ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, August 23; Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 124)
Leader: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when our enemies attacked us,
People: Then they would have swallowed us up alive;
Leader: When their anger was kindled against us,
People: Then the flood would have swept us away.
Leader: Blessed be the Lord who has not given us as prey to their teeth;
People: We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
Leader: The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
All: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: All: Gracious and loving God, hear our prayer. We lift our voices to you in praise and worship! We put all our trust and faith in you. When we have joys in our lives, we give you thanks. When we have troubles, we trust in your providence. Accept our worship of you this morning. Fill our hearts with your love and seal your Word in our minds. For the blessing of your Holy Spirit we pray; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (verses 1 & 3)
(hummed – not sung)
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided –
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessing all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided –
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(please stand, but remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Most merciful God, we confess that we have not always followed your ways. You rain mercy down on us, yet we grumble in our discontent. You cast out evil within us, yet we fling curses at others. God of grace, forgive us. Call us home from our wandering, and embrace us in your love. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. 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 (Ephesians 1:7-8)
All: “In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us, with all wisdom and understanding.
*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 (Matthew 5:38-44)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
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 “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner and more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in his blood.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal is the most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple, we would take him at his word,
And our lives would be illumined by the presence of our Lord.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Malachi 1:1-5, 3:13-4:6
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Broken and Renewed“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
*APOSTLES CREED Hymnbook #14
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
*CLOSING HYMN “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” (verses 1 & 3)
(hummed – not sung)
I want to walk as a child of the light; I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world; the star of my life is Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all; the night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God: Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
I’m looking for the coming of Christ; I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race, we shall know the joy of Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all; the night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God: Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing" Hymn #834
(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 REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, August 23; Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 124)
Leader: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side when our enemies attacked us,
People: Then they would have swallowed us up alive;
Leader: When their anger was kindled against us,
People: Then the flood would have swept us away.
Leader: Blessed be the Lord who has not given us as prey to their teeth;
People: We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;
Leader: The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
All: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: All: Gracious and loving God, hear our prayer. We lift our voices to you in praise and worship! We put all our trust and faith in you. When we have joys in our lives, we give you thanks. When we have troubles, we trust in your providence. Accept our worship of you this morning. Fill our hearts with your love and seal your Word in our minds. For the blessing of your Holy Spirit we pray; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (verses 1 & 3)
(hummed – not sung)
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided –
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessing all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided –
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
(please stand, but remain in place, and greet your nearest neighbors with a wave and a blessing of peace)
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Most merciful God, we confess that we have not always followed your ways. You rain mercy down on us, yet we grumble in our discontent. You cast out evil within us, yet we fling curses at others. God of grace, forgive us. Call us home from our wandering, and embrace us in your love. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. 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 (Ephesians 1:7-8)
All: “In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us, with all wisdom and understanding.
*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 (Matthew 5:38-44)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
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 “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in his justice which is more than liberty.
There is welcome for the sinner and more graces for the good;
There is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in his blood.
For the love of God is broader than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal is the most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple, we would take him at his word,
And our lives would be illumined by the presence of our Lord.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Malachi 1:1-5, 3:13-4:6
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Broken and Renewed“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
*APOSTLES CREED Hymnbook #14
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD'S PRAYER
*CLOSING HYMN “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” (verses 1 & 3)
(hummed – not sung)
I want to walk as a child of the light; I want to follow Jesus.
God set the stars to give light to the world; the star of my life is Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all; the night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God: Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
I’m looking for the coming of Christ; I want to be with Jesus.
When we have run with patience the race, we shall know the joy of Jesus.
In him there is no darkness at all; the night and the day are both alike.
The Lamb is the light of the city of God: Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing" Hymn #834
(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.