Morning Worship Service
Sunday, April 2, 2023
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Introit - “All Things New Again” – Rooted Kids
For behold, He will create a new heavens and new earth. He will drive away our sorrow and our pain and this momentary grief, though heavy as it seems, will be crushed by glory’s great eternal weight.
He will make all things new again; He will keep all His promises
He will love all who come to Him; He will make all things new again
For behold, the sun will rise over wastelands dead and dry. In its place shall spring a river full of life. Every wrong will be undone, every thirsty soul shall come and drink from living water without price.
For behold, the holy mountain where the wolf and lamb shall graze. Where we lay our heads and finally find our home. Where the songs we sang in shadows will be sung to God’s own face. Where His smile will be the thing we treasure most
©2021 Joe Deegan. Words and Music by Joe Deegan
‡The Call To Worship – (From Psalm 145)
Pastor: The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Congregation: The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Pastor: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and your dominion endures forever!
Congregation: The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.
Pastor and Congregation: My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
‡The Hymn – “Christ is Mine Forevermore”
Mine are days that God has numbered. I was made to walk with Him.
Yet, I look for worldly treasure, and forsake the King of kings.
But mine is hope in my Redeemer. Though I fall, His love is sure.
For Christ has paid for every failing. I am His forevermore.
Mine are tears in times of sorrow, darkness not yet understood.
Through the valley I must travel where I see no earthly good.
But mine is peace that flows from heaven and the strength in times of need.
I know my pain will not be wasted; Christ completes His work in me.
Mine are days here as a stranger. Pilgrim on a narrow way.
One with Christ I will encounter harm and hatred for His name.
But mine is armor for this battle. Strong enough to last the war.
And He has said He will deliver safely to the golden shore.
And mine are keys to Zion city where beside the King I walk.
For there my heart has found its treasure, Christ is mine forevermore.
Come; rejoice now, O my soul. For His love is my reward.
Fear is gone and hope is sure, Christ is mine forevermore!
Come; rejoice now, O my soul. For His love is my reward.
Fear is gone and hope is sure, Christ is mine forevermore!
And mine are keys to Zion city where beside the King I walk.
For there my heart has found its treasure, Christ is mine forevermore.
Christ is mine forevermore. Christ is mine forevermore.
Credits: Jonny Robinson and Rich Thompson/CCLI License # 7036906
‡The Prayer of Invocation
The Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 25:6-9 --- Scott Hampton
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. 7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. 9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”
‡The Hymn No. 307 – “Nothing but the Blood”
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Nothing can for sin atone, nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done- nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain)
This is all my hope and peace, nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness, nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain)
Now by this I’ll overcome- nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Now by this I’ll reach my home- nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain)
The New Testament Reading and Congregational Prayer:
Romans 9:14-26 --- Josh Reagan
What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? 25 As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” 26 “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
Confession of Sin
Merciful Father, we have strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the schemes and desires of our own hearts, and have broken your holy laws. We have left undone what we ought to have done, and we have done what we ought not to have done. We thank you that you never allow us comfort when we are not walking with you. When we refuse to confess our sins you give us an inward ache. Help us to see the misery of unconfessed sin as a grace; it is a sign of being your child. Lord, lead us to repentance and may we receive your mercy and forgiveness in Christ.
Assurance of Pardon: Isaiah 53:1-5
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Offertory Prayer
‡The Hymn – “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us”
How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss. The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.
Behold the Man upon the cross, my sin upon His shoulders.
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life. I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything: No gifts, no pow’r, no wisdom.
But I will boast in Jesus Christ: His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.
Copyright © 1995 Thankyou Music | CCLI License #1558110
Children dismissed for Little Worship at this time
(K4 – K5)
Reading of the Holy Scripture: Luke 14:15-24
When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
The Sermon – “Luke #61: Invitations, Excuses, and Attendees” - Richard Owens
The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper
‡The Hymn – “Behold Him”
He who was before there was light, walked across the pages of time.
He who made every living thing, Behold Him.
He who heard humanity's cry, left His throne to wake as a child.
He became like the least of us. Behold Him.
Jesus, Son of God, Messiah, the Lamb, the roaring Lion. Oh, be still and behold Him.
He who dined with sinners and saints, healed the blind, the lost and the lame,
Even now He is in our midst. Behold Him.
He who chose a criminal's end, paid with blood to settle our debt,
Buried death as He rose to life. Behold Him.
Jesus, Son of God Messiah, the Lamb, the roaring Lion. Oh, be still and behold Him.
Jesus, Alpha and Omega, Our God the risen Savior. Oh, be still and behold Him.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. Worthy, worthy, worthy to receive all praise.
CCLI Song # 7133698 | Mitch Wong | Paul Baloche |CCLI License # 2640266
‡Benediction
‡Congregation standing