THE WORSHIP OF GOD March 4, 2018 To protect the Worship environment, please, no drinks in the Sanctuary, and remember to turn off cell phones. THE GATHERING *#108 Come, Christians, Join to Sing Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen! Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen! Let all, with heart and voice, before His throne rejoice; Praise is His gracious choice: Alleluia! Amen! Come, lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen! Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen! He is our Guide and Friend; to us He ll condescend His love shall never end: Alleluia! Amen! Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen! Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen! On heaven s blissful shore His goodness we ll adore, Singing forevermore, Alleluia! Amen! Singing forevermore, Alleluia! Amen! TEXT: Christian H. Bateman MUSIC: Traditional Spanish melody; arranged by David Evans *THE PRAYER OF INVOCATION *THE RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP: PSALM 57:9-11 LEADER: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; ALL: I will sing praises to you among the nations. LEADER: For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. ALL: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
*Raised To Life Precious compassion that pours From the wounds that have won our salvation Sin was strong but the Savior is stronger Come let us worship Him (repeat) Great was the debt that we owed And how high was the price of our healing Paid in full by the One who is worthy Come let us worship Him Raised to life with Christ the Savior In His name a new creation Now our song will rise Adoring Christ the Lord Death overcome by the Word That was spoken before it was finished Jesus saves is our song everlasting Come let us worship Him (repeat chorus) Sin was strong but, Jesus is stronger Our shame was great but, Jesus you're greater (4x) (repeat chorus 2x) Written By: Pastor Steven Furtick, Matt Redman, Chris Brown, Mack Brock. Elevation Worship.UBP.CCLI#245668 THE READING OF ROMANS 3:21-28 THE PRAYERS OF CONFESSION All: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. we have followed too much the deceits and desires of our own hearts. we have offended against your holy laws. we have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord; And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen. PRIVATE (A time of silent and private confessions for personal sins) LEADER: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ALL: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us.
*THE PROFESSION OF FAITH: THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. (Note: Although not written by the apostles, this creed is a summary of their teachings. Though its origin is traced to the second century, it developed into its present form by the sixth or seventh century. For the sake of clarity, please note that we believe that Jesus suffered the agony and punishment of Hell on the cross, most especially when He knew that He had been forsaken by His Father, and that He died a real death from which He was resurrected. We believe also that holy catholic church refers to the church universal.) *There is a Fountain Filled with Blood There is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Immanuel s veins, And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. O Pard ning Lamb, Thy precious blood shall never lose its pow r, Till all the ransomed church of God are safe, to sin no more. At Jesus cross a thief could see this fount its grace display And there I saw, though vile as he, Christ wash my sins away. (repeat chorus) E er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply, Redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die. (repeat chorus) Then shall my heart be tuned for heav n and formed by power divine, To sound in God the Father s ears no other name but Thine. To sound in God the Father s ears no other name but Thine. Words by William Cowper, 1772 (Public Domain); Music by Ryan Mayo & Tyler Clements
*Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder Let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise the Savior's name! He has hushed the law's loud thunder, He has quenched Mount Sinai's flame: He has washed us with His blood,(3x) He has brought us nigh to God. Let us love the Lord Who bought us, pitied us when enemies, Called us by His grace, and taught us, gave us ears and gave us eyes: He has washed us with His blood,(3x) He presents our souls to God. Let us sing, though fierce temptation threatens hard to bear us down! For the Lord, our strong salvation, holds in view the conqu'ror's crown: He Who washed us with His blood(3x) Soon will bring us home to God. Let us wonder; grace and justice join and point to mercy's store; When through grace in Christ our trust is, justice smiles and asks no more: He Who washed us with His blood(3x) Has secured our way to God. Words by John Newton Music by Laura Taylor 2001 Laura Taylor Music UBP.ARR. CCLI#245668 THE DEDICATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS Although giving is a significant part of worship, we do not collect the offering during our service. Two boxes are placed by the doors to receive your offering. Tithes and offerings for the General Fund are placed in the box without the steeple. Offerings for the Building Fund are to be placed in the box with the steeple, with check payable to Grace EPC Building Fund. THE WELCOME At this time, please fill out the friendship register found at the side aisle. As the register is passed, please note those with whom you are worshipping so that you can greet one another after the service. If this is your first Sunday at Grace, please accept our invitation to worship with us again soon. If you would like information about Grace EPC, please take one of our brochures from the table in the narthex. If you are looking for a church home, please let us know and we will be happy to visit with you. (CHILDREN ARE DISMISSED FOR THEIR CLASSES AT THIS TIME: K-4TH GRADE --- LINE UP IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE SANCTUARY. CONNECT CLASS [5 TH & 6 TH GRADE] HEAD DIRECTLY TO ROOM 7) (THOSE WHO ARRIVE AFTER THE SERVICE HAS BEGUN MAY BE SEATED AT THIS TIME) THE WORD AND SACRAMENT THE PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION THE READING OF SCRIPTURE RESPONSE TO THE READING OF THE WORD All: The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. Ephesians 2:1-10 THE MESSAGE FROM SCRIPTURE Bill Vogler
THE LORD S SUPPER The Table of the Lord is open to each person who acknowledges himself/herself to be a sinner in the sight of God and without hope for salvation except in His sovereign mercy; who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior of sinners; who receives and depends upon Christ alone for salvation as He is offered in the gospel; and who promises and resolves in humble reliance upon the Holy Spirit, to endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ. If this is your profession of faith, you are welcome at the Lord s Table. As you come, take a piece of bread, dip it in the cup and eat. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. Mercy I will kneel in the dust at the foot of the cross, where mercy paid for me. Where the wrath I deserve, it is gone, it has passed. Your blood has hidden me. Mercy, mercy, as endless as the sea. I'll sing Your hallelujah for all eternity. We will lift up the cup and the bread we will break, remembering Your love. We were fallen from grace, but You took on our shame and nailed it to a cross. (repeat chorus 2x) I will kneel in the dust at the foot of the cross, where mercy paid for me. Matt Redman 2013 sixstepsrecords/sparrow Records Jesus, Lover of My Soul Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high; Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till life s storm is past; Safe into the haven guide; receive my soul at last! Other refuge have I none; I helpless, hang on Thee; Leave, oh leave me not alone, support and comfort me. All my trust on Thee is stayed, all help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenseless head in the shadow of Thy wing. Thou, O Christ, are all I want; here more than all I find; Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick and lead the blind. Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness; False and full of sin I am, Thou art full of truth and grace. Plenteous grace with Thee is found, grace to cover all my sin; Let the healing streams abound; make and keep me pure within. Thou of life the fountain art, let me take of Thee; Spring Thou up within my heart, for all eternity. For all eternity (2x) TEXT: Charles Wesley MUSIC: 2000 Greg Thompson CCLI#245668
You Crown the Year (verse 1) You crown the year with Your goodness You answer us with awesome deeds Your hope resounds, God our Savior To distant lands and farthest seas You still the waves with Your presence You bless Your harvest with Your rain Your river filled with living water That flows to all as You ordain Praise the name of the Lord O my soul sing His worth All of life join the song Come and lift up our King Now let the earth join His praises Who dwells between the sea and sky? The dusk and dawn forever answer The call to worship God on high (repeat chorus 2x) (repeat vs. 1) Adapted from Hillsong; Brooke Ligertwood, Reuben Morgan 2013 Hillsong Music *THE LORD S PRAYER ALL: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. THE SENDING *THE BENEDICTION *#625 Doxology 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. Amen AFTER SERVICE PRAYER It is our sincere desire to pray effectively for the particular needs of those worshipping with us this morning. If you have a prayer concern that you want shared with the congregation during the prayers of the people, please call the church office or one of the elders prior to the service with your request. If you desire prayer on a personal matter, we invite you to meet with the elders in the front pews after the Benediction. Available for prayer after 8:15 worship: Dan Wethington & Todd Koch Available for prayer after 10:45 worship: Joe Harvey & Darby Ritter *Congregation will stand.