February 4, 2024
Prelude: Voluntary in F
John Stanley
John Bodinger
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Psalm 24]
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
Let us worship the LORD!
Christ of the Upward Way (Hymn 344)
Lomas/Mathams
Christ of the upward way, my guide divine,
Where you have set your feet may I place mine;
And move and march wherever you have trod,
Keeping face forward up the hill of God.
Give me the heart to hear your voice and will,
That without fault or fear I may fulfill
Your purpose with a glad and holy zest,
Like one who would not bring less than the best.
Christ of the upward way, my guide divine,
Where you have set your feet may I place mine;
And when your last call comes serene and clear,
Calm may my answer be, “Lord, I am here.”
Confession
God of glory, when we think of your power and otherness, we have a hard time imagining that you would understand us in our limitations and so we begin to think of you mechanically. Forgive us when we assume that you do not care very much about us simply because you are vast and we are very small pieces of the universe. Forgive us when we hold on to our fears. Thank you for Jesus, who experienced life, temptations, and suffering as we do. Teach us to be with you, in life and in death. Amen.
Silence
Good Christian Friends, Rejoice (Hymn 28)
German folk tune/Medieval Latin
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!
He hath opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!
Good Christian friends, rejoice with heart, and soul, and voice;
Now ye need not fear the grave: Jesus Christ was born to save!
Calls you one and calls you all to gain the everlasting hall.
Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Gloria Patri (Hymn 579)
Greatorex
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
Word without end. Amen, Amen.
Children’s Message
Lamb of God
Paris
Your only Son, no sin to hide, but you have sent him from your side
To walk upon this guilty sod, and to become the Lamb of God.
Refrain:
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood, my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Your gift of love, we crucified; we laughed and scorned him as he died;
The humble King we named a fraud and sacrificed the Lamb of God. (refrain)
I was so lost, I should have died, but you have brought me to your side
To be led by your staff and rod, and to be called a lamb of God. (refrain)
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Doug Hammond
Old Testament: Psalm 24:7-10
New Testament: Hebrews 2:14-18
Homily: To Be With, or Not to Be With God
Focus: “Christ’s death has somehow put us right with God and has given us a fresh start. Theories as to how it did this are another matter.” --C.S. Lewis
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
Communion Music: It Is Well with My Soul
Spafford/Bliss
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Refrain:
It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul); it is well; it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
(refrain)
He lives: O the bliss of this glorious thought.
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
(refrain)
Lord, hasten the day when our faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend;
even so it is well with my soul.
(refrain)
Communion Prayer
Call to Stewardship
Ruth Seignemartin
…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. -Matthew 25:35
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: Alla Breve
J. S. Bach
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