Service for September 28, 2025

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Prelude

Call to Worship

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear,

Even though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,

The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

Psalm 46:1-4

Hymn # 699 Like a River Glorious

1 Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace,

over all victorious in its bright increase;

perfect, yet it floweth fuller ev'ry day,

perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Refrain:

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest,

finding, as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

2 Hidden in the hollow of his blessed hand,

never foe can follow, never traitor stand;

not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,

not a blast of hurry, touch the spirit there. [Refrain]

3 Ev'ry joy or trial falleth from above,

traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.

We may trust him fully all for us to do;

they who trust him wholly find him wholly true. [Refrain]

Call To Confession

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For,

“Whoever would love life and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech.

They must turn from evil and do good;

they must seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 3:8–12 citing Psalm 34:12-16 (NIV):

Confession of Sins

Let us pray to the Lord confessing our sin, saying together:

Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;

may your love and faithfulness always protect me.

For troubles without number surround me;

my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.

They are more than the hairs of my head,

and my heart fails within me.

Be pleased to save me, Lord;

come quickly, Lord, to help me.

Psalm 40:11–13 (NIV)

Word of Comfort

As we are weary and burdened by our sin and our troubles, our Lord Jesus says to us:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)

Song of Renewal

Jesus! I do now receive him,

more than all in him I find;

he hath granted me forgiveness,

I am his, and he is mine.

Hallelujah! what a Savior!

Hallelujah, what a Friend!

Saving, helping, keeping, loving,

he is with me to the end.

Trinity Hymnal # 498, stanza 5

Scripture Lesson: Ephesians 5:15-21

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Sermon

Hymn # 359 Blest Be the Tie That Binds

1 Blest be the tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love:

the fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above.

2 Before the Father's throne

we pour our ardent prayers;

our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,

our comforts and our cares.

3 We share our mutual woes,

our mutual burdens bear,

and often for each other flows

the sympathizing tear.

4 When we asunder part,

it gives us inward pain;

but we shall still be joined in heart,

and hope to meet again.

5 This glorious hope revives

our courage by the way,

while each in expectation lives,

and longs to see the day.

6 From sorrow, toil and pain,

and sin, we shall be free;

and perfect love and friendship reign

through all eternity.

Prayer of the Church and the Lord’s Prayer

“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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

Hymn – Come, People of the Risen King

1 Come, people of the Risen King

Who delight to bring Him praise

Come all, and tune your hearts to sing

To the Morning Star of grace

From the shifting shadows of the earth

We will lift our eyes to Him

Where steady arms of mercy reach

To gather children in

Refrain

Rejoice, rejoice! Let ev’ry tongue rejoice!

One heart, one voice; oh Church of Christ, rejoice!

2 Come, those whose joy is morning sun

And those weeping through the night

Come, those who tell of battles won

And those struggling in the fight

For His perfect love will never change

And His mercies never cease

But follow us through all our days

With the certain hope of peace

[Refrain]

3 Come, young and old from ev’ry land

Men and women of the faith

Come, those with full or empty hands

Find the riches of His grace

Over all the world, His people sing

Shore to shore we hear them call

The Truth that cries through ev’ry age:

"Our God is all in all"!

[Refrain]

Benediction