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.
- You are welcome to print out this week's Children's Bulletin here.
Time of Reflection
“He [Jesus] must increase but I must decrease.”
~John 3:30 (ESV)
“A great man is always willing to be little.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson 19th Century American Author
“It was pride that changed angels into devils.”
~St. Augustine 5th Century Bishop of Hippo
“It is not particularly easy in this world to gather followers about one for a serious purpose. But when they are gathered it is infinitely harder to detach them and firmly insist that they go to another. It is the measure of John the Baptist’s greatness that he did just that.”
~Leon Morris 20th Century Australian New Testament Scholar
“And being found in human form, he [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
~Philippians 2:8 (ESV)
“If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”
~from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 20th Century British Author
“Christ is the humility of God, embodied in human nature. The eternal love humbling itself, clothing itself in the garb of meekness to win, and serve, and save us.”
~Andrew Murray South African Pastor and Writer
~John 3:30 (ESV)
“A great man is always willing to be little.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson 19th Century American Author
“It was pride that changed angels into devils.”
~St. Augustine 5th Century Bishop of Hippo
“It is not particularly easy in this world to gather followers about one for a serious purpose. But when they are gathered it is infinitely harder to detach them and firmly insist that they go to another. It is the measure of John the Baptist’s greatness that he did just that.”
~Leon Morris 20th Century Australian New Testament Scholar
“And being found in human form, he [Jesus] humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
~Philippians 2:8 (ESV)
“If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”
~from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis 20th Century British Author
“Christ is the humility of God, embodied in human nature. The eternal love humbling itself, clothing itself in the garb of meekness to win, and serve, and save us.”
~Andrew Murray South African Pastor and Writer
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
Psalm 93:1-5 (ESV)
LEADER: The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
PEOPLE: Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
LEADER: The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
PEOPLE: Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
LEADER: Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.
LEADER: The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
PEOPLE: Your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
LEADER: The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice;
the floods lift up their roaring.
PEOPLE: Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea,
the Lord on high is mighty!
LEADER: Your decrees are very trustworthy;
holiness befits your house,
O Lord, forevermore.
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE
(Frances R. Havergal, 1874)
(Frances R. Havergal, 1874)
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow with ceaseless praise,
Let them flow with ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou should choose,
Every power as Thou should choose.
Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love my Lord I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever only all for Thee,
Ever only all for Thee.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
Consecrated, Lord to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow with ceaseless praise,
Let them flow with ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every power as Thou should choose,
Every power as Thou should choose.
Take my will and make it Thine
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love my Lord I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever only all for Thee,
Ever only all for Thee.
PUBLIC DOMAIN
PSALM MEDITATION – Psalm 115:1-13 (ESV)
LEADER: Not to us, O Lord,
PEOPLE: Not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
LEADER: Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
PEOPLE: Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
LEADER: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
PEOPLE: They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
LEADER: They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
PEOPLE: They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
LEADER: Those who make them become like them;
PEOPLE: So do all who trust in them.
LEADER: O Israel, trust in the Lord!
PEOPLE: He is their help and their shield.
LEADER: O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
PEOPLE: He is their help and their shield.
LEADER: You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
PEOPLE: He is their help and their shield.
LEADER: The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
PEOPLE: He will bless the house of Israel;
LEADER: He will bless the house of Aaron;
PEOPLE: He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.
LEADER: May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
PEOPLE: The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
LEADER: The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.
ALL: But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!
LEADER: Not to us, O Lord,
PEOPLE: Not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
LEADER: Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
PEOPLE: Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
LEADER: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
PEOPLE: They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
LEADER: They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
PEOPLE: They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
LEADER: Those who make them become like them;
PEOPLE: So do all who trust in them.
LEADER: O Israel, trust in the Lord!
PEOPLE: He is their help and their shield.
LEADER: O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
PEOPLE: He is their help and their shield.
LEADER: You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
PEOPLE: He is their help and their shield.
LEADER: The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us;
PEOPLE: He will bless the house of Israel;
LEADER: He will bless the house of Aaron;
PEOPLE: He will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.
LEADER: May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
PEOPLE: The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
LEADER: The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.
ALL: But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!
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
Sharing
(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning)
Prayer Time
(You may have an open time of prayer or select someone to pray)
- Pray for our church’s short and long-term meeting place needs, that God would give us favor in the eyes of those in authority and that He would give us provision that would go far beyond all that we could ask or imagine.
- Pray for our world – that the good news of Jesus Christ would flourish and that many would come to know God genuinely and personally.
- Pray for those experiencing injustices; specifically, that God would bring hope, reconciliation, and restoration through the good news of His Son, and that we would be agents of this reconciliation.
- Pray for those in authority at every level in our country, that they would govern wisely and justly.
Listen to Sermon
“The Friend of the Bridegroom”
John 3:22-36
preached by Noah Crane
We hope to have a recording of the sermon available by 11:30 am.
John 3:22-36
preached by Noah Crane
We hope to have a recording of the sermon available by 11:30 am.
Scripture Passage: John 3:22-36 (ESV)
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Confession of Faith
1 Timothy 3:16
LEADER: And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness:
CONGREGATION: God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Nations,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
LEADER: And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness:
CONGREGATION: God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Nations,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
Song of Response
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
COME BEHOLD THE WONDROUS MYSTERY
(Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker)
(Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker)
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry
In the dawning of the King.
He the theme of heaven’s praises,
Robed in frail humanity.
In our longing in our darkness,
Now the light of life has come.
Look to Christ who condescended,
Took on flesh to ransom us.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
He the perfect Son of Man.
In His living in His suff’ring,
Never trace nor stain of sin.
See the true and better Adam,
Come to save the hell-bound man.
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law in Him we stand.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
Christ the Lord upon the tree.
In the stead of ruined sinners,
Hangs the Lamb in victory.
See the price of our redemption,
See the Father’s plan unfold.
Bringing many sons to glory,
Grace unmeasured love untold.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
Slain by death the God of life.
But no grave could e’er restrain Him,
Praise the Lord; He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliv’rance,
How unwavering our hope.
Christ in power resurrected,
As we will be when He comes.
©2012 Bleeker Publishing (Admin. by Michael Bleeker) CCLI #1791178
In the dawning of the King.
He the theme of heaven’s praises,
Robed in frail humanity.
In our longing in our darkness,
Now the light of life has come.
Look to Christ who condescended,
Took on flesh to ransom us.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
He the perfect Son of Man.
In His living in His suff’ring,
Never trace nor stain of sin.
See the true and better Adam,
Come to save the hell-bound man.
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law in Him we stand.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
Christ the Lord upon the tree.
In the stead of ruined sinners,
Hangs the Lamb in victory.
See the price of our redemption,
See the Father’s plan unfold.
Bringing many sons to glory,
Grace unmeasured love untold.
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
Slain by death the God of life.
But no grave could e’er restrain Him,
Praise the Lord; He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliv’rance,
How unwavering our hope.
Christ in power resurrected,
As we will be when He comes.
©2012 Bleeker Publishing (Admin. by Michael Bleeker) CCLI #1791178
Benediction
(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)
Luke 12:29-32
LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
PEOPLE: Amen!
Luke 12:29-32
LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
PEOPLE: Amen!
Worshipping God through Giving
God has called us to be generous. He has entrusted this earth and all that is in it to us, but it is, ultimately, His! The Father gave what was most precious to Him, His own Son, in order to die for our sins. He has given to us abundantly beyond all that we could possibly ask or imagine! He is a benevolent and generous Giver! So, we give.
First, we want to remind you to continue your regular giving to CRC. This supports the ongoing work and ministry here in the Upper Valley and around the world through our missions support. Second, please consider giving to our Benevolence Fund, which supports local community care, both inside and outside the church. This is vitally important right now! As we see needs sprouting up around the community, we want to be positioned to extend a loving hand of support to those in need.
Giving Numbers
Budgeted Giving: $242,280
Actual Giving to Date: $224,668
Difference: (-$17,612)
Missions Giving YTD: $42,140
updated as of 4/30/21
First, we want to remind you to continue your regular giving to CRC. This supports the ongoing work and ministry here in the Upper Valley and around the world through our missions support. Second, please consider giving to our Benevolence Fund, which supports local community care, both inside and outside the church. This is vitally important right now! As we see needs sprouting up around the community, we want to be positioned to extend a loving hand of support to those in need.
Giving Numbers
Budgeted Giving: $242,280
Actual Giving to Date: $224,668
Difference: (-$17,612)
Missions Giving YTD: $42,140
updated as of 4/30/21