----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------- Order of Worship October 7, 2018 Reflection The doctrine of adoption is as warm as the Bible gets. I can hardly think of anything more comforting, more nourishing, more uplifting than the glorious truth that when we trust in Christ, we are made into the sons and daughters of the Creator God. -Gavin Ortlund Prelude As worship begins, please silence your electronic devices. Call To Worship Psalm 43 Leader: Send out your light and your truth, O God; let them lead me. People: Let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! Leader: Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy. People: I will praise you with songs of joy, O God, my God! 1
Song Our God Water You turned into wine, Opened the eyes of the blind; There's no one like You, None like You. Into the darkness You shine, Out of the ashes, we rise; There's no one like You, None like You. Chorus: Our God is greater, Our God is stronger; God, You are higher than any other. Our God is healer, Awesome in power, our God, our God. Water You turned into wine, Opened the eyes of the blind; There's no one like You, None like You. Into the darkness You shine, Out of the ashes, we rise; There's no one like You, None like You. (Chorus) And if our God is for us Then who could ever stop us, And if our God is with us 2
Then what could stand against? And if our God is for us Then who could ever stop us, And if our God is with us Then what could stand against? Then what could stand against? (Chorus) Prayer of Adoration Glorious Lord of life, by the mighty resurrection of your Son you overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him. Grant that we who joyfully celebrate Christ s rising from the dead may be raised from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Affirmation of Faith The Heidelberg Catechism, Question 26 Leader: Who is God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth? All: God is 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 his Son. I trust him so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and he will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends me in this sad world. He is 3
able to do this because he is Almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father. Doxology Old Hundredth 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 Confession Gracious Father, we confess that we have longed too much for the comforts and treasures of this world rather than for your enduring Kingdom. We have loved the gifts more than the Giver. In your mercy, help us to see that the things we strive for are shadows, but you are the substance; they are quicksand, but you are a mighty rock; they are shifting, but you are an anchor. We plead for your forgiveness through the riches of Jesus Christ. Accept his worthiness for our unworthiness, his sinlessness for our transgressions, his fullness for our emptiness, his glory for our shame, his righteousness for our dead works, his riches for our poverty, his 4
death for our life. We pray in Jesus name, Amen. Private Confession Song Hide Away in the Love of Jesus Come weary saints, though tired and weak; Hide away in the love of Jesus. Your strength will return by His quiet streams, Hide away in the love of Jesus. Come wand'ring souls and find your home, Hide away in the love of Jesus. He offers the rest that you yearn to know, Hide away in the love of Jesus. Chorus: Hear Him calling your name; See the depths of His love In the wounds of His grace. Hide away. Come guilty ones weighed down with sin, Hide away in the love of Jesus. The freedom you long for is found in Him, Hide away in the love of Jesus. (Chorus) Come hopeless hearts do not despair, 5
Hide away in the love of Jesus. For ten thousand joys await you there, Hide away in the love of Jesus. (Chorus) Hide away; hide away in the love of Jesus. Words of Pardon and Comfort Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Song Blessed Assurance Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; 6
angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain) Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain) (Children through Kindergarten are dismissed for Children s Church; they will return for Communion.) Prayer of Intercession (Concluded by the Lord s Prayer) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy 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 thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. High Desert Highlights See Announcements on page 15 Offertory Scripture 1 John 3:1-3 7
3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Sermon: Rev. Rick Steele Bearing the Family Likeness Song: Creation Father, Long Before Father, long before creation Thou hadst chosen us in love, And that love so deep, so moving, Draws us close to Christ above. Still it keeps us, still it keeps us. Firmly fixed in Christ alone. Though the world may change its fashion, Yet our God is e er the same; His compassion and His covenant Through all ages will remain. God s own children, God s own children Must forever praise His name. 8
God s compassion is my story, Is my boasting all the day; Mercy free and never failing Moves my will, directs my way. God so loved us, God so loved us That His only Son He gave. Loving Father now before Thee We will ever praise Thy love, And our songs will sound unceasing Til we reach our home above, Giving glory, giving glory To our God and to the Lamb. Giving glory, giving glory To our God and to the Lamb. Celebration of the Lord s Supper This is a time for all people to seek the Lord. For Christians, the Lord s Supper (also called Communion 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 the bread and drink the elements. 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 9
not prepared to share in this meal, we encourage you to spend this time in prayer (see Prayers on page 14) 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. Both wine (red) and grape juice (white) are offered in each serving tray. Words of Institution Memorial Acclamation Minister: Therefore we proclaim the mystery of the faith: All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again! Minister: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. All: Therefore let us keep the feast. Minister: The gifts of God for the people of God. Communion Song In Christ Alone 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, 10
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: Till 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 power of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I'll stand. 11
Prayer of Thanksgiving Gracious Lord, we give you thanks for calling us out of the darkness and into your glorious light. When we remember the price you paid, the death of your only Son, we can only wonder and marvel at the greatness of your love. We give our lives to you Lord, and pray that through your Spirit you would teach us how to live according to your will. Send us out now to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of your mercy. We pray this in Jesus name, amen. Song All Glory Be to Christ Should nothing of our efforts stand, No legacy survive; Unless the Lord does raise the house, In vain its builders strive. To you who boast tomorrow's gain, Tell me what is your life? A mist that vanishes at dawn; All glory be to Christ! 12
Benediction Postlude Chorus: All glory be to Christ our king! All glory be to Christ! His rule and reign we ll ever sing, All glory be to Christ! His will be done, His kingdom come On earth as is above, Who is Himself our daily bread; Praise Him, the Lord of love. Let living water satisfy The thirsty without price; We'll take a cup of kindness yet; All glory be to Christ! (Chorus) When on the day the great I Am, The faithful and the true, The Lamb who was for sinners slain Is making all things new. Behold, our God shall live with us And be our steadfast light. And we shall e re His people be; All glory be to Christ! (Chorus) 13
All songs used by permission. CCLI License #11101021 Prayers 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 open me to the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing, and that leads to the life you promise. Amen. Prayer of Belief: Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete forgiveness. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and receive you as my Savior and Lord. Amen. Prayer for Those Struggling with Sin: Lord Jesus, grant that I may see in you the fulfillment of all my need, and 14
may 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 baptism and 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. Announcements Next Sunday we will gather for worship at 10am at the McLeod Family YMCA. Pastor Dan will continue our series in the book of Joshua. Two save the date items coming up this month: -Prayer meeting and supper, October 21, 5 pm, hosted by Bob and Pam Clark. -After Church Luncheon, October 28, at the YMCA immediately following worship. Get your crockpots ready! 15