BIBLE SENTENCE & PRAYER: Stated Supply Pastor Rev. Dr. R. Geoffrey Brown

PRELUDE: “The Old Rugged Cross,”  arr. Mary McDonald

Musician today: Robin Phillips, piano; Shannon Lewis, Violin

PLEASE NOTE: This music provides an opportunity for us to meditate, prepare our hearts, and reverently worship God the Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Elder Stephanie Stehl

“I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.” (Ps 27:6)

“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Ps 32:11)

“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!

Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness.”(Ps 33:1-4)

“Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!” (Ps 47:1)

“Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His Name; give to Him glorious praise.” (Ps 66:1-2)

“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to You; my soul also, which You have redeemed.” (Psalm 71:23)

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His Name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.” (Ps 29:2)

SONG OF PRAISE: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

1 Joyful, joyful, we adore You,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You,

Op’ning to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

2 All Your works with joy surround You,

Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays,

Stars and angels sing around You,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

Praising You eternally!

3 Always giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Well-spring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Loving Father, Christ our Brother,

Let Your light upon us shine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

God’s own love is reigning o’er us,

Joining people hand in hand.

Ever singing, march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

INVOCATION: In Unison

Most Gracious heavenly Father, Who from all eternity has searched us out that we might know You; receive us now into the courts of Your Temple in the name of Jesus Christ. Grant to us the grace and strength to rejoice as Christ’s disciples, that we might celebrate His mighty acts of redemption. To You, O gracious Father, enthroned above, and to the Son, sitting at Your right hand, and to the Holy Spirit, dwelling in our hearts and uniting us to You before Your heavenly throne of grace, be all glory, wisdom, power and dominion, now, and again, and forevermore, world without end, Amen.

HYMN OF WORSHIP: “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”

1 Sing praise to God who reigns above,

the God of all creation,

the God of power, the God of love,

the God of our salvation.

With healing balm my soul is filled

and every faithless murmur stilled:

To God all praise and glory.

2 The Lord is never far away,

but through all grief distressing,

an ever present help and stay,

our peace and joy and blessing.

As with a mother’s tender hand,

God gently leads the chosen band:

To God all praise and glory.

3 Thus all my toilsome way along,

I sing aloud thy praises,

that earth may hear the grateful song

my voice unwearied raises.

Be joyful in the Lord, my heart,

both soul and body bear your part:

To God all praise and glory.

4 Let all who name Christ’s holy name

give God all praise and glory;

let all who own his power proclaim

aloud the wondrous story!

Cast each false idol from its throne,

for Christ is Lord, and Christ alone:

To God all praise and glory.

CONFESSING OUR SIN TOGETHER: In Unison

Merciful Lord, we confess that with us there is an abundance of sin, but in You there is the fullness of righteousness and abundance of mercy. We are spiritually poor, but You are rich and in Jesus Christ came to be merciful to the poor. Strengthen our faith and trust in You. We are empty vessels that need to be filled; fill us. We are weak in faith; strengthen us. We are cold in love; warm us, and make our hearts fervent for You that our love may go out to one another and to our neighbors. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please the next few moments for quiet reflection and confession of sins to God.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON:

As far as the east is from the west, so far has God separated us from the penalty for our sin. By God’s grace, we are forgiven.

THE READING OF GOD’S WORD: Pastor Geoff

OT: Psalm 3; NT: Romans 8:18-39

PRAYER FOR THE PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE: Stephanie Stehl

OFFERTORY: “In His Time,” arr. Laura Berquist

DOXOLOGY:

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

HYMN OF ADORATION: “Come Ye Sinners, Poor & Needy”

1 Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,

weak and wounded, sick and sore;

Jesus ready stands to save you,

full of pity, love, and power.

Refrain: I will rise and go to Jesus!

He will embrace me in his arms.

In the arms of my dear Savior,

O there are ten thousand charms.

2 Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome,

God’s free bounty glorify;

true belief and true repentance,

ev’ry grace that brings you nigh. (Refrain)

3 Let not conscience make you linger,

nor of fitness fondly dream;

all the fitness he requireth

is to feel your need of him. (Refrain)

4 Come, ye weary, heavy laden,

lost and ruined by the fall;

if you tarry till you’re better,

you will never come at all. (Refrain)

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THE WORD SPEAKS TO OUR LIVES: Pastor Geoff

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CLOSING SONG: “Victory in Jesus”

1 I heard an old, old story,

How a Savior came from glory,

How He gave His life on Calvary

To save a wretch like me;

I heard about His groaning,

Of His precious blood’s atoning,

Then I repented of my sins

And won the victory.

Refrain:

O victory in Jesus,

My Savior forever,

He sought me and bought me

With His redeeming blood;

He loved me ere I knew Him,

And all my love is due Him,

He plunged me to victory,

Beneath the cleansing flood.

2 I heard about His healing,

Of His cleansing power revealing,

How He made the lame to walk again

And cause the blind to see;

And the I cried “Dear Jesus,

Come and heal my broken spirit.”

I then obeyed His blest commands

And gained the victory. (Refrain)

3 I heard about a mansion

He has built for me in glory,

And I heard about the streets of gold

Beyond the crystal sea;

About the angels singing,

And the old redemption story,

And some sweet day I’ll sing up there

The song of victory. (Refrain)