Order of Worship We seek to glorify God by preaching His Word and spreading the gospel of Grace in Boldness and Selflessness. www.saintstephenschapel.org
Order of Worship Saint Stephen s Chapel September 23, 2018 Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost Preparation for Worship God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners. Søren Kierkegaard Call to Worship Rev. Manny Alaniz Minister: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Song of Adoration * Arise, My Soul, Arise Arise, my soul, arise; shake off your guilty fears The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears Before the throne my Surety stands Before the throne my Surety stands My name is written on His hands (Chorus) Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise, arise, my soul, arise Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise, arise, my soul, arise Shake off your guilty fears and rise He ever lives above for me to intercede His all redeeming love, His precious blood to plead His blood atoned for every race; His blood atoned for every race And sprinkles now the throne of grace (Chorus) My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear With confidence I now draw nigh with confidence I now draw nigh And Father, Abba, Father! cry (Chorus x2).
*Prayer of Invocation *Affirmation of Faith The Heidelberg Catechism, Q/A 1 1 Minister: Christian, what is your only comfort in life and death? People: That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. *********************** 1 Heidelberg Catechism originated in Germany in 1562 under the authority of Elector Frederick III, who ruled the most important German province, the Palatinate, from his castle in Heidelberg. He commissioned the preparation of a new catechism for guiding ministers and teachers in instructing people in the Christian faith. Song of Praise * All Hail the Power of Jesus Name All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall Bring forth the royal diadem Bring forth the royal diadem Ye chosen seed of Israel's race Ye ransomed from the fall Hail Him Who saves you by His grace Hail Him Who saves you by His grace Let every kindred, every tribe On this terrestrial ball To Him all majesty ascribe To Him all majesty ascribe O that with yonder sacred throng We at His feet may fall We'll join the everlasting song
We'll join the everlasting song. God s Renewal The Law of God Mr. Jordan Wright Leader: Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8-10) Public Confession Leader: People: Silent Confession Let us confess our sins together. O Lord, I have a wild heart, and cannot stand before you. I am like a bird before a man. How little I love your truth and ways! I neglect prayer. My mind is a bucket without a bottom, with no spiritual understanding. My conscience is without conviction or contrition, with no sins to acknowledge. My heart is without affection, and full of leaks. Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of grace. *Assurance of Pardon and Comfort 1 John 2:1, 2 Leader: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Song of Renewal * Thy Mercy, My God Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here Sin would reduce me to utter despair
But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive And He that first made me still keeps me alive Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground And weep to the praise of the mercy I ve found Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine Seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine. Prayer for the People Mr. Wright Greeting *Scripture Reading Mrs. Jackie Wright Genesis 18:1-15 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth 3 and said, O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on since you have come to your servant. So they said, Do as you have said. 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes. 7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate. 9 They said to him, Where is Sarah your wife? And he said, She is in the tent. 10 The Lord said, I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son. And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure? 13 The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh and say, Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old? 14 Is anything
too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son. 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, I did not laugh, for she was afraid. He said, No, but you did laugh. Reader: People: This is The Word of The LORD. Thanks be to God. The Sermon Rev. Alaniz Is Anything Too Wonderful For The Lord? A Journey of Faith A Sermon Series on the Life of Abraham Celebration of Holy Communion A Word About Communion at Saint Stephen s Chapel: This is a time for all people to seek the Lord. For Christians, Communion (also called The Lord s Supper or The Eucharist, which means thanksgiving ) is a time to meet with their Savior by faith, to be strengthened and renewed by Him as they eat bread and drink wine. All baptized Christians who trust in Christ alone as their Savior and Lord, belong to a church that embraces the gospel, are at peace with their fellow neighbor, and seek strength and grace to live more faithfully to Christ, are invited to participate. If you are not a Christian, or if you are not prepared to share in this meal, we encourage you to spend this time in prayer and to consider more deeply your relationship to Jesus Christ. We also ask that children who have not yet publicly professed their faith in Christ refrain from partaking until doing so. Scripture Reading Mark 14:22-25 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, Take; this is my body. 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Prayer of Consecration Words of Institution Minister: These are Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on Him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving. Song of Communion Before the Throne of God Above Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me My name is graven on His hands My name is written on His heart I know that while in heav n He stands No tongue can bid me thence depart No tongue can bid me thence depart When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free For God the Just is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me To look on Him and pardon me Behold Him there, the risen Lamb My perfect, spotless Righteousness The great unchangeable I AM The King of glory and of grace One with Himself, I cannot die My soul is purchased by His blood My life is hid with Christ on high With Christ my Savior and my God With Christ my Savior and my God. *Offertory Prayer * Song of Blessing * O Great God O great God of highest heaven Occupy my lowly heart Own it all and reign supreme Conquer every rebel power Let no vice or sin remain That resists Your holy war You have loved and purchased me Make me Yours forevermore I was blinded by my sin Had no ears to hear Your voice Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven s joys Then Your Spirit gave me life Opened up Your Word to me Through the gospel of Your Son Gave me endless hope and peace Help me now to live a life That s dependent on Your grace Keep my heart and guard my soul From the evils that I face You are worthy to be praised With my every thought and deed O great God of highest heaven Glorify Your Name through me You are worthy to be praised With my every thought and deed O great God of highest heaven Glorify Your Name through me. *Benediction Rev. Alaniz Minister: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. People: Amen! (With great enthusiasm) Worship: Every Sunday, 10:30a.m., at 5410 Rogers Road, San Antonio 78251 Contact Information: Manny Alaniz, Pastor Mobile: 210-241-5969 Email: manny@saintstephenschapel.org Saint Stephen s Chapel P.O. Box 680085 San Antonio, TX 78268-0085 Website: SaintStephensChapel.org Like Us on Facebook! @SaintStephensChapel (Music printed by permission: CCLI # 11561771) Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.