January 7, 2024
Call to Worship
Psalm 130
A SONG OF ASCENTS
Leader: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
All: O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
Leader: If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
All: But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
Leader: I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
All: my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Leader: O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
All: And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
All My Ways Are Known to You
CityAlight
In days of peace and days of rest
In times of loss and loneliness
Though rich or poor, Your word is true
That all my ways are known to You
No trial has come beyond Your hand
No step I walk beyond Your plan
The path is dark outside my view
Still all my ways are known to You
CHORUS:
And oh what peace that I have found wherever I may be
For all my ways are known to You Hallelujah, they are known to You!
I do not fear the final night
For death will be the door to life
You take my hand and lead me through
For all my ways are known to You
BRIDGE:
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You have made these ways for me
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You my God, will walk with me
Psalm 127 (Unless the Lord)
The Corner Room
CHORUS:
Unless the Lord builds the house
Those who build it labor in vain
Unless the Lord watches over the city
The watchman stays awake in vain
It is in vain that you rise up early
And go late to rest
Eating the bread of anxious toil
For he gives to his beloved sleep
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord
The fruit of the womb a reward
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
Are the children of one’s youth
Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
When he speaks with his enemies in the gate
Confession of Sin
Matthew 6:25-34
From Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7)
Leader: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
All: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Leader: And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
All: yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Leader: But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
All: Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Leader: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Silent Prayers
Assurance of God’s Forgiveness
2 Corinthians 4:8, 14-18
All: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; … knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Blessed Assurance
CityAlight
All my attempts to be satisfied were vain and empty
Until the moment You rescued me and Your love filled me
My soul sings, now my soul sings
CHORUS:
What blessed assurance I've found in You, I've found in You
I won't be shaken, I will not be moved
How steadfast Your strong hand is keeping me, is keeping me
I won't be shaken, I will not be moved
Oh, blessed assurance
No other love that I've ever known compares to You, God
No other love that I've ever found has done what You've done
My soul sings, now my soul sings
BRIDGE:
Ever my anchor, ever my strength
Ever my portion and all I need
Ever my healing, ever my hope
Ever the truth that leads me home
That leads me home
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Family Life and Offerings
† Tithes and offerings can be given at fieldspres.org/give or in the offering box.
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with song.
Sermon Passage
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"Striving for Satisfaction"
Pastor Mike McBride
Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me
By CityAlight
What gift of grace is Jesus my Redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, all is mine
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The night is dark, but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayed
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing, I am free
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free wafers are available at the front table. We will all eat and drink together.
In Tenderness
By W. Spencer Walton (1894); Arr. by Citizens
In tenderness He sought me; weary and sick with sin
And on His shoulders brought me back to His fold again
While angels in His presence sang; until the courts of heaven rang
CHORUS:
Oh oh oh, the love that sought me!
Oh oh oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God
He died for me while I was sinning needy and poor and blind
He whispered to assure me, ”I've found thee; thou art Mine"
I never heard a sweeter voice; it made my aching heart rejoice
Upon His grace I'll ponder and sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder His blessings I retrace
It seems as if eternal days are far too short to sing His praise
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Psalm 130
A SONG OF ASCENTS
Leader: Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
All: O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
Leader: If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
All: But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
Leader: I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
All: my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.
Leader: O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
All: And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
All My Ways Are Known to You
CityAlight
In days of peace and days of rest
In times of loss and loneliness
Though rich or poor, Your word is true
That all my ways are known to You
No trial has come beyond Your hand
No step I walk beyond Your plan
The path is dark outside my view
Still all my ways are known to You
CHORUS:
And oh what peace that I have found wherever I may be
For all my ways are known to You Hallelujah, they are known to You!
I do not fear the final night
For death will be the door to life
You take my hand and lead me through
For all my ways are known to You
BRIDGE:
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You have made these ways for me
Open up my eyes so I may see
That You my God, will walk with me
Psalm 127 (Unless the Lord)
The Corner Room
CHORUS:
Unless the Lord builds the house
Those who build it labor in vain
Unless the Lord watches over the city
The watchman stays awake in vain
It is in vain that you rise up early
And go late to rest
Eating the bread of anxious toil
For he gives to his beloved sleep
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord
The fruit of the womb a reward
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
Are the children of one’s youth
Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
When he speaks with his enemies in the gate
Confession of Sin
Matthew 6:25-34
From Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7)
Leader: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
All: Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Leader: And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
All: yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Leader: But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
All: Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Leader: "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Silent Prayers
Assurance of God’s Forgiveness
2 Corinthians 4:8, 14-18
All: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; … knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Blessed Assurance
CityAlight
All my attempts to be satisfied were vain and empty
Until the moment You rescued me and Your love filled me
My soul sings, now my soul sings
CHORUS:
What blessed assurance I've found in You, I've found in You
I won't be shaken, I will not be moved
How steadfast Your strong hand is keeping me, is keeping me
I won't be shaken, I will not be moved
Oh, blessed assurance
No other love that I've ever known compares to You, God
No other love that I've ever found has done what You've done
My soul sings, now my soul sings
BRIDGE:
Ever my anchor, ever my strength
Ever my portion and all I need
Ever my healing, ever my hope
Ever the truth that leads me home
That leads me home
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Family Life and Offerings
† Tithes and offerings can be given at fieldspres.org/give or in the offering box.
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with song.
Sermon Passage
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
3 What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
4 A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.
7 All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again.
8 All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
9 What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there a thing of which it is said, "See, this is new"? It has been already in the ages before us.
11 There is no remembrance of former things, nor will there be any remembrance of later things yet to be among those who come after.
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"Striving for Satisfaction"
Pastor Mike McBride
Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me
By CityAlight
What gift of grace is Jesus my Redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, all is mine
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The night is dark, but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayed
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing, I am free
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section hosts near you. Gluten free wafers are available at the front table. We will all eat and drink together.
In Tenderness
By W. Spencer Walton (1894); Arr. by Citizens
In tenderness He sought me; weary and sick with sin
And on His shoulders brought me back to His fold again
While angels in His presence sang; until the courts of heaven rang
CHORUS:
Oh oh oh, the love that sought me!
Oh oh oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold of God
Grace that brought me to the fold of God
He died for me while I was sinning needy and poor and blind
He whispered to assure me, ”I've found thee; thou art Mine"
I never heard a sweeter voice; it made my aching heart rejoice
Upon His grace I'll ponder and sing anew His praise
With all adoring wonder His blessings I retrace
It seems as if eternal days are far too short to sing His praise
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide