The Lord’s Day
June 29, 2008
Prelude
Apostolic Greeting
*Call to Worship Psalm 68:1-5
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate Him flee before Him.
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;
As wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish before God.
But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God;
Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.
Sing to God, sing praises to His name; lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him.
A Father of the fatherless and a Judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
*Gloria Patri No. 734
*Prayer of Invocation
*Hymn Stand Up, O God, Be Present Now No. 71
Public Confession
Our praise of You, O Lord, brings to mind our struggles with sin. Therefore, we ask for forgiveness; we ask for mercy. For our sinful speech and thoughts, we seek forgiveness. For our sinful attitudes and actions, we ask forgiveness. We rejoice in our Savior, and we rest in Him alone. We give thanks for His work on our behalf.
Words of Assurance Titus 3:4-7
When the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Response The Lord’s My Shepherd (inside front cover)
Prayer for the Tithe and Offerings
Collection of the Tithe and Offerings
*Doxology No. 731
*Declaring Our Faith The Larger Catechism (186, 187)
What rule has God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?
The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Savior Christ taught His disciples, commonly called the Lord’s Prayer.
How is the Lord’s Prayer to be used?
The Lord’s Prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer.
Pastoral Prayer
*Responsive Reading Proverbs 27:15-27
A constant dripping on a day of steady rain and a contentious woman are alike;
He who would restrain her restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.
Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who cares for his master will be honored.
As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And each is tested by the praise accorded him.
Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds;
For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.
When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,
The lambs will be for your clothing,
And the goats will bring the price of a field,
And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food,
For the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens.
*Hymn Jesus, Lover of My Soul No. 508
*Public Reading of the Word 2 Thessalonians 1
*Prayer for the Ministry of the Word
Sermon
Hymn Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me No. 500
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper+
*Hymn O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart’s Desire No. 161
*Benediction
*Threefold Amen No. 740
* Congregation will please stand
+ Visitors: please see the note on the back of this bulletin