MORNING WORSHIP SERVICE
March 23, 2025

Psalm 122:1
“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’”

OUR PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Prelude – As the instruments play, let us prepare ourselves for worship as we enter into the presence of the Lord.  Take time to read the “Puritan Prayer” on the back of the bulletin in preparation for worship, and the Silent Prayer here in the order of worship.

Silent Prayer —
    Merciful Lord, Grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of
        the world, the flesh and the devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow you,
            the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.    Amen

OUR ADORATION OF GOD

Call to Worship – Psalm 18:18-19 
    Pastor:  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support.  
    Congregation:  He also brought me out into a broad place;
                                    He delivered me because He delighted in me.

Trinity Psalter — Psalm 18:14-26

Invocation

OUR PROCLAMATION OF FAITH

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day, he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father, the Almighty.
From there, he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy, universal church, the communion of the saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Prayer for Unity
 

Hymn 140 – O Word of God Incarnate

 

Heidelberg Catechism Reading Questions 31 and 32

31 Q.  Why is He called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?
      A.  Because He has been ordained by God the Father
             and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit
             to be our chief prophet and teacher who perfectly reveals to us
             the secret counsel and will of God for our deliverance;
             our only high priest who has set us free by the one sacrifice of His body,
             and who continually pleads our cause with the Father;
             and our eternal king who governs us by His Word and Spirit
             and who guards and keeps us in the freedom He has won for us.

32 Q.  But why are you called a Christian?     
      A.  Because by faith I am a member of Christ and so I share in His anointing.
             I am anointed to confess His name, to present myself to Him
             as a living sacrifice of thanks, to strive with a good conscience
             against sin and the devil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ
             over all creation for all eternity.

Insert – All I Have Is Christ
1
I once was lost in darkest night,
Yet thought I knew the way.
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave.
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will,
And if You had not loved me first,
I would refuse You still.

OUR CONFESSION OF SIN AND THE MEANS OF GRACE

Pastoral Prayer

Offering

Psalter Reading–Psalm 92
A Psalm.  A Song for the Sabbath day.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
            And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
            And Your faithfulness every night,
On an instrument of ten strings,
            On the lute,
            And on the harp,
            With harmonious sound.

For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work;
            I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
O LORD, how great are Your works!
            Your thoughts are very deep.

A senseless man does not know,
            Nor does a fool understand this.
When the wicked spring up like grass,
            And when all the workers of iniquity flourish,
            It is that they may be destroyed forever.           

But You, LORD, are on high forevermore.
For behold, Your enemies, O LORD,
            For behold, Your enemies shall perish;
            All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.            

But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox;
            I have been anointed with fresh oil.
My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies;
            My ears hear my desire on the wicked
            Who rise up against me.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
            He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
            Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bear fruit in old age;
            They shall be fresh and flourishing,
To declare that the LORD is upright;
            He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.


Message



OUR RESPONSE AND BLESSING

Hymn 606 – Teach Me Thy Way O Lord

Benediction followed by Silent Prayer