ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, July 19; Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from Psalm 139)
Pastor: O, Lord – you have searched us and known us.
People: You know when we sit and when we rise; you discern our thoughts from afar.
Pastor: You search out our paths and know our ways.
People: You know our words before we can speak them.
Pastor: It was you, Lord, who formed us; who knit us together in our mothers’ wombs.
People: We praise you, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Pastor: You knew us when we were yet unformed. In your book were written all of our days.
People: We cannot understand your greatness, O God. So vast are you.
Pastor: We try to count and measure you, O Lord, but we cannot. Your thoughts and deeds are more than the sands of the earth.
All: We come to the end – and still we are with you.
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Holy God of peace and mercy, be with us. From all the corners of the earth, people raise their voices to praise your name. We have heard your call, and we come in answer. Though we do not fully understand your will, you know that we want to please you. Send your Holy Spirit on us, and give us hearts to love and serve you. And let our gathering this morning be a pleasure to you. In your holy name we pray. Amen.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “We Come, O Christ, to You” (verses 1, 2, 5)
(hummed – not sung)
We come, O Christ, to you, true Son of God and man;
By whom all things consist, in whom all life began:
In you alone we live and move and have our being in your love.
You are the way to God, your blood our ransom paid;
In you we face our Judge and Maker unafraid;
Before the throne absolved we stand: your love has met your law’s demand.
We worship you, Lord Christ, our Savior and our King;
To you our youth and strength adoringly we bring;
So fill our hearts that all may view your life in us and turn to you!
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: Holy God of love and grace, hear our prayer. We confess to you that we do not always answer your call to us. We hear your voice and we turn away. You beckon to us, and we ignore you. We want to love you, but we fail to follow through. Lord, we confess that we are poor reflections of your image. Yet you always respond to our failings with love. Your mercy is greater than our sin. Show your mercy on us now, and forgive our sin. Create new hearts in us to love you and receive your Word. For the sake of your son, Jesus Christ, 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 (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
All: “For I know the plans I have for you.” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father Hymn #805 (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 (Luke 6:35-37)
“Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
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 “We Trust in You, Our Shield” (verses 1 &4)
We trust in you, our shield and our defender;
We do not fight alone against the foe:
Strong in your strength, safe in your keeping tender,
We trust in you, and in your name we go.
We trust in you, our shield and our defender;
Yours is the battle – yours shall be the praise!
When passing through the gates of dazzling splendor,
Victors we rest in you through endless days.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Amos 1:9-12; 9:11-15
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “A Remnant Remains“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
*APOSTLES CREED Hymnbook #14
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
*CLOSING HYMN “We Will Extol You” (verses 1 & 3) Hymn #348
(hummed – not sung)
We will extol you, ever-blessed Lord;
Your holy Name forever be adored;
Each day we love our psalm to you we raise;
You, God and King, are worth of all praise,
Great and unsearchable in all your ways.
You, Lord, are gracious, merciful to all,
Close to your children when on your they call;
And slow to anger, merciful and kind,
In your compassion we your blessings find.
We love you with our heart and strength and mind.
*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.
