Call to Worship
Psalm 124

If the Lord had not been on our side, we would have been destroyed. We would have been swallowed up, and swept away in raging waters.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, because He has saved us!

Our help is in the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

 
10,000 Reasons
Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name
Sing like never before
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name

The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name
Sing like never before
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name

You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name
Sing like never before
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name
Sing like never before
O my soul
Worship His Holy Name

 
Prayer
Adapted from John Knox’s Liturgy of 1560

Almighty God,

We are unworthy to come into your presence, because of our many sins. We do not deserve any grace or mercy from you, if you dealt with us as we deserve. We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you.

And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offenses, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favorable Father, to all who turn to you. And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your son, to show mercy to us, and forgive us all our offenses.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever.

Amen.

 
New City Catechism
Question 9

What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments?

First, that we know and trust God as the only true and living God. Second, that we avoid all idolatry and do not worship God improperly. Third, that we treat God’s name with fear and reverence, honoring also his Word and works.

 
O Great God
Bob Kauflin

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

 
Amazing Grace
John Newton

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
‘Twas grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun

 
Scripture
Lamentations 5

1  Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;
look, and see our disgrace!
2  Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
our homes to foreigners.
3  We have become orphans, fatherless;
our mothers are like widows.
4  We must pay for the water we drink;
the wood we get must be bought.
5  Our pursuers are at our necks;
we are weary; we are given no rest.
6  We have given the hand to Egypt, and to Assyria,
to get bread enough.
7  Our fathers sinned, and are no more;
and we bear their iniquities.
8  Slaves rule over us;
there is none to deliver us from their hand.
9  We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
because of the sword in the wilderness.
10  Our skin is hot as an oven
with the burning heat of famine.
11  Women are raped in Zion,
young women in the towns of Judah.
12  Princes are hung up by their hands;
no respect is shown to the elders.
13  Young men are compelled to grind at the mill,
and boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The old men have left the city gate,
the young men their music.
15  The joy of our hearts has ceased;
our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16  The crown has fallen from our head;
woe to us, for we have sinned!
17  For this our heart has become sick,
for these things our eyes have grown dim,
18  for Mount Zion which lies desolate;
jackals prowl over it.
19  But you, O Lord, reign forever;
your throne endures to all generations.
20  Why do you forget us forever,
why do you forsake us for so many days?
21  Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!
Renew our days as of old—
22  unless you have utterly rejected us,
and you remain exceedingly angry with us.

 
How Deep The Father’s Love For Us
Stuart Townend

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

 
Benediction
1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.