Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
From Daniel 7:13-14
I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
Our Sung Call to Worship
All Hail The Power of Jesus Name
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Lord, we confess that it is impossible to flee from your presence.
If we ascend to heaven or descend into the depths of the earth, you are there!
But we have failed to glorify you as the all-present God.
We have dishonored your presence in our thought, word, and deed.
When we boast of where we have gone and what we have done,
We fail to glorify you as the God who is everywhere, upholding everything.
When we attempt to flee from you,
We fail to glorify you, the God who fills heaven and earth.
When we cherish sin in our minds,
We fail to glorify you, the God who knows our thoughts.
When we plot evil in secret or attempt to hide our sin,
We fail to glorify you, the God who sees all we do.
When we fear the plots of our enemies,
We fail to glorify you, the God who sees them and fights for us.
When we act as though there are now “holy places” on earth,
We fail to glorify you , the God who now indwells his people.
When we live in fear and unbelief,
We fail to glorify you, the Savior who said, “I am with you always.”
TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION
Our Sung Confession
I Am Ashamed
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Profession of Assurance
Remember the Gospel
From Matthew 1:18-23
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in here is from the Holy Spirit.
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel: (which means, God with us).
Our Sung Profession of Assurance
Arise My Soul Arise
Thanksgiving and Petition
We Give Thanks in Prayer and Offer Petitions to God
We express our gratitude to God our Father for Christ’s work on the cross for us and bring our requests before him. In bringing our requests, we confess that we believe God truly is a good father, who cares about our needs and gives us what he knows is best.
We Give Thanks by Giving
We give financial offerings to support the work of the church because of our gratitude to God. By giving we confess we are trusting in God’s provision for us as well.
On the first Sunday of each month we have two offerings-one for the general fund and a second one for the benevolence ministry of our church.
We Give Thanks in Song
Be Unto Your Name
Scripture Reading
We hear the scripture text of the sermon read.
Psalm 27 ESV
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” 9Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in. 11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD.
Sermon
Psalm 27 – Here We Stand: Coram Deo (Before the Face of God) – Pastor Michael Felkins
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in both song and spoken word.
Sending Song
To Live is Christ
Blessing
Blessing adapted from Numbers 6:24-26
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May the Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.