ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, October 25; Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from Psalm 1)
Pastor: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread,
People: But their delight is in their meditations on the law of the Lord.
Pastor: They are like trees planted by streams of water, whose leaves do not wither.
People: In all that they do, they prosper.
Pastor: The ways of the wicked will perish,
All: But the Lord watches over the ways of the righteous!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Most gracious and loving God, we have come to this place to be with you together. Join our hearts with all the faithful who long to know your presence. Make your loving Spirit known to all of us. Fill our bodies with your joy. And make our worship a delight to you. We ask for your blessing this morning in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (verses 1, 2, 3, & 6)
(hummed – not sung)
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home!
Under the shadow of thy throne, thy saints have dwelt secure,
Sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home!
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: Holy God, you are the potter who shapes our world and molds our spirits. Your creation is an act of grace; your every word is a fountain of life. Mold us and shape us once again, O God, as we confess our sin and our faith before you. We know your work in us is not yet complete. Create in us love where there is hatred; generosity where there is greed; and compassion where there is indifference. We pray this for the sake of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn - 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 (1 Peter 1:3-4)
All: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”
*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 5:43-45a)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
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 “Wonderful Words of Life” (verses 1 & 3)
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life,
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life.
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Matthew 22:34-46
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Unwritten Rules“
*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 “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (verses 1 & 3)
(hummed – not sung)
Savior, like a Shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast brought us, thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast brought us, thine we are.
Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and power to free;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to thee;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to thee.
*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 REFORMED CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, October 25; Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from Psalm 1)
Pastor: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread,
People: But their delight is in their meditations on the law of the Lord.
Pastor: They are like trees planted by streams of water, whose leaves do not wither.
People: In all that they do, they prosper.
Pastor: The ways of the wicked will perish,
All: But the Lord watches over the ways of the righteous!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Most gracious and loving God, we have come to this place to be with you together. Join our hearts with all the faithful who long to know your presence. Make your loving Spirit known to all of us. Fill our bodies with your joy. And make our worship a delight to you. We ask for your blessing this morning in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
* HYMN OF PRAISE “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (verses 1, 2, 3, & 6)
(hummed – not sung)
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home!
Under the shadow of thy throne, thy saints have dwelt secure,
Sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home!
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: Holy God, you are the potter who shapes our world and molds our spirits. Your creation is an act of grace; your every word is a fountain of life. Mold us and shape us once again, O God, as we confess our sin and our faith before you. We know your work in us is not yet complete. Create in us love where there is hatred; generosity where there is greed; and compassion where there is indifference. We pray this for the sake of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn - 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 (1 Peter 1:3-4)
All: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.”
*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 5:43-45a)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
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 “Wonderful Words of Life” (verses 1 & 3)
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life,
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life.
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Matthew 22:34-46
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “Unwritten Rules“
*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 “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” (verses 1 & 3)
(hummed – not sung)
Savior, like a Shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care;
In thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare:
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast brought us, thine we are;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast brought us, thine we are.
Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and power to free;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to thee;
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to thee.
*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.