Soli Deo Gloria Todd Thomas, baritone
Selections from St. Paul Felix Mendelssohn
1. Know ye not that ye are his Temple
2. O God Have Mercy
Assurance arr. John Ness Beck
It Is Well arr. John Ness Beck
Call to Worship
Invocation
Hymn 521: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less Solid Rock
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, his covenant, his blood support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found;
dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, sanctify us today through the work of your Spirit. We need our wills to be changed by you. Left to ourselves, sin seems all too desirable; we embrace sin’s folly without considering the consequences. Even when we know we have behaved badly, we too often seek to cover our sin with more sin, justifying our actions at the expense of others. O God, have mercy on us, and cleanse us from our sin. Direct our lives by your Word, and lead us in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Amen.
The Gospel’s Assurance of Pardon: 1 Peter 2:24
Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Doxology Tallis’ Canon
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:33–48
33 Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 38 You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Hymn 645: Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee St. Agnes
Jesus, the very thought of thee with sweetness fills my breast;
but sweeter far thy face to see, and in thy presence rest.
Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, nor can the mem’ry find,
a sweeter sound than thy blest name, O Savior of mankind.
O Hope of ev’ry contrite heart, O Joy of all the meek,
to those who fall, how kind thou art! How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find? Ah, this nor tongue nor pen can show:
the love of Jesus, what it is none but his loved ones know.
Jesus, our only joy be thou, as thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be thou our glory now, and through eternity.
Confession of Faith: Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 4
Question: What is God?
Answer: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
Offering Prayer
Offertory: Fairest Lord Jesus arr. Mark Hayes
Colin Howland, piano
Sermon: Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect Rev. Gavin Lymberopoulos
Hymn 660: O God Beyond All Praising Thaxted
O God beyond all praising, we worship you today
and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder at every gift you send,
at blessings without number and mercies without end:
we lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word,
we honor and adore you, our great and mighty Lord.
Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favor may serve you as our King;
and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill,
we’ll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.
Benediction
Postlude: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty arr. Stephen Nielson
Colin Howland, piano
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