ORDER OF WORSHIP March 2, 2014 Transfiguration of the Lord *Congregation Stands (If you prefer, It is acceptable to remain seated.) Welcome to Knox Presbyterian Church! We invite you to sign and pass the Friendship Book located at the end of your pew. If you re a first-time visitor, our prayer is that you will experience the presence of the eternal, as we worship our God together. PRELUDE Ricercare" Organ Giovanni Palestrina WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Don Meekhof HEIDELBERG CATECHISM Question 26 (Lord s Day 9) 26 Q. What do you believe when you say, I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son. I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. God is able to do this because he is almighty God and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father. CALL TO WORSHIP: The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble;
He sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; He is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name he is holy The King is mighty, he loves justice Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool: He is holy! from Psalm 99 *HYMN IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, GOD ONLY WISE (Hymn 62) (VERSE 1) Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. (VERSE 2) Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; thy justice like mountains high soaring above thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love. (VERSE 3) To all life thou givest, to both great and small; in all life thou livest, the true life of all; we blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, and wither and perish but naught changeth thee. (VERSE 4) Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; all praise we would render; O help us to see tis only the splendor of light hideth thee. SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM Aoife Pamela Bradbury *HYMN O THE DEEP, DEEP LOVE OF JESUS (Hymn #477) (VERSE 1)
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free. Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me! Underneath me, all around me, is the current of his love, leading onward, leading homeward to that glorious rest above. (VERSE 2) O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread his praise from shore to shore! He who loves us, ever loves us, changes never, nevermore. He, who died to save his loved ones, intercedes for them above; he, who called them his own people, watches over them in love. (VERSE 3) O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best, vast the ocean of his blessing, sweet the haven of his rest! O the deep, deep love of Jesus for my heaven of heavens is he; this my everlasting glory Jesus mighty love for me! INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBERS Nedra Bayne Gretchen Eppel Karen Graham Sineála O Neel Sharon Osborne TIME OF PRAYER Patrick Striker Call to Confession Merciful God, we confess that we desire what is not your will. We fear failure
and cling to unquestioned habits. We are truly sorry and repent of what we have done and what we have not done. Show us the path of your prophetic way. Open our eyes to new ventures. Help us love our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us and renew us, in the name of life abundant, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [Silent Prayer] Assurance of Pardon: Patrick Striker Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. By his wounds we are healed. based on 1 Peter 2:24, NIV reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS Invitation to the Offering: As Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem to offer himself for the sake of the world, let us now offer our tithes and gifts in thanksgiving. *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving: Take these gifts, O God, for the work of this church. Let them stand as signs of your love and faithfulness. In the name of the one who gave himself for us, we pray. Amen.
At this time, the ushers will come forward to pass the offering plates. Also at this time, the children are excused to attend Junior Chapel. Offertory "Shepherd Show Me How to Go Hugo Frey Organ OLD TESTAMENT READING: Patrick Striker Daniel 3:16 18 (NIV) 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. NEW TESTAMENT READINGS: Marie Collins Luke 9:51 59 51 As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; 53 but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his disciples went to another village. 57 As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. 58 Jesus replied, Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head. 59 He said to another man, Follow me. But he replied, Lord, first let me go and bury my father. Hebrews 12:1 3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. MESSAGE "Cross Bound: Courage for the Journey" Sermon Text: As the time approached for him to be taken up, Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 (NSRV) *COMMUNION HYMN THE LORD IS HERE (Hymn #777) (VERSE 1) The Lord is here! His promised word is evermore the same, himself to be where two or three are gathered in his name. (VERSE 2) The Lord is here! Where Christ is come his spirit too is there, with all who raise the song of praise or breathe the voice of prayer. (VERSE 3) The Lord is here! He comes in peace with blessings from above, by pledge and sign of bread and wine to fold us in his love (VERSE 4) The Lord is here! To every soul this gift of grace be given, to walk the way of Christ today, and share the life of heaven.
SHARING AROUND CHRIST S TABLE COMMUNION Christ becomes a part of our flesh through Holy Communion. The Lord s Supper is not an end in itself. It always points beyond itself to celebrate God s grace and covenant faithfulness. This does not mean the physical aspects of the celebration are incidental or unimportant. The Lord s Supper should be a celebration fitting to the abundant grace of God offered in Christ. Invitation to the Lord s Supper Breaking of the Bread & Pouring of the Cup Sharing the Body and Blood of Christ *CLOSING SONG It is the custom at Knox, in celebration of Holy Communion, to hold hands and form a circle around the sanctuary to sing our closing song BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS (Hymn #708) Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. BENEDICTION POSTLUDE "Trumpet Recessional Organ Henry Kihlken * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the Pulpit Today: Don Meekhof is our Temporary Stated Supply pastor. Those words in quotes are the official title given by Presbytery, because with Shared Ministry there is no full-time pastor. However, Don most definitely has a full-time love for shepherding the flock of Christ and we are blessed to have him with us!