Welcome
Thank you so much for joining us! The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
A few tips for parents:
- Plan for your time – read through the guide and prepare the room where you are gathering
- Make your time joyful – have fun!!!
- Remember, it’s primarily about a relationship, not a task to scratch off
- Have your kids participate in age and maturity appropriate ways – reading, singing, etc.
Time of Reflection
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”
~Bruce Lee (1940-1973), actor, director and martial artist
“I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put him. We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left him.”
~Ravi Zacharias (1946-2020), author and Christian apologist
“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
~John Bunyan (1628-1688), preacher and author of Pilgrim’s Progress
“Peace in the Bible is not a negative, the absence of hostilities, but rather a positive that includes everything necessary for human flourishing. It is a holistic word. Peace comes when our physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs are met.”
~Glenn Sunshine, history professor and author
Christ’s love towards us, and not our love towards Christ, is the true ground of expectation, and true foundation of hope.
~J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), Anglican bishop
“Do not look to your hope, but to Christ, the source of your hope.”
~C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London preacher
“Christian hope rests upon the fact not that evil can be ignored, or that it will simply fade away, but that it has been judged at the cross.”
~David F. Wells, theologian, professor and author
“[K]now, at the end of the day, following Jesus is not necessarily designed to be safe. Safety is a natural desire but it can keep us from being like Jesus in the midst of an unsafe world.”
~The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon
“…the church is not a human society of people united by their natural affinities but the Body of Christ, in which all members, however different, (and He rejoices in their differences and by no means wishes to iron them out) must share the common life, complementing and helping one another precisely by their differences.”
~C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), writer and Oxford professor
~Bruce Lee (1940-1973), actor, director and martial artist
“I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put him. We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left him.”
~Ravi Zacharias (1946-2020), author and Christian apologist
“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
~John Bunyan (1628-1688), preacher and author of Pilgrim’s Progress
“Peace in the Bible is not a negative, the absence of hostilities, but rather a positive that includes everything necessary for human flourishing. It is a holistic word. Peace comes when our physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs are met.”
~Glenn Sunshine, history professor and author
Christ’s love towards us, and not our love towards Christ, is the true ground of expectation, and true foundation of hope.
~J.C. Ryle (1816-1900), Anglican bishop
“Do not look to your hope, but to Christ, the source of your hope.”
~C.H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London preacher
“Christian hope rests upon the fact not that evil can be ignored, or that it will simply fade away, but that it has been judged at the cross.”
~David F. Wells, theologian, professor and author
“[K]now, at the end of the day, following Jesus is not necessarily designed to be safe. Safety is a natural desire but it can keep us from being like Jesus in the midst of an unsafe world.”
~The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon
“…the church is not a human society of people united by their natural affinities but the Body of Christ, in which all members, however different, (and He rejoices in their differences and by no means wishes to iron them out) must share the common life, complementing and helping one another precisely by their differences.”
~C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), writer and Oxford professor
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
Psalm 145:1-13 (ESV)
LEADER: I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
PEOPLE: Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
LEADER: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
PEOPLE: One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
LEADER: On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
PEOPLE: They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
LEADER: They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
PEOPLE: The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
LEADER: The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
PEOPLE: All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
LEADER: They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
ALL: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
LEADER: I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
PEOPLE: Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
LEADER: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
PEOPLE: One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
LEADER: On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
PEOPLE: They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
LEADER: They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
PEOPLE: The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
LEADER: The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
PEOPLE: All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
LEADER: They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
ALL: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
(John Rippon, Joseph Funk, 1787)
(John Rippon, Joseph Funk, 1787)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame will not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose.
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame will not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose.
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
PUBLIC DOMAIN
RESPONSIVE READING
Psalm 63 (ESV)
LEADER: O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
PEOPLE: So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
LEADER: Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
PEOPLE: So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
LEADER: My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
PEOPLE: My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
LEADER: But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
ALL: But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
LEADER: O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
PEOPLE: So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
LEADER: Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
PEOPLE: So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.
LEADER: My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night;
for you have been my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.
PEOPLE: My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
LEADER: But those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down into the depths of the earth;
they shall be given over to the power of the sword;
they shall be a portion for jackals.
ALL: But the king shall rejoice in God;
all who swear by him shall exult,
for the mouths of liars will be stopped.
THERE IS A FOUNTAIN
(William Cowper, 1772)
(William Cowper, 1772)
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more:
Be saved, to sin no more,
Be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains:
Lose all their guilty stains,
Lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away:
Wash all my sins away,
Wash all my sins away;
And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved, to sin no more:
Be saved, to sin no more,
Be saved, to sin no more;
Till all the ransomed Church of God
Be saved to sin no more.
E’er since, by faith, I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die:
And shall be till I die,
And shall be till I die;
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Prayer Time
(You may have an open time of prayer or select someone to pray)
- Pray for our nation – that the good news of Jesus Christ would reconcile people and bring justice.
- Pray for those who are hurting from disease and from unfair treatment.
- Pray for those leading our country and state – that they would have wisdom and grace in their decision making.
Listen to Sermon
“A Faith that Works in Prayer”
James 5:13-20 (ESV)
preached by Abrm McQuarters
James 5:13-20 (ESV)
preached by Abrm McQuarters
Confession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed (circa 5th Century)
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic** church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Amen.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?
CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic** church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Amen.
*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”
Sharing Time
(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)
Song
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
HE WILL HOLD ME FAST
(Ada Ruth Habershon, 1906, Matthew Merker)
(Ada Ruth Habershon, 1906, Matthew Merker)
When I fear my faith will fail,
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.
CHORUS:
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast,
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
(CHORUS)
For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight,
When he comes at last.
(CHORUS)
©2013 Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) CCLI #1791178
Christ will hold me fast;
When the tempter would prevail,
He will hold me fast.
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path;
For my love is often cold;
He must hold me fast.
CHORUS:
He will hold me fast,
He will hold me fast,
For my Savior loves me so,
He will hold me fast.
Those He saves are His delight,
Christ will hold me fast;
Precious in His holy sight,
He will hold me fast.
He’ll not let my soul be lost;
His promises shall last;
Bought by Him at such a cost,
He will hold me fast.
(CHORUS)
For my life He bled and died,
Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied;
He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life,
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight,
When he comes at last.
(CHORUS)
©2013 Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) CCLI #1791178
Closing Prayer
(select someone to close your time in prayer)
Benediction
(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)
Hebrews 13:20-21
LEADER: Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.
PEOPLE: Amen!
Hebrews 13:20-21
LEADER: Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.
PEOPLE: Amen!