ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
Abbreviated Liturgy for Online Worship
Sunday, May 24; Seventh Sunday of Easter
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 93)
Leader: The Lord is king - he is robed in majesty;
People: The Lord is robed, he is girded with strength
Leader: He has established the world;
People: It shall never be moved.
Leader: Your throne is established from of old;
People: You are everlasting.
Leader: The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice;
People: The floods lift up their roaring.
Leader: More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters; more majestic than the waves of the sea;
People: Majestic on high is the Lord!
Leader: Your decrees are very sure;
All: Holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Lord who is the Alpha and Omega, from different homes and different towns we join our voices together in your worship. With one voice we praise your name. Let us give thanks for all that was; let us celebrate all that is; let us imagine all that will be. We pray for your blessing in your worship through the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
******************
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Sing Praise to the Lord” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: God of all faithfulness, we pray to you. Again and again you have shown your devotion to us. Forgive us when we are not devoted to you. We would rather be secure than be brave. We would rather be in control than be faithful. Forgive us, God of mercy. Heal us from our self-centeredness. Empower us to know the depth of your grace, and lead us to share that grace with the world. In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Ephesians 2:8-9)
All: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.”
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Romans 13:8-10)
Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
******************
*SERMON HYMN “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS - John 17:1-11
Acts 1:6-11
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Working from Home“
******************
HYMN OF RESPONSE – “Rejoice, the Lord is King” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
INVITATION TO OFFERING
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.
CLOSING PRAYER, LORD’s PRAYER, & BENEDICTION
Almighty God,
Hear us in our time of distress.
We pray for the sick and the dying, that your healing and your comfort may be with them.
We pray for the caregivers, that you may shield and strengthen them against all harm.
We pray for the lonely, that they may know your love and the love of their neighbors.
We pray for those who have lost jobs and who suffer in financial insecurity.
We pray for ourselves, that you may preserve us by your providence,
and make us blessings to our neighbors, and beacons of your radiant light in the darkest night.
Make your love burn brightly in all your people, as we look forward to the day when we may once again gather together in joy under your holy name.
We pray these things in the name of our Holy Shepherd, Jesus Christ,
Who taught us to pray with the words,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.
All are invited to attend a virtual coffee hour via Zoom at 10:30am. Please e-mail [email protected] if you need the invitation or password.
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
Abbreviated Liturgy for Online Worship
Sunday, May 24; Seventh Sunday of Easter
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 93)
Leader: The Lord is king - he is robed in majesty;
People: The Lord is robed, he is girded with strength
Leader: He has established the world;
People: It shall never be moved.
Leader: Your throne is established from of old;
People: You are everlasting.
Leader: The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice;
People: The floods lift up their roaring.
Leader: More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters; more majestic than the waves of the sea;
People: Majestic on high is the Lord!
Leader: Your decrees are very sure;
All: Holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Lord who is the Alpha and Omega, from different homes and different towns we join our voices together in your worship. With one voice we praise your name. Let us give thanks for all that was; let us celebrate all that is; let us imagine all that will be. We pray for your blessing in your worship through the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
******************
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Sing Praise to the Lord” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: God of all faithfulness, we pray to you. Again and again you have shown your devotion to us. Forgive us when we are not devoted to you. We would rather be secure than be brave. We would rather be in control than be faithful. Forgive us, God of mercy. Heal us from our self-centeredness. Empower us to know the depth of your grace, and lead us to share that grace with the world. In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Ephesians 2:8-9)
All: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God – not by works so that no one can boast.”
SUMMARY OF THE LAW (Romans 13:8-10)
Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
******************
*SERMON HYMN “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS - John 17:1-11
Acts 1:6-11
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Working from Home“
******************
HYMN OF RESPONSE – “Rejoice, the Lord is King” - Organist Ben Benfer
******************
INVITATION TO OFFERING
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.
CLOSING PRAYER, LORD’s PRAYER, & BENEDICTION
Almighty God,
Hear us in our time of distress.
We pray for the sick and the dying, that your healing and your comfort may be with them.
We pray for the caregivers, that you may shield and strengthen them against all harm.
We pray for the lonely, that they may know your love and the love of their neighbors.
We pray for those who have lost jobs and who suffer in financial insecurity.
We pray for ourselves, that you may preserve us by your providence,
and make us blessings to our neighbors, and beacons of your radiant light in the darkest night.
Make your love burn brightly in all your people, as we look forward to the day when we may once again gather together in joy under your holy name.
We pray these things in the name of our Holy Shepherd, Jesus Christ,
Who taught us to pray with the words,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins,
As we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.
Amen.
All are invited to attend a virtual coffee hour via Zoom at 10:30am. Please e-mail [email protected] if you need the invitation or password.