Order of Worship
Welcome and Announcements
Meditation Passage
1 Chronicles 16:11-12
From David's Song of Thanks "Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered."
* Apostolic Greeting
[Reserved for Ministers]
* God Calls His People to Worship
Colossians 1:17-23
And he, [Christ], is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven.
* Invocation
God Commands His People:
Exodus 20:13
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
We Confess Our Faith
Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 67. Which is the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.
Q. 68. What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
Confession of Sin
(Silent confession followed by corporate confession)
Almighty God, we confess that we have not sought to preserve, protect, and promote the lives of others as you have called us to do. Moreover, we have taken away from other’s lives by harboring uncharitable thoughts, speaking unjust words, and acting unkindly toward them. Forgive us, O Lord. Grant us the self-sacrificial love found in your Son, our Savior. Enable us, more and more, to die to ourselves and to protect and promote the lives of those in our church and our families by showing them the cross-bearing love of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Psalm 103:10-12
[The Lord] does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
* We Praise God in Song
Doxology (#567)
God Speaks Through His Word - Acts 9:1-17
Sermon:
Speaker: Elder Schwacofer
Congregational Prayer (Followed by the Lord's Prayer)
Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
Closing Doxology
2 Corinthians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort