Call to Worship: Psalm 125, Trinity Hymnal p. 832.
1 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.
3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.
4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!
Peace be upon Israel!
Prayer of Adoration:
Song: I Shall Not Want – CCLI #7004369
From the love of my own comfort, from the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions, deliver me O God
From the need to be understood, from the need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely, deliver me O God
Deliver me O God
CHORUS:
And I shall not want, I shall not want
When I taste your goodness, I shall not want
When I taste your goodness, I shall not want
From the fear of serving others, from the fear of death or trial
From the fear of humility, deliver me O God
Deliver me O God
The Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 7:6-9
Affirmation of Faith: The Heidelberg Catechism
Q.120. Why has Christ commanded us to address God as Our Father?
A. To awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer that childlike reverence and trust toward God which should be basic to our prayer: God has become our Father through Christ and will much less deny us what we ask of Him in faith than our fathers would refuse us earthly things.
Prayer of Confession:
Assurance of Pardon: From Psalm 130:4
“But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.”
The New Testament Lesson: Romans 8:28-30
Prayer for the Church: Matthew Elliott, Ruling Elder.
The Sermon: “Evil, Suffering, and the Cross: Part Two.” 1 Peter 4:12-13, 19. Dr. Michael Calvert, Teaching Elder.
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!
The Benediction: From Philippians 4:7
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen!