ORDER OF WORSHIP
December 27, 2015
Call to Worship: Isaiah 60:1
Prayer of Adoration:
Confession of Faith: The Heidelberg Catechism Q.1
Pastor: Christian, what is your only comfort, in life and in death?
People: That I belong—body and soul, in life and in death—not to myself, but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that He protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit His purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.
Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 96
Song: Come Thou Fount Hymn 457 v.1-3
Song: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty Hymn 53 v.1-3,5
New Testament Lesson: Titus 2:11-14
Song: To Thee I Come CCLI #5445851
To thee I come, a sinner poor, and wait for mercy at thy door
Indeed I’ve nowhere else to flee, Oh God be merciful to me!
To thee I come, a sinner weak, and scarce know how to pray or speak
From fear and weakness set me free, Oh God be merciful to me!
To thee I come, a sinner vile, upon me Lord vouchsafe to smile
Mercy through blood, I make my plea, Oh God be merciful to me!
To thee I come, a sinner great, and well thou knowest all my state
Yet full forgiveness is with thee, Oh God be merciful to me!
To thee I come, a sinner lost, nor have I aught wherein to trust
But where thou art, Lord I would be, Oh God be merciful to me!
To glory bring me Lord at last, and then when all my sins are passed
With all the saints, I’ll then agree, Oh God was merciful to me!
Oh God was merciful to me!
Scripture Reading and Prayer for the Church:
Dr. Bud Lancaster, Ruling Elder Matthew 11:1-19
Preaching of the Word: Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder
“In the Garden with Jesus” Matthew 26:36-46
Corporate Confession of Sin:
Almighty and merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You and one another in both our actions and our inactions. We recognize that in Jesus Christ our light has come, yet often we choose to walk in shadows and ignore the light. Gracious God, forgive our sins and remove from us the veil of darkness that shrouds our lives. Illumined by Your Word and Sacraments, may we rise to the radiance of Christ’s glory. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: 1 John 5:7
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.
Benediction:
*Professing and baptized members in good standing of a Church in which Jesus Christ is proclaimed as Lord and Savior are warmly invited to join us in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Guests: Welcome to Christ Presbyterian Church. We want to thank you for joining us for worship! If this is your first time visiting our church, please fill out a visitor card and place it in the offerings box at the back of the sanctuary. We’d like to send you some info about our church and our ministries. Also, if you have any needs or would like additional information, please see one of the elders or deacons, or send an email to christprespca@gmail.com.
Sunday School: Reminder, Sunday School classes are cancelled January 3. A new semester of classes for all ages will begin January 10. In the meantime, please enjoy fellowship time from 10 AM to 10:30 AM prior to worship, which will start at the regularly scheduled time.
Calendar/Other Announcements: As always, check the website www.christpreshamptoncove.org for additional news and upcoming events.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Katie Brown, Bill Cowley, and Suzanne Nimon.
Expecting/adopting parents: Please pray for the Johnson family as they prepare to expand.
Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Reid and Kelli Jones (RUF UAH); Roy and Emily Hubbard (RUF Alabama A&M); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student)