Welcome to Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church Worship is both discovery and sharing. As we share the Word of God, prayer, and the sacraments in an atmosphere of praise, Christ Jesus reveals the Living God in ever greater fullness. May God bless you and your worship today. Visiting? If you have questions or need assistance, please ask. Please fill out an Visitor Card to register your attendance with us. Listening devices are available from the sound booth. For more information: Our website: www.spepchurch.org Our facebook page: go.spep.church/fbpage SPEPlink our e-newsletter-subscribe or read it online (www.spepchurch.org) Connections our newsletter-available in the Narthex Our Purpose: To Glorify God Our Mission: Discovering in Christ the greatness of God, and sharing those discoveries with others. Our Vision: A church where Jesus mends broken lives with the goodness of God, and equips us to join him in his work. Our Values: Firm in biblical standards, flexible in ministry style. Confident that Jesus is at work. Humbly transparent, with respect and compassion for others. Delighted in God. Passionate for spiritual growth and ministry skill. Committed to be part of what Christ is doing in the church and in the world.
Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church Worshipping Sundays at: 9:30am 11:00am Christmas Eve 10:00am December 31, 2017 Preparation for Worship: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. ~ Psalm 22:23-24 This morning s sermon: For She Loved Much Luke 7:36-50 Assistant Pastor Mike Stephan 3
Order of Worship Gathering God s People Call to Worship, Psalm 130:1-4 Elder Mark Good Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. Gathering Song Good To Me Congregation Words Music by Craig Musseau 1990 Mercy Publishing. I cry out for Your hand Of mercy to heal me. I am weak, I need Your love to free me. Oh Lord, my rock, My strength in weakness, Come rescue me, oh Lord. You are my hope, Your promise never fails me. And my desire is to follow You forever. For You are good, for you are good, for You are good to me. For You are good, for you are good, for You are good to me. Prayer of Invocation Connecting to our Church Family Elder Mark Good Assistant Pastor Mike Stephan 4
Drawing Near Responsive Reading, Psalm 107:1-9 Peter Binnie Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God Pastoral Prayer Assistant Pastor Mike Stephan Song of Response God Be Merciful to Me Congregation Words: Public Domain Music: 1998 Miner, Christopher God, be merciful to me, on Thy grace I rest my plea; Plenteous in compassion Thou, blot out my transgressions now; Wash me, make me pure within, cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin. My transgressions I confess, grief and guilt my soul oppress; I have sinned against Thy grace and provoked Thee to thy face; I confess Thy judgment just, speechless, I Thy mercy trust. I am evil, born in sin; Thou desirest truth within. Thou alone my Savior art, teach Thy wisdom to my heart; Make me pure, Thy grace bestow, wash me whiter than the snow. Broken, humbled to the dust by Thy wrath and judgment just, Let my contrite heart rejoice and in gladness hear Thy voice; From my sins O hide Thy face, blot them out in boundless grace. Gracious God, my heart renew, make my spirit right and true Cast me not away from Thee, let Thy Spirit dwell in me; Thy salvation s joy impart, steadfast make my willing heart. 5
Song of Praise What A Beautiful Name Congregation Words and Music by Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood You were the Word at the beginning, One With God the Lord Most High. Your hidden glory in creation, Now revealed in You our Christ. What a beautiful Name it is, What a beautiful Name it is, The Name of Jesus Christ my King. What a beautiful Name it is, Nothing compares to this, What a beautiful Name it is, The Name of Jesus. You didn t want heaven without us, So Jesus, You brought heaven down. My sin was great, Your love was greater, What could separate us now? What a wonderful Name it is... Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You, You silence the boast, of sin and grave. The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory, For You are raised to life again. You have no rival, You have no equal, Now and forever, God, You reign. Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the glory, Yours is the Name, above all names. What a powerful Name it is, Nothing can stand against. What a powerful Name it is, The Name of Jesus. Good News for Kids (11:00) Tate Shelby High School Director 6
Dedicating Ourselves to God Offertory In Christ Alone Congregation Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend 2001 Thankyou Music CCLI Licence # 56194 In Christ alone my hope is found He is my Light, my strength, my song; This Cornerstone, this solid ground Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace When fears are stilled, when strivings cease; My Comforter, my all in all Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless Babe; This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save. Til on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied; For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again. And as He stands in victory Sin s curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His, and He is mine Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the pow r of Christ in me; From life s first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny. No pow r of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His hand til He returns, or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I ll stand. 7
5 9 13 Glo - ry to God, the Child is born! Sing with joy, sing with joy! Glo - ry to God, the Child is born! Sing with joy, sing with joy! All Christmastide Doxology from Antiphonal Praise words and music by Patrick Liebergen arr. Daniel Delaney œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ J œ œ œ œ œ œ j œ œ œ œ œ cre-a - tion join the praise, grate - ful songs our voi - ces raise: œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Glo - ry to God, the Child is born! Sing with joy, sing with joy! 17 21 25 29 Al Al Al œ œ œ œ w - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia! œ œ œ œ w - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia! œ œ œ œ w - le - lu - ia, al - le - lu - ia! œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Glo - ry to God,the Child is born! Sing with joy, sing with joy! 8
Enjoying God s Fellowship Sermon For She Loved Much Mike Stephan Sermon text: Luke 7:36-50 Assistant Pastor Pew Bible Page 864 Sending God s People Sending Song Be Magnified Congregation Lynn Deshazo, 1991 Integrity s Hosanna! Music I have made You too small in my eyes O Lord, forgive me; And I have believed in a lie That You were unable to help me. But now, O Lord, I see my wrong, Heal my heart and show yourself strong; And in my eyes and with my song, O Lord, be magnified, O Lord, be magnified. Chorus Be magnified, O Lord, You are highly exalted; And there is nothing You can t do, O Lord, my eyes are on you. Be magnified, O Lord, be magnified. I have leaned on the wisdom of men, O Lord, forgive me; And I have responded to them Instead of Your light and Your mercy. But now, O Lord, I see my wrong, Heal my heart and show yourself strong; And in my eyes and with my song, O Lord, be magnified, O Lord, be magnified. Benediction 9
Sermon Notes Luke 7:36-50 For She Loved Much The Prayer Team is available for those who would like prayer, by the choir loft, after the 11:00 service. 10