ORDER OF WORSHIP April 6, 2014 Fifth Sunday of Lent, Communion Sunday *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 WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Piano Don Meekhof HEIDELBERG CATECHISM Jason Stuart Questions 35 36 (Lord s Day 14) 35 Q. What does it mean that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary? A. That the eternal Son of God, who is and remains true and eternal God, took to himself, through the working of the Holy Spirit, from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, a truly human nature so that he might also become David s true descendant, like his brothers and sisters in every way except for sin. 36 Q. How does the holy conception and birth of Christ benefit you? A. He is our mediator and, in God s sight, he covers with his innocence and perfect holiness my sinfulness in which I was conceived. CALL TO WORSHIP from John 3 Jason Stuart No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit. Truly I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen.
Everyone who believes in the Son of God may not perish but have eternal life. God sent not the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Let us worship God! *SONGS OF WORSHIP: MAKE ME A SERVANT Make me a servant humble and meek Lord let me lift up those who are weak And may the prayer of my heart always be Make me a servant make me a servant Make me a servant today CCLI Song # 33131 Kelly Willard 1982 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music) CCCM Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music) Willing Heart Music (Admin. by Maranatha! Music) For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License # 296507 AT CALVARY (Hymn #510) (VERSE 1) Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me he died on Calvary. (REFRAIN) Mercy there was great, and grace was free; Pardon there was multiplied to me; There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary. (VERSE 2) By God s Word at last my sin I learned, then I trembled at the law I d spurned, till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary. (VERSE 3) Now I ve given to Jesus everything; Now I gladly own him as my King
TIME OF PRAYER Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary. Dick Raymond Call to Confession When confronted by temptations, we are easily overcome. They allure us with promises we find hard to resist. We harbor fantasies of how our lives might have been. Our dreams become pervasive, hiding the truth of your love. Gracious God, have mercy upon us; enable us to discern deception when it appears. Enlighten us to your genuine renewal in Christ. [Silent Prayer] Assurance of Pardon Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. from Psalm 130 ANTHEM The Day the Cross Help Up the Sky Choir Douglas Nolan ADULT BAPTISM AND WELCOME INTO MEMBERSHIP Marsha Pettijohn Pastoral Prayer
OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS: Invitation to the Offering God of glory, receive these gifts and the offering of our lives. As Jesus was lifted up from earth, draw us to your heart in the midst of this world, that all creation may be brought from bondage to freedom, from darkness to light, and from death to life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Sineála O Neel *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. Please be seated while the ushers pass the offering plates. At this time the children are excused to the back of the sanctuary to attend Junior Chapel. Offertory Piano *HYMN OF PRAISE: THE OLD RUGGED CROSS (Hymn #484) (VERSE 1) On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross, where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. (REFRAIN) So I ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown. (VERSE 2)
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. (VERSE 3) In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; for twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me. (VERSE 4) To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then he ll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I ll share. READING OF THE SCRIPTURES: Jason Stuart John 3:13 17 (NIV) No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 15:12 14 (NIV) My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one s life for one s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. MESSAGE Cross Bound: The Strange Power of Self-Sacrificing Love
Sermon Text: And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. John 12:32 33 (NIV) *COMMUNION HYMN: AS HE GATHERED AT HIS TABLE (Hymn #778) (VERSE 1) As he gathered at his table those who longed to know the way, Christ proclaimed a holy mystery; still his words call us today. (VERSE 3) As he blessed the bread and broke it, human need to satisfy, Christ made even traitors welcome; still we question Is it I? (VERSE 4) As he took the cup and shared it, telling of the Father s care, Christ poured out himself in promise; still that covenant we must share. (VERSE 5) As they sang a hymn together, praising Israel s saving King, hearts and voices made one music; still delivering love we sing. (VERSE 6) As he went into the garden praying, Father, use your Son, Christ alone could know its meaning; still we pray, God s will be done. (VERSE 7) Though this feast be one of symbols, what we celebrate is real;
still Christ welcomes to his table; still Christ serves us at his meal. SHARING AROUND CHRIST S TABLE COMMUNION 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 POSTLUDE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Piano Today s Call Offertory Prayer was reprinted by permission from The Worship Sourcebook, 2004, Faith Alive Christian Resources 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!