earth. Lent In contrast to the glories revealed and celebrated in Epiphany, Lent has been called a time of bright sadness, for this season in the church year focuses on the need for our repentance and humility. It is a time to recognize our sin and consequent mortality. It was to cure those very woes, our sin and sorrow that Jesus set his face resolutely to go to Jerusalem where his death awaited. The twelve committed themselves to go there with him, even as Thomas said that we might die with him. The reminder of our sin, our mortality, and Jesus's impending death, unavoidable if we were to be redeemed: that is the sadness inherent in Lent. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 17 this year, a day that signs our mortality and sin. Traditionally, a day of fasting, many Christians through the centuries have worn a mark made of dust and ashes on their foreheads. The dust symbolize the result of sin, dust to dust; the ashes symbolize mourning for sin, shown in the Old Testament by wearing sackcloth and ashes. Also over the centuries, many believers have "given up" some good thing they otherwise enjoyed as a reminder of the need for humility and repentance before God. However, it must be understood that these acts have no power in themselves to bring us close to God. Christ alone can do that through his perfect life and death in our place. Indeed, Matthew 6:1-21,one of the passages traditionally associated with Ash Wednesday, is a warning that our repentance must not be done outwardly as a show to impress other human beings, but inwardly before God. The reality of repentance and faith must be inward in our hearts and minds, and these outward signs can at best function only as reminders and pointers of our need and sufficiency of Christ's work. But we cannot receive Christ in pride, self sufficiency, and denial. Receiving Christ must involve humbling ourselves before God in repentance and faith. The focus of Lent is on these ongoing truths: sorrow for sin, ongoing repentance, and faith in the sufficiency of Jesus's work for us. Therefore, other scripture passages traditionally associated with Ash Wednesday include Psalm 51, David's psalm of repentance when confronted by his sin with Bathsheba, and Isaiah 58, a reminder that true repentance before God is not shown in external signs such as fasting, but in seeking to live lives of righteousness, justice, and mercy. Ash Wednesday and Lent as a whole are signs of our sin and mortality. Though each of us may feel it differently and in differing intensity at various times, facing our sin and death naturally involves an element of sadness. Yet even in facing that sadness, we know what the first disciples did not as Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem. Unlike them, our sadness should be bright with the knowledge that beyond the cross lay the light of new life: an empty tomb, Jesus's resurrection, and through him, our own. È - Page Page 14 -

9 PPC Announcements Friendship Registry Located on the end of the row is a friendship registry. Please let us know of your attendance in worship this morning by filling out the registry and passing it down the row. Second Sunday Lunch Today Join us for the monthly fellowship meal. It will be after the worship service in the Fellowship Hall. Ushers Ushers serving today: Al Bauerle Cliff Bingham Richard King Alan Hoksbergen Ushers serving next Sunday, February 21: Tom Sell Lonnie Snider Joel Damron Clint Bingham Greeters Greeters serving today: Clint Bingham Dell Schipper Greeters serving next Sunday, February 21: Richard King Jeremy Dalton Women s Retreat in March Women of Providence You are invited to the 2010 Women's Retreat: March 5-6, The retreat will run from Friday dinner through Saturday dinner with one night's stay at a wonderful retreat center. Information brochures are available; registration is online at the church s website: For further information please contact: Laura Cunningham (Laura.L.Cunningham@gmail.com; Cell: 806/ ) - or - Chelsea Collins (chelseapillsbury@hotmail.com; 575/ ). Nursery Workers Nursery Workers serving today: Infant to 23 months class: Randy Lucas Stacy Lucas Caroline Zamudio 2-4 year old class: Shannon Hedges Kay Cunningham Robert Hardwicke Nursery Workers serving next Sunday, February 21: Infant to 23 months class: Emily Angher Angela Westfall Edith Zamudio 2-4 year old class: Josh Collins Chelsea Collins Peter Griffith - Page Page 16 -

10 Regular Activities (Please refer to the newsletter for meeting dates.) Community Groups Young Adults, Grad Students, and Young Professionals A group meets every other Sunday evening for fellowship and prayer. Contact Chelsea Collins (chelseapillsbury@hotmail.com or ) or Nikki Sartin (niki.sartin@gmail.com). A Young Adult Bible Study is held on alternate Thursdays, 8:30 p.m., at the Sells home (corner of 19 th and Elgin, phone: ). The study is led by Sean Cunningham, who can be reached at or raidergator@gmail.com. Home Meetings are open to everyone. Midweek Home Meetings: These are held on the first, third, and fifth Wednesdays of the month (except for holidays and vacations). One homemeeting is at the Dalton home (10208 Nashville) and the Sartin home ( th Street). On alternating nights, one house will host the adults and the other will serve as a place for young children to play (with adult supervision). The meeting is 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., with child drop off at 6:20 p.m. Contact Erik at erik.sartin@gmail.com for more details. The other homemeeting is at the Angehr home ( nd Street), from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Children will be in an adjacent room to the adults. (Jim@providencepca.org) for more information. Weekly Home Meeting: A group meets on Sunday afternoons at the Gring household. Contact Mark or Dana Gring at for more details. Theological Study Group Pastor Jim is leading a theological discussion group, which is studying Herman Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics. The meetings occurs every other week on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in Classroom 7 at the church building, and lasts for roughly an hour and a half. Contact Pastor Jim for additional details. Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) at Texas Tech The Spring Semester is in full swing for RUF. Visit for more information. Steve Percifield is the campus minister. Men s Activities All men are invited to participate in two weekly activities. The Men s Bible Study meets at 7:00 a.m. every Tuesday at Sugar Brown s, th Street. The Men s Prayer Breakfast is on Wednesday at 6:30 a.m. at Market Street Café, 50 th Street and Indiana Avenue. All men, aged 12 and up, are welcome to a monthly Men s Gathering, on the second Wednesday, 7:00 p.m., at the Lubbock Boys & Girls Club, th Street. This gathering is to encourage one another in our roles and responsibilities in life. For more information, contact Peter Griffith, 5griffiths@sptc.net. Women s Ministry Bible Studies: Regular Bible study groups are open to all women. The Morning Group meets on Wednesdays. Every other Wednesday is a time for Bible/Book Study at 10:00 a.m. at the Angehr's home, nd Street. On alternating Wednesdays is a time of fellowship and lunch (start time 11:00 a.m., location varies). Childcare is provided. Contact Emily Angehr ( or emilyangehr@gmail.com) for more details. The Evening Group meets every other Monday at 7:00 p.m., at the home of Pam Coons, th Street.. For more information, contact Brenda Hayes: hayes_bs@yahoo.com, (cell) or (office). The Plainview Group usually meets on Tuesdays, at 3:45 p.m., at the home of Charlotte Nop. For more information, contact Charlotte at cgnop@suddenlink.net. - Page Page 18 -

11 A Mother/Daughter Bible Study for pre-teens meets at 7:00 p.m. every other Wednesday at the Griffith s home. Contact Anne Griffith: 5griffiths@sptc.net. Monthly Prayer: A monthly prayer session is held the last Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Adventist Center. Meal Ministry - Shared Joy, Shared Pain, Shared Meal: The women of Providence bring meals to people in the church when needed - especially births, deaths, hospitalizations, and illnesses. If you would be willing to participate, contact Becky Schipper. (Participating can be as simple as making brownies or as involved as a whole meal.) If you need a meal, also contact Becky Schipper at Newsletter Copies of the monthly church newsletter are available at the entry table. If you would like to be on the list to receive the newsletter, please contact Dana Gring: administrator@providencepca.org. CyberSpace Google group: ProvidencePrayer Facebook Group: Providence Presbyterian Church, Lubbock Website: RUF Pastor at Texas Tech Steve Percifield ruf@providencepca.org Church Administrator Dana Gring administrator@providencepca.org Sunday School Peter Griffith, Superintendent Music Coordinator Brian Tate Pianist Trent Tibbit Greeter Coordinator Richard King Nursery Coordinator Faith Tate Usher Coordinator Jeff Klein Family Promise Outreach Wendy Wilkerson Prayer Chain Contact Emily Angehr emilyangehr@gmail.com Women s Ministry Coordinator Laura Cunningham Laura.L.Cunningham@gmail.com - Page Page 20 -

12 For All The Saints This hymn is a prayer to God looking at the past, present, and future. It praises God for sustaining the saints of old as they fought the good fight, denying themselves for the sake of spreading His name and fame throughout the world. It also seeks God s blessings on us today as we carry on the good fight, and looks forward to the glory of heaven. This hymn is often associated with funerals, but we sing it today in joyful expectation of God spreading His kingdom in our own lives and around the world. Sermon Notes The words to this hymn were written by William W. How ( ); it first appeared in Hymns for Saint s Days, and Other Hymns, by Earl Nelson, 1864, with the heading Saints' Day Hymn. A Cloud of Witnesses. Heb. 12:1." The original version had 11 verses and began, For all thy saints. The text begins with a proclamation of thanksgiving for the saints ("the cloud of witnesses") who confessed Christ and found in him protection and inspiration. That proclamation is followed by a prayer for Christ's soldiers on earth to be "faithful, true, and bold." At the crux of the text is the confession of a "blest communion" of saints in heaven and on earth. Though the holy warfare may be "fierce and long," "all the saints" may take courage from the vision of a victorious church that worships the triune God on that "more glorious day." Born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, as the son of a solicitor, William How attended Wadham College, Oxford. In 1846, he was ordained an Anglican minister. He served as Curate at Kidderminster, then at Shrewsbury. He then became Rector at Whittington, Shropshire, near the Welsh border. In 1879, he became suffragen Bishop of London. In 1889, he was appointed Bishop of Wakefield, West Yorkshire. He died in Ireland and was buried in Whittington, Shropshire, where he was rector for 28 years. However, there is a marble memorial to How in the Cathedral of All Saints, Wakefield, where he was the first bishop. How was known for his work with the poor and with industrial workers. He also found time to write over 50 hymns, most of them during his stay in Whittington. His works include: Daily Family Prayers for Churchmen (1854) and Psalms and Hymns, with T. B. Morrell (1854). Other Hymns he wrote include O Word of God Incarnate and Who Is This, So Weak and Helpless. The triumphant tune (Sine Nomine, meaning without name ) written by Ralph Vaughan Williams ( ) is often considered one of the finest hymn tunes ever written. It first appeared in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906), number 641. He served as musical editor for that hymnal. Vaughan Williams was one of the best known English composers of the 20th Century, composing symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song. Ralph Vaughan Williams was born in Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, England. He died in London, England, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. From: