A Congregation of the Reformed Church in America
Our Life, Ministry, and Mission: To Have Hearts Centered on Christ and Hearts Open to our Neighbors
April 28, 2024 10:00 AM
Our Approach to God
Welcome and Announcements
Prelude “Pass It On” -Hymn #641
Choral Introit “The Joy of the Lord” -Hymn #354; v. 1
*Opening Prayer
*Opening Hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” -Hymn #87
*Call to Worship -from Psalm 22
From you comes my praise in the great congregation.
My vows I will pay before those who fear him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied.
Those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD.
All the families of the nations shall worship before him.
For dominion belongs to the LORD.
He rules over the nations.
To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down.
Before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.
Posterity will serve him.
Future generations will be told about the Lord.
Proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
*Opening Praise Songs
“Come, Now is the Time to Worship” CCLI #2430948
“All Over the World” CCLI #1759706
Call to Confession -Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Prayer of Confession
Silent Prayer is followed by: Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us
Christ, have mercy upon us.
In the name of Christ our merciful Lord,
Amen.
Words of Assurance
People of God, hear the Good News of the Gospel! By the love of God, by the blood of Christ, by the power of the Spirit, your sins are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
Guide for Grateful Living -1 John 4:11
“Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.” How can we express our gratitude to God? Live a life of Love!
Choral Anthem “Here I Am, Lord” –Schutte/Leavitt; © 2017 OCP
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts “I Love to Tell the Story” -Hymn #619
*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.
The Word of God in Proclamation
Prayer for Inspiration
Scripture Acts 8:26-40 (Pew Bible Page 955)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon “TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”
Our Response to God
Prayer of Application
*Confession of Faith Heidelberg Catechism (Q & A #1)
- Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?
- That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
*Hymn of Response “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” -Hymn #96
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Prayers of the people
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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
*Closing Song “For Your Mercy” -CCLI #1874148
*Benediction
*Postlude “Mighty to Save” -CCLI #4591782
Prayer Leader is available after the service, by the front door of the Sanctuary, to pray for your needs