December 4, 2022
Call to Worship
Psalm 98
Leader: Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
All: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Leader: Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
All: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Joy to the World
Isaac Watts, 1719. Arr. Lowell Mason, 1848. Based on Psalm 98
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Paraphraser: Gerard Moultrie (1864)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ, our God, to earth descending,
comes our homage to command.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human likeness,
in the body and the blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heav’nly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way
as the Light from Light, descending
from the realms of endless day,
comes the pow’rs of hell to vanquish
as the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
Prayer of Confession
2 Peter 3:4,8-9,13-15
Leader: [Scoffers] will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."
All: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Leader: But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation…
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
2 Peter 3:17-18
Leader: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All: To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Before the Throne of God Above
Words: Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863; Music: Vikki Cook, 1993. ©1997 PDI Worship (Admin. By The Copyright Company)
Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
my name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.
Behold him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless Righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself, I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God.
Family Life
Receiving New Members
Covenant Baptism
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Luke 12:35-48
35 "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon: "Be Ready"
Pastor Chris McLaughlin
CLICK HERE TO TAKE SERMON NOTES
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Charles Wesley, 1744
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high appear.
Come thou promised Rod of Jesse, Of thy birth we long to hear!
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
Go to him your praises bring, Christ the Lord has come to earth.
Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end.
By his life he brings us gladness, Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section leaders near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
O Savior Rend the Heavens Wide
O Savior rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down
Unbar the way to heaven’s crown
O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,
When shall our hearts behold your dawn?
O Sun, arise; without your light
We grope in gloom and dark of night.
Sin’s dreadful doom upon us lies;
Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
Oh, come lead us, with mighty hand
Through exile to the promised land.
There shall we all our praises sing
Ever to you, our Savior King;
There shall we laud you and adore
Forever and forever more.
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Psalm 98
Leader: Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
All: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Leader: Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
All: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Joy to the World
Isaac Watts, 1719. Arr. Lowell Mason, 1848. Based on Psalm 98
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heav'n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
Paraphraser: Gerard Moultrie (1864)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly-minded,
for with blessing in his hand
Christ, our God, to earth descending,
comes our homage to command.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human likeness,
in the body and the blood
he will give to all the faithful
his own self for heav’nly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way
as the Light from Light, descending
from the realms of endless day,
comes the pow’rs of hell to vanquish
as the darkness clears away.
At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the presence
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
Prayer of Confession
2 Peter 3:4,8-9,13-15
Leader: [Scoffers] will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."
All: But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Leader: But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation…
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
2 Peter 3:17-18
Leader: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All: To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Before the Throne of God Above
Words: Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863; Music: Vikki Cook, 1993. ©1997 PDI Worship (Admin. By The Copyright Company)
Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
my name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.
Behold him there, the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless Righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with Himself, I cannot die;
My soul is purchased by his blood;
My life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God.
Family Life
Receiving New Members
Covenant Baptism
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with a song reprised.
Sermon Passage
Luke 12:35-48
35 "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
41 Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" 42 And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon: "Be Ready"
Pastor Chris McLaughlin
CLICK HERE TO TAKE SERMON NOTES
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Charles Wesley, 1744
Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high appear.
Come thou promised Rod of Jesse, Of thy birth we long to hear!
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
Go to him your praises bring, Christ the Lord has come to earth.
Come to earth to taste our sadness, He whose glories knew no end.
By his life he brings us gladness, Our Redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number, Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder, Christ was born the Lord of all.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
The Lord’s Supper
† Receive bread and juice from one of our section leaders near you. Gluten free options are available at the front table.
O Savior Rend the Heavens Wide
O Savior rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down
Unbar the way to heaven’s crown
O Morning Star, O radiant Sun,
When shall our hearts behold your dawn?
O Sun, arise; without your light
We grope in gloom and dark of night.
Sin’s dreadful doom upon us lies;
Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
Oh, come lead us, with mighty hand
Through exile to the promised land.
There shall we all our praises sing
Ever to you, our Savior King;
There shall we laud you and adore
Forever and forever more.
Benediction
† We invite you to stretch out your hands as you receive the Lord’s blessing.
Posted in Worship Guide