ORDER OF WORSHIP July 6, 2014 4 rd Sunday after Pentecost *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 My Jesus, I Love Organ David H. Hegarty WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS John McCallum Heidelberg Catechism John McCallum QUESTIONS 72 74 (LORD S DAY 27) 72Q. Does this outward washing with water itself wash away sins? A. No, only Jesus Christ s blood and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sins. 73 Q. Why then does the Holy Spirit call baptism the water of rebirth and the washing away of sins? A. God has good reason for these words. To begin with, God wants to teach us that the blood and Spirit of Christ take away our sins just as water removes dirt from the body. But more important, God wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that we are as truly washed of our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water physically. 74 Q. Should infants also be baptized? A. Yes. Infants as well as adults are included in God s covenant and people, and they, no less than adults, are promised deliverance from sin through Christ s blood and the Holy Spirit who produces faith. Therefore, by baptism, the sign of the covenant,
they too should be incorporated into the Christian church and distinguished from the children of unbelievers. This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision, which was replaced in the New Testament by baptism. CALL TO WORSHIP: John McCallum O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33 36 (NRSV) *SONGS OF WORSHIP: LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS (Hymn #609) (VERSE 1) What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. (REFRAIN) Leaning, leaning safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; O how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. (REPEAT REFRAIN) (VERSE 3) What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. (REPEAT REFRAIN) SEEK YE FIRST (Hymn #447) (VERSE 1) Seek ye first the kingdom of God And his righteousness And all these things Shall be added unto you Allelu alleluia Ask and it shall be given unto you Seek and ye shall find Knock and the door shall be Opened unto you Allelu alleluia MOMENT FOR MISSION Koit Helde ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF ELDERS Sharon Osborne, Nick Robertson, and Misty Rowley *SONG OF WORSHIP: O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO (Hymn #531) (VERSE 1) O Love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee: I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be. O Light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine s blaze its day may brighter, fairer be. (VERSE 3) O Joy that sleekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain that morn shall tearless be. (VERSE 4) O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red life that shall endless be. TIME OF PRAYER Prayer of Confession Lois Robertson O God, Holy Trinity, help us to confess our sins. You give us a place in your creation, and you intend that we live in love with all that you have made. We confess that we abuse what you give us. By our thoughts, actions, and the meditations of our hearts we show how enslaved we are to life made corrupt by sin. Far from walking in the Spirit, we stumble on paths that lead to death. O Fire of heaven, have mercy on us. Satisfy the longings of our souls by taking us up into your Spirit that we may love our neighbor. Rekindle our desire to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ, whose passion for obeying you leads us to our inheritance,
which is your promised kingdom. To you and the Son and the Spirit, One God, be all worship and praise now and forever. Amen. [Silent Prayer] Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Pres from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2013. Declaration of Forgiveness: The crucified Christ has set us free to live in the Spirit of life. Hear the good news of the gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Lois Robertson Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Pres from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2013. OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS: *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 Dedication Lois Robertson Please be seated while the ushers pass the offering plates. Offertory Evocation Organ Dennis Eliot READING OF THE SCRIPTURES: Psalm 121 (NIV) I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Ross Cutter
3 He will not let your foot slip he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Matthew 7:7 14 (NIV) Rev. Don Meekhof 7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. MESSAGE Rev. Don Meekhof The Summit of The Sermon
Sermon Text: Matthew 7:12 Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God s Law and Prophets and this is what you get. (The Message) *SONG OF WORSHIP: TO GOD BE THE GLORY (Hymn #72) (VERSE 1) To God be the glory, great things he hath done, so loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life gate that all may go in. (REFRAIN) Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives. (REPEAT REFRAIN) (VERSE 3) Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done, and great our rejoicing in Jesus the Son; but purer, and higher and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. (REFRAIN) Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done.
SHARING AROUND CHRIST S TABLE COMMUNION Rev. Don Meekhof 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 Rev. Don Meekhof POSTLUDE O Worship the King Organ Lani Smith * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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!