ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, February 21; First Sunday in Lent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 25:1-10)
Leader: To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls. We put our trust in you.
People: Do not let us be shamed; do not let our enemies exult over us.
Leader: Make us to know your ways, and teach us your paths.
People: Lead us in your truth, and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation.
Leader: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
People: Do not remember the sins of our youth, nor our transgressions.
Leader: For the sake of your goodness, O Lord,
People: Remember us according to your steadfast love.
Leader: Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
People: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches them his way.
Leader: For those who keep his covenant and decrees,
All: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness.
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Almighty God, all our hearts are open to you. You know all our desires; we can hold no secrets from you. Send to us your Holy Spirit, by which the thoughts of our hearts might be cleansed. Make your presence known to us, so that we may perfectly love you, and be worthy to magnify your holy name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Christ Be My Leader” (hummed – not sung)
Christ be my leader by night as by day,
Safe through the darkness, for He is the Way.
Gladly I follow, my future his care,
Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.
Christ be my teacher in age as in youth,
Drifting or doubting, for He is the Truth.
Grant me to trust him; though shifting as sand,
Doubt cannot daunt me; in Jesus I stand.
Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife;
Death cannot hold me, for He is the Life.
Nor darkness, nor doubting, nor sin and its stain can
Touch my salvation: with Jesus I reign.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: God our Redeemer, we confess that we are people of ashes and dust. You have claimed us in your covenant, yet we forget your steadfast love. You seek us out in the wilderness, yet we continue to wander in our sin. God of grace, forgive us. Wash us clean, once again, so that we may return to you and follow your holy way. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Romans 10:9-10)
All: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
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,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Colossians 3:12-14)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” (2 times)
(Hummed- not sung)
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us power, send us grace.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Isaiah 58:1-12
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Pillars of Lent“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
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.
*APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak”
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak in living echoes of your tone;
As you have sought, so let me seek your wandering children, lost, alone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead the stumbling and the straying feet;
And feed me, Lord, that I may feed your hungry ones with manna sweet.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach the precious things which you impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach the hidden depths of many a' heart.
O fill me with your fullness, Lord, until my heart shall overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word, your love to tell, your praise to show.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.
THE FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, February 21; First Sunday in Lent
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 25:1-10)
Leader: To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls. We put our trust in you.
People: Do not let us be shamed; do not let our enemies exult over us.
Leader: Make us to know your ways, and teach us your paths.
People: Lead us in your truth, and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation.
Leader: Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
People: Do not remember the sins of our youth, nor our transgressions.
Leader: For the sake of your goodness, O Lord,
People: Remember us according to your steadfast love.
Leader: Good and upright is the Lord, therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
People: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches them his way.
Leader: For those who keep his covenant and decrees,
All: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness.
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Almighty God, all our hearts are open to you. You know all our desires; we can hold no secrets from you. Send to us your Holy Spirit, by which the thoughts of our hearts might be cleansed. Make your presence known to us, so that we may perfectly love you, and be worthy to magnify your holy name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Christ Be My Leader” (hummed – not sung)
Christ be my leader by night as by day,
Safe through the darkness, for He is the Way.
Gladly I follow, my future his care,
Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.
Christ be my teacher in age as in youth,
Drifting or doubting, for He is the Truth.
Grant me to trust him; though shifting as sand,
Doubt cannot daunt me; in Jesus I stand.
Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife;
Death cannot hold me, for He is the Life.
Nor darkness, nor doubting, nor sin and its stain can
Touch my salvation: with Jesus I reign.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(Please remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: God our Redeemer, we confess that we are people of ashes and dust. You have claimed us in your covenant, yet we forget your steadfast love. You seek us out in the wilderness, yet we continue to wander in our sin. God of grace, forgive us. Wash us clean, once again, so that we may return to you and follow your holy way. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
(Responsive Hymn #817 – to be hummed, not sung) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Romans 10:9-10)
All: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father (hummed – not sung)
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,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Colossians 3:12-14)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1 (hummed – not sung) Hymn #297
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying” (2 times)
(Hummed- not sung)
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place;
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us power, send us grace.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Isaiah 58:1-12
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Pillars of Lent“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
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.
*APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy catholic church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “…sins / …those who sin against us…”)
*CLOSING HYMN “Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak”
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak in living echoes of your tone;
As you have sought, so let me seek your wandering children, lost, alone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead the stumbling and the straying feet;
And feed me, Lord, that I may feed your hungry ones with manna sweet.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach the precious things which you impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach the hidden depths of many a' heart.
O fill me with your fullness, Lord, until my heart shall overflow
In kindling thought and glowing word, your love to tell, your praise to show.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
(hummed – not sung)
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.