Call to Worship: From Psalm 23
Pastor: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
People: He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
Pastor: He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
People: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Pastor: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
People: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
Prayer of Adoration:
Song: And Can It Be – Hymn 455 v.1,3-5
1 And can it be that I should gain
an int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain?
For me, who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
3 He left his Father’s throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
humbled himself (so great his love!)
and bled for all his chosen race!
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for, O my God, it found out me! [Refrain]
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth, and followed thee. [Refrain]
5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th’eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ, my own. [Refrain]
The Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 25:6-9
Confession of Faith: The Heidelberg Catechism
Q. Why is there added [in the Apostle’s Creed]: “He descended into hell”?
A. In my greatest sorrows and temptations I may be assured and comforted that my Lord Jesus Christ, by His unspeakable anguish, pain, terror, and agony, which He endured throughout all His sufferings but especially on the cross, has delivered me from the anguish and torment of hell.
The New Testament Lesson: Philippians 4:4-9
Song: All Things New – CCLI #5448157
Come Lord and tarry not; bring the long looked for day;
O why these years of waiting here, these ages of decay?
Come for thy saints still wait; daily ascends their sigh;
The Spirit and the Bride say “Come”, dost thou not hear the cry?
CHORUS:
O come and make all things new, come and make all things new
O come and make all things new, build up this ruined Earth,
Come and make all things new
Come for creation groans, impatient of thy stay
Worn out with these long years of ill, these ages of delay.
Come for love waxes cold, its steps are faint and slow;
Faith now is lost in unbelief, Hope’s lamp burns dim and low.
Prayer for the Church: Matthew Elliott, Ruling Elder.
The Sermon: “Confidence at the Throne of Grace.” Hebrews 4:16. Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder.
Confession of Sin:
Assurance of Pardon: Micah 7:7
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me
*Communion:
Song: In Christ Alone – CCLI #3350395
In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day, Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine, Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
The Benediction: From Philippians 4:19-20
May our God meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen!