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Download: Readings and Song Lyrics for May 16
Reflection
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh,
called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision,
which is made in the flesh by hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ,
alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Call To Worship
We confess the supremacy of God in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Call to Worship
From Revelation 4:8, 11; 5:11, 13 (ESV)
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
who was and is and is to come!
Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!
To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor
and glory and might
forever and ever!
Our Sung Call to Worship
Holy, Holy, Holy
Verse 1
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Verse 2
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Verse 3
Holy, holy, holy! Tho’ the darkness hide Thee,
Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Verse 4
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea.
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Music by John B. Dykes, Words by Reginald Heber
Public Domain
Confession
We confess our need for mercy through both responsive reading and song.
Our Spoken Confession
Adapted from the prayer “Voyage” in The Valley of Vision
O Lord of the oceans,
We sail on a restless sea;
the voyage is long,
the waves high,
the storms pitiless.
We are too weak to keep our heavenward course;
too timid to face the storms,
too foolish the navigate the shoals
that threaten to shipwreck our faith.
In our sin, we attempt to chart our own course;
we aim for shores offering worldly rest;
we refuse to signal for help from you.
Forgive us, O Lord, and be merciful to us.
Grant that Jesus may sit at the helm and pilot us safely,
bringing us to harbour with flying pennants,
hull unbreached, cargo unspoiled.
Christ is our wind, sunshine, anchor, and defense—
in him alone, our helm is held steady,
our safe passage is secured,
our haven is guaranteed.
Let the mast before us be the saviour’s cross,
and every oncoming wave the fountain in his side.
Help us, protect us in the moving sea
until I reach the shore of unceasing praise.
Time of silent confession.
Our Sung Confession
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
Verse 1
Jesus, Savior, pilot me
Over life’s tempestuous sea;
Unknown waves before me roll,
Hiding rock and treacherous shoal.
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
Verse 2
As a mother stills her child,
You can hush the oceans wild;
Boisterous waves obey Thy will,
When You say to them, Be still!
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
Verse 3
When at last I near the shore,
And the fearful breakers roar,
Grant me long and peaceful rest.
Then, while leaning on Your chest,
May I hear You say to me:
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”
May I hear You say to me:
“Fear not, I will pilot thee.”
Ending
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Wondrous Sovereign of the sea,
May I hear You say to me,
Chart and compass come from Thee;
Jesus, Savior, pilot me!
Words by Edward Hopper, Music by Robbie Seay
©Birdwing Music
Assurance and Peace
We profess our assurance of salvation and peace in Christ through both responsive reading and song.
Remember the Gospel & The Lord’s Supper
Reading adapted from Hebrews 6:18-20; 7:26; 9:12; 10:14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (CSB)
We who have fled to Jesus for refuge
have strong encouragement
to seize the hope set before us.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Jesus entered the sanctuary on our behalf!
He is the kind of high priest we need:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
and exalted above the heavens.
He entered the most holy place once for all time,
by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
And by one offering he has perfected forever
those who are sanctified.
Complete in Thee
Verse 1
Complete in Thee! No work of mine
Could take, dear Lord, the place of Thine.
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I shall stand complete in Thee!
Chorus
Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified, salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified I too shall be!
Verse 2
Complete in Thee, each want supplied,
And no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, will be,
I ask no more—complete in Thee! (Chorus)
Verse 3
Complete in Thee; no more shall sin,
Which Thou has conquered, reign within.
Thy blood shall bid the tempter flee,
And I shall stand, complete in Thee. (Chorus)
Verse 4
Dear Savior, when, before Thy bar,
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among the chosen I will be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee! (Chorus)
Words by Aaron Wolf and James M. Gray, Music by Ben Nyce
Public Domain
On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
I Love To Tell The Story
Verse 1
I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love:
I love to tell the story
Because I know ‘tis true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else can do. (Chorus)
Chorus
I love to tell the story,
‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.
Verse 2
I love to tell the story;
‘Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it,
More wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story,
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God’s own holy Word. (Chorus)
Verse 3
I love to tell the story;
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it, like the rest:
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
‘Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long. (Chorus)
Words by Katherine Hankey, Music by William G. Fischer
Public Domain
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.
You may give electronically at gabcames.org/giving/ or place your offering in the boxes at the back of the sanctuary or send a check in the mail.
Scripture Reading
Joshua 24:1-13 (ESV)
1Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.
3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. 4 And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 5 And I sent Moses and Aaron,
and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out.
6 “‘Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
7 And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time. 8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, 10 but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand. 11 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand. 12 And I sent the hornet before
you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. 13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored
and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’
This the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon
Joshua 24:1-13 (ESV) – Remember God’s Amazing Grace – Pastor Michael Felkins
Sending
Having heard and confessed the Gospel, we are sent into the world on mission in Christ, which we express in spoken word.
Blessing
Go in peace.
Serve the Lord.
Next week’s scripture passage: Joshua 24:14-28