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
“The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His Presence.”
“We must never rest until everything inside us worships God.”
~A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), pastor and author
“All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me.”
~J.I. Packer (1926-2020), theologian and author
“… if we would see the glory of God, it appears most in grace, and mercy, and lovingkindness, and such sweet attributes…. We must take God, not as considered [abstractly]…, but God in Christ; for other notions of god are terrible.”
~Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), Anglican theologian
“But my sin was this, that I looked for pleasure, beauty, and truth not in Him but in myself and His other creatures, and the search led me instead to pain, confusion, and error.”
“O love, ever-burning never-quenched, O charity, my God, set me on fire with your love. You command me to be [controlled in my passions] – give me the grace to do as you command, and command me to do what you will.”
~St. Augustine (354-430) in his Confessions
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”
~Tim Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (NYC)
“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
~David Augsburger in Caring Enough to Confront
“Love is divine only and difficult always.”
~Toni Morrison (1935-2019), novelist and college professor
“We must never rest until everything inside us worships God.”
~A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), pastor and author
“All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me.”
~J.I. Packer (1926-2020), theologian and author
“… if we would see the glory of God, it appears most in grace, and mercy, and lovingkindness, and such sweet attributes…. We must take God, not as considered [abstractly]…, but God in Christ; for other notions of god are terrible.”
~Richard Sibbes (1577-1635), Anglican theologian
“But my sin was this, that I looked for pleasure, beauty, and truth not in Him but in myself and His other creatures, and the search led me instead to pain, confusion, and error.”
“O love, ever-burning never-quenched, O charity, my God, set me on fire with your love. You command me to be [controlled in my passions] – give me the grace to do as you command, and command me to do what you will.”
~St. Augustine (354-430) in his Confessions
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”
~Tim Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church (NYC)
“Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable.”
~David Augsburger in Caring Enough to Confront
“Love is divine only and difficult always.”
~Toni Morrison (1935-2019), novelist and college professor
Opening Prayer
(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)
Call to Worship
Psalm 102 (ESV)
ALL: Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
ALL: Hear my prayer, O Lord;
let my cry come to you!
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
Songs & Liturgy
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER
(Nathan Stiff)
(Nathan Stiff)
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
Greatest treasure of my longing soul.
My God, like You there is no other;
True delight is found in You alone.
Your grace a well too deep to fathom.
Your love exceeds the heavens’ reach.
Your truth a fount of perfect wisdom,
My highest good and my unending need.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
Strong defender of my weary heart.
My sword to fight the cruel deceiver
And my shield against his hateful darts.
My song when enemies surround me,
My hope when tides of sorrow rise,
My joy when trials are abounding,
Your faithfulness my refuge in the night.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
Gracious Savior of my ruined life.
My guilt and cross laid on Your shoulders.
In my place, You suffered, bled, and died.
You rose the grave and death are conquered;
You broke my bonds of sin and shame.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
May all my days bring glory to Your Name.
©2017 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity Music) CCLI License #1791178
Greatest treasure of my longing soul.
My God, like You there is no other;
True delight is found in You alone.
Your grace a well too deep to fathom.
Your love exceeds the heavens’ reach.
Your truth a fount of perfect wisdom,
My highest good and my unending need.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
Strong defender of my weary heart.
My sword to fight the cruel deceiver
And my shield against his hateful darts.
My song when enemies surround me,
My hope when tides of sorrow rise,
My joy when trials are abounding,
Your faithfulness my refuge in the night.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
Gracious Savior of my ruined life.
My guilt and cross laid on Your shoulders.
In my place, You suffered, bled, and died.
You rose the grave and death are conquered;
You broke my bonds of sin and shame.
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer,
May all my days bring glory to Your Name.
©2017 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity Music) CCLI License #1791178
Psalm Meditation
Psalm 102 (ESV)
LEADER: For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
PEOPLE: My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
LEADER: Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
PEOPLE: I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
LEADER: I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
PEOPLE: All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
LEADER: For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
PEOPLE: Because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
LEADER: My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
PEOPLE: But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
LEADER: You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
PEOPLE: For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
LEADER: Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
PEOPLE: For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
LEADER: He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
PEOPLE: Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
LEADER: That he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
PEOPLE: To hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,
ALL: That they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
LEADER: For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
PEOPLE: My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread.
LEADER: Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh.
PEOPLE: I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
LEADER: I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
PEOPLE: All the day my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.
LEADER: For I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink,
PEOPLE: Because of your indignation and anger; for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
LEADER: My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.
PEOPLE: But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; you are remembered throughout all generations.
LEADER: You will arise and have pity on Zion; it is the time to favor her; the appointed time has come.
PEOPLE: For your servants hold her stones dear and have pity on her dust.
LEADER: Nations will fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
PEOPLE: For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;
LEADER: He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer.
PEOPLE: Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:
LEADER: That he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
PEOPLE: To hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die,
ALL: That they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
Sharing
(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning; below are suggested questions)
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 racial injustices; specifically, that God would bring hope, reconciliation, and restoration through the good news of His Son.
- Pray for those in authority at every level in our country, that they would govern wisely and justly.
Listen to Sermon
“Knowing and Being Known”
preached by Pastor Don Willeman
preached by Pastor Don Willeman
Song of Response
(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
COME BEHOLD THE WONDEROUS 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
Confession of Faith
Heidelberg Catechism (1563) Lord’s Day 16, Question 44
LEADER: Why does the creed add, “He descended to hell”?
CONGREGATION: To assure me in times of personal crisis and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, especially on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.
LEADER: Why does the creed add, “He descended to hell”?
CONGREGATION: To assure me in times of personal crisis and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, especially on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.
Sharing Time
(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)
Closing Meditation
Psalm 102 (ESV)
LEADER: He has broken my strength in midcourse;
he has shortened my days.
PEOPLE:“O my God,” I say, “take me not away
in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
throughout all generations!”
LEADER: Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
PEOPLE: They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
LEADER: But you are the same, and your years have no end.
ALL: The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
LEADER: He has broken my strength in midcourse;
he has shortened my days.
PEOPLE:“O my God,” I say, “take me not away
in the midst of my days—
you whose years endure
throughout all generations!”
LEADER: Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.
PEOPLE: They will perish, but you will remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
LEADER: But you are the same, and your years have no end.
ALL: The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
their offspring shall be established before you.
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!