April 21, 2024
Call to Worship
Ecclesiastes 1:5-8, John 3:8,13-16
Leader: The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.
All: 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.
Leader: All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
All: The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Leader: No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
All: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Crown Him With Many Crowns
By Matthew Bridges (1851); Godfrey Thring (1871)
Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity
Crown Him the Lord of life who triumphed over the grave
Who rose victorious to the strife for those He came to save
His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity
No Place Better (Psalm 84)
Caroline Cobb
How lovely is Your dwelling place
How wonderful Your presence, Lord
How my soul longs to see Your face
To come with joy into Your courts
How blessed is the little sparrow
Who makes a nest inside Your house
‘Cause I can think of no place better
To make a home and sing out loud
CHORUS:
I want to be in Your presence
I want to be near Your heart
I want to know You’re close
Even when I’m feeling far
I don’t want what this world would offer
I want the living God
‘Cause there’s no place better
Than where You are
We will go from strength to strength
Even in the wilderness
You are turning tears to desert springs
Leaving gardens in our footsteps
How blessed is the longing pilgrim
Whose heart is set on Zion’s hill
The one who knows there’s no place better
To bring our sorrows and be filled (Chorus)
BRIDGE:
One day with You
Is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You
Is better than silver or gold
I’d rather be
A servant in Your house, oh God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold (Chorus)
Confession of Sin
Proverbs 22:1-13
Leader: A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
All: The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.
Leader: The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
All: The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
Leader: Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
All: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Leader: The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
All: Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
Leader: Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
All: Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.
Leader: He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
All: The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
Leader: The sluggard says,
All: "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!"
Silent Prayers
Assurance of Forgiveness
Philippians 2:1-11
Leader: So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
All: who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ancient of Days
By CityAlight
Though the nations rage, kingdoms rise and fall
There is still one King reigning over all
So I will not fear for this truth re - mains
That my God is, the Ancient of Days
CHORUS:
None above Him, none before Him
All of time in His hands
For His throne it shall remain and ever stand
All the power, all the glory
I will trust in His name
For my God is, the Ancient of Days
Though the dread of night overwhelms my soul
He is here with me, I am not alone
Oh, His love is sure, and He knows my name
For my God is the Ancient of Days (Chorus)
Though I may not see what the future brings
I will watch and wait for the Savior King
Then my joy complete, standing face to face
In the presence of the Ancient of Days (Chorus)
Pastoral Prayer
Thanksgiving and Petition
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.
Sermon Passage
Ecclesiastes 11:1-10
11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. 5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. 6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"A Good Plan Today"
Pastor Mike McBride
Hold Thou My Hand
Lyrics: Fanny Crosby, 1874; Music: Nathan Partain, 2015
Hold Thou my hand; so weak I am and helpless
I dare not take one step without Thy aid
Hold Thou my hand, for then, O loving Savior
No dread of ill shall make my soul afraid
Hold Thou my hand and closer, draw me closer
To Thy dear self, my hope, my joy, my all
Hold Thou my hand, lest happily I should wander
And missing Thee, my trembling feet should fall
Hold Thou my hand; the way is dark before me
Without the sunlight of Thy face divine
But when by faith I catch its radiant glory
What heights of joy, what rapturous songs are mine
Hold Thou my hand, that when I reach the margin
Of that lone river Thou didst cross for me
A heavenly light may flash along its waters
And every wave like crystal bright shall be
Hold Thou my hand; so weak I am and helpless
I dare not take one step without Thy aid
I dare not take one step without Thy aid
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.
Come Behold (Psalm 46)
Thief to King
CHORUS:
Come behold the wondrous works
Of the Lord Who reigns on high
Oh, be still and know that He is God
Our fortress He will be
God is our refuge and our strength, a very present aid
Therefore, although the earth gives way we will not be afraid
Though mountains move into the sea, though waters rage and foam
Although the hills may quake and fall, our hope is in the Lord
The nations rage and kingdoms move, their plotting is in vain
They all shall tremble at the voice of God above who reigns
Great desolation to the earth, He turns the wars to peace
He breaks the bow and shatters spear, all chariots to cease
All the glory to His name
O exalted He shall be
O be still and know that He is God
Our fortress He will be
Our fortress He will be
Our fortress He will be
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Ecclesiastes 1:5-8, John 3:8,13-16
Leader: The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises.
All: 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.
Leader: All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again. All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
All: The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Leader: No one has ascended into heaven except him who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
All: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Crown Him With Many Crowns
By Matthew Bridges (1851); Godfrey Thring (1871)
Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity
Crown Him the Lord of life who triumphed over the grave
Who rose victorious to the strife for those He came to save
His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die
Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side
Rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified
No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright
Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee
And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity
No Place Better (Psalm 84)
Caroline Cobb
How lovely is Your dwelling place
How wonderful Your presence, Lord
How my soul longs to see Your face
To come with joy into Your courts
How blessed is the little sparrow
Who makes a nest inside Your house
‘Cause I can think of no place better
To make a home and sing out loud
CHORUS:
I want to be in Your presence
I want to be near Your heart
I want to know You’re close
Even when I’m feeling far
I don’t want what this world would offer
I want the living God
‘Cause there’s no place better
Than where You are
We will go from strength to strength
Even in the wilderness
You are turning tears to desert springs
Leaving gardens in our footsteps
How blessed is the longing pilgrim
Whose heart is set on Zion’s hill
The one who knows there’s no place better
To bring our sorrows and be filled (Chorus)
BRIDGE:
One day with You
Is better than a thousand elsewhere
One word from You
Is better than silver or gold
I’d rather be
A servant in Your house, oh God
Than a king with all the riches I could hold (Chorus)
Confession of Sin
Proverbs 22:1-13
Leader: A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.
All: The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.
Leader: The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
All: The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
Leader: Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
All: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Leader: The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
All: Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.
Leader: Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
All: Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.
Leader: He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
All: The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
Leader: The sluggard says,
All: "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!"
Silent Prayers
Assurance of Forgiveness
Philippians 2:1-11
Leader: So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
All: who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ancient of Days
By CityAlight
Though the nations rage, kingdoms rise and fall
There is still one King reigning over all
So I will not fear for this truth re - mains
That my God is, the Ancient of Days
CHORUS:
None above Him, none before Him
All of time in His hands
For His throne it shall remain and ever stand
All the power, all the glory
I will trust in His name
For my God is, the Ancient of Days
Though the dread of night overwhelms my soul
He is here with me, I am not alone
Oh, His love is sure, and He knows my name
For my God is the Ancient of Days (Chorus)
Though I may not see what the future brings
I will watch and wait for the Savior King
Then my joy complete, standing face to face
In the presence of the Ancient of Days (Chorus)
Pastoral Prayer
Thanksgiving and Petition
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.
Sermon Passage
Ecclesiastes 11:1-10
11:1 Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. 4 He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. 5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. 6 In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7 Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.
8 So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. 9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. 10 Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Leader: The grass withers, the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"A Good Plan Today"
Pastor Mike McBride
Hold Thou My Hand
Lyrics: Fanny Crosby, 1874; Music: Nathan Partain, 2015
Hold Thou my hand; so weak I am and helpless
I dare not take one step without Thy aid
Hold Thou my hand, for then, O loving Savior
No dread of ill shall make my soul afraid
Hold Thou my hand and closer, draw me closer
To Thy dear self, my hope, my joy, my all
Hold Thou my hand, lest happily I should wander
And missing Thee, my trembling feet should fall
Hold Thou my hand; the way is dark before me
Without the sunlight of Thy face divine
But when by faith I catch its radiant glory
What heights of joy, what rapturous songs are mine
Hold Thou my hand, that when I reach the margin
Of that lone river Thou didst cross for me
A heavenly light may flash along its waters
And every wave like crystal bright shall be
Hold Thou my hand; so weak I am and helpless
I dare not take one step without Thy aid
I dare not take one step without Thy aid
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.
Come Behold (Psalm 46)
Thief to King
CHORUS:
Come behold the wondrous works
Of the Lord Who reigns on high
Oh, be still and know that He is God
Our fortress He will be
God is our refuge and our strength, a very present aid
Therefore, although the earth gives way we will not be afraid
Though mountains move into the sea, though waters rage and foam
Although the hills may quake and fall, our hope is in the Lord
The nations rage and kingdoms move, their plotting is in vain
They all shall tremble at the voice of God above who reigns
Great desolation to the earth, He turns the wars to peace
He breaks the bow and shatters spear, all chariots to cease
All the glory to His name
O exalted He shall be
O be still and know that He is God
Our fortress He will be
Our fortress He will be
Our fortress He will be
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide