May 7, 2023
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
Call to Worship
Revelation 1:4-6
Leader: John [wrote] to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
All: To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Adoration
I Will Follow
By Jon Guerra and Vertical Worship.
When the sea is calm and all is right
When I feel Your favor flood my life
Even in the good, I'll follow You
Even in the good, I'll follow You
When the boat is tossed upon the waves
When I wonder if You'll keep me safe
Even in the storms, I'll follow You
Even in the storms, I'll follow You
I believe everything that You say You are
I believe and I have seen Your unchanging heart
In the good things and in the hardest part
I believe and I will follow You
I believe and I will follow You
When I see the wicked prospering
When I feel I have no voice to sing
Even in the want, I'll follow You
Yes, even in the want, I'll follow You
When I find myself so far from home
And You lead me somewhere I don't wanna go
Even in my death, I'll follow You
Even in my death, I'll follow You
When I come to end this race I've run
And I receive the prize that Christ has won
Yes, I will be with You in paradise
Oh, I will be with You in paradise
Be Thou My Vision
Translated 1905 from the old Irish hymn “Bi Thusa ‘mo Shuile” by Mary E. Byrne. Arr. Ascend the Hill, 2010.
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
Bridge:
Oh God, be my everything, be my delight
Be, Jesus, my glory, my soul satisfied
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all; Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Prayer of Confession
Exodus 4:10-13
Leader: But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Then the LORD said to him,
All: "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
Leader: But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Exodus 3:9-12
Leader: And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, [Moses], I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God,
All: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
Leader: [God] said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
Doxology
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674. Music: Old 100th, Genevan Psalter, 1551, attributed to Louis Bourgeois
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.
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with song.
Sermon Passage
2 Corinthians 2:12-3:3
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"Letters Written on the Heart"
Pastor Mike McBride
The Church’s One Foundation
Words by Samuel Stone, 1866. Music by Brian Moss, ©1996 Parson John Publishing (ASCAP).
The Church’s one foundation, Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation, By water and the Word :
From Heaven He came and sought her, To be His holy Bride,
With His Own Blood He bought her, And for her life He died.
Elect from every nation, Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation, One Lord, one Faith, one Birth,
One Holy Name she blesses, Partakes one Holy Food,
And to one Hope she presses, With every grace endued.
Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed
Yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song
Yet she on earth hath union, With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion, With those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy, Lord give us grace that we
Like them the meek and lowly, On high may dwell with Thee.
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.
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
Oh, exalted He shall be
Oh, 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.
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
Call to Worship
Revelation 1:4-6
Leader: John [wrote] to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.
All: To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of Adoration
I Will Follow
By Jon Guerra and Vertical Worship.
When the sea is calm and all is right
When I feel Your favor flood my life
Even in the good, I'll follow You
Even in the good, I'll follow You
When the boat is tossed upon the waves
When I wonder if You'll keep me safe
Even in the storms, I'll follow You
Even in the storms, I'll follow You
I believe everything that You say You are
I believe and I have seen Your unchanging heart
In the good things and in the hardest part
I believe and I will follow You
I believe and I will follow You
When I see the wicked prospering
When I feel I have no voice to sing
Even in the want, I'll follow You
Yes, even in the want, I'll follow You
When I find myself so far from home
And You lead me somewhere I don't wanna go
Even in my death, I'll follow You
Even in my death, I'll follow You
When I come to end this race I've run
And I receive the prize that Christ has won
Yes, I will be with You in paradise
Oh, I will be with You in paradise
Be Thou My Vision
Translated 1905 from the old Irish hymn “Bi Thusa ‘mo Shuile” by Mary E. Byrne. Arr. Ascend the Hill, 2010.
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my wisdom, Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art
Bridge:
Oh God, be my everything, be my delight
Be, Jesus, my glory, my soul satisfied
High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all; Still be my vision, O ruler of all
Prayer of Confession
Exodus 4:10-13
Leader: But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." Then the LORD said to him,
All: "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak."
Leader: But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."
Silent Prayers
God’s Assurance of Forgiveness
Exodus 3:9-12
Leader: And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, [Moses], I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God,
All: "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"
Leader: [God] said, "But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."
Doxology
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674. Music: Old 100th, Genevan Psalter, 1551, attributed to Louis Bourgeois
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.
Family Life
† During a brief intermission, children can go with their teachers for a lesson.
The musicians will call us back with song.
Sermon Passage
2 Corinthians 2:12-3:3
12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Pastor: The grass withers and the flower fades...
All: ...but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Sermon
"Letters Written on the Heart"
Pastor Mike McBride
The Church’s One Foundation
Words by Samuel Stone, 1866. Music by Brian Moss, ©1996 Parson John Publishing (ASCAP).
The Church’s one foundation, Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation, By water and the Word :
From Heaven He came and sought her, To be His holy Bride,
With His Own Blood He bought her, And for her life He died.
Elect from every nation, Yet one o’er all the earth,
Her charter of salvation, One Lord, one Faith, one Birth,
One Holy Name she blesses, Partakes one Holy Food,
And to one Hope she presses, With every grace endued.
Though with a scornful wonder we see her sore oppressed
By schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed
Yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song
Yet she on earth hath union, With God the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion, With those whose rest is won;
O happy ones and holy, Lord give us grace that we
Like them the meek and lowly, On high may dwell with Thee.
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.
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
Oh, exalted He shall be
Oh, 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