Welcome
Call to Worship
The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, all His works, in all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 103:19, 22
Hymn # 73 Rejoice, All People, Homage Give
1 Rejoice, all people, homage give, to God with voice of triumph sing; he rules us in dread majesty, the great, the universal king.
2 He puts nations under us and makes us all triumphant stand; he gives us for our heritage his promised rest, a goodly land.
3 God has ascended with a shout, Jehovah with the trumpet's sound; sing praise to God our King, sing praise, yes, let his glorious praise abound.
4 Our God is King of all the earth, with thoughtful heart his praise make known, o'er all the nations God does reign, exalted on his holy throne.
5 To praise and serve our cov'nant God the princes of the earth draw nigh; all kingly pow'rs belong to him, he is exalted, God Most High.
Call To Confession
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Romans 12:9–14 (NKJV):
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You that You may be feared.
Psalm 130:1–4 (NKJV)
Confession of Sins
Let us, therefore, confess our sin, saying together:
Merciful Heavenly Father, pardon us our many sins; the sins we know and the sins hidden from our conscience. Cleanse us from wrong motives and forgive us for feeble obedience. By your Spirit renew our hearts to love you, our minds to know you, and our wills to obey you. For we ask this mercy in the name of your Son who shed his blood for us. Amen.
Word of Assurance
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:8–9 (NKJV)
Song of Renewal
Thy works, not mine, O Christ, speak gladness to this heart; they tell me all is done; they bid my fear depart. To whom, save thee, who canst alone for sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?
Trinity Hymnal # 524, stanza 1
Scripture Lessons: Luke 12:22–32 (NKJV)
22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.
23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.
30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.
31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sermon
Hymn # 108 Whate'er My God Ordains Is Right
1 Whate'er my God ordains is right: his holy will abideth; I will be still whate'er he doth, and follow where he guideth. He is my God: though dark my road, he holds me that I shall not fall: wherefore to him I leave it all.
2 Whate'er my God ordains is right: he never will deceive me; he leads me by the proper path; I know he will not leave me. I take, content, what he hath sent; his hand can turn my griefs away, and patiently I wait his day.
3 Whate'er my God ordains is right: though now this cup, in drinking, may bitter seem to my faint heart, I take it, all unshrinking. My God is true; each morn anew sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart, and pain and sorrow shall depart.
4 Whate'er my God ordains is right: here shall my stand be taken; though sorrow, need, or death be mine, yet am I not forsaken. My Father's care is round me there; he holds me that I shall not fall: and so to him I leave it all.
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 # 75 O Father, You Are Sovereign
1 O Father, you are sovereign in all the worlds you made; your mighty word was spoken, and light and life obeyed. Your voice commands the seasons and bounds the ocean’s shore, sets stars within their courses and stills the tempest's roar.
2 O Father, you are sovereign in all affairs of man; no pow'rs of death or darkness can thwart your perfect plan. All chance and change transcending, supreme in time and space, you hold your trusting children secure in your embrace.
3 O Father, you are sovereign, the Lord of human pain, transmuting earthly sorrows to gold of heav'nly gain. All evil overruling, as none but Conqu'ror could, your love pursues its purpose-- our souls’ eternal good.
4 O Father, you are sovereign! We see you dimly now, but soon before your triumph earth’s ev'ry knee shall bow. With this glad hope before us, our faith springs up anew: our sovereign Lord and Savior, we trust and worship you!
Benediction
