Liturgy for May 21, 2023
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Reflections
All power structures, ancient or modern, whether political, economic, or racial, have the potential to become rivals to Christ, beckoning his followers to submit themselves to them in order to find a fuller security. The invitation is as blasphemous as it is unnecessary. Christ brooks no rivals. His people need no one but him.
N.T. Wright
from Colossians & Philemon
Idols call to us, luring us with the false promises of other gods and saviors: money, sex, power, success, relationships, and fame; and in their very midst, we remember Jesus, the firstborn of the new creation, and declare that we live for another King and another kingdom.
Mike Cosper
Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.
C. S. Lewis
Because the gospel is not about choosing to follow advice, it’s about being called to follow a King. Not just someone with the power and authority to tell you what needs to be done—but someone with the power and authority to do what needs to be done, and then to offer it to you as good news.
Timothy Keller
Romeo: What shall I swear by?
Juliet: Do not swear at all; or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the god of my idolatry.
William Shakespeare
from Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II
Call to Worship
from Isaiah 40
Leader: Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
People: He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Leader: Even youths shall faint and be weary, but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
People: They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Hymn of Praise: In the Dawning of Creation (Tune: O God beyond All Praising)
Prayer of Praise and the Lord’s Prayer
Confession of Sin
Scripture Reading
Romans 6:15-22
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
Corporate Confession of Sin
All: Father, We know that we were slaves to sin, that we were obedient slaves, that we thought only of ourselves and our own desires. We know, as the Apostle describes, that we presented our bodies, and even our hearts and minds, to the sin that was our master. We did this of ourselves, and became more and more enmeshed in our lawlessness. Now, we have been purchased from that master by Jesus and called away from that slavery by Your Holy Spirit. Now we know that we are slaves of righteousness and our master is You, the one true God. And yet, the day is going away and we are still not sanctified. We are still rebellious and we suffer in our sin. Father, cause us yet again to confess and repent, and again to seek Your face. In You alone is freedom. Assure us of that freedom through the cross of Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.
Silent Reflection and Confession
Assurance of Pardon and the Peace of God
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Leader: People of God: We stand before Him as free men and women, free from guilt, shame and pain. We stand before our Lord at peace with Him. May that peace be upon you all the days of your life.
People: Praise be to God, who has given us this peace.
Leader: May that peace be upon you all the days of our life.
People: And also with you.
Silent Confession and Reflection
Hymn of Response: When All Thy Mercies, O My God
and the Collection of Tithes and Offerings
Offertory Prayer
Hymn: Doxology
Affirmation of Faith of the Gospel
The Heidelberg Catechism, Question and Answer I
Leader: What is our only comfort in life and death?
People: That I, with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with His precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yes, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.
Hymn: Gloria Patri
Prayer of Intercession
Hymn: To You, O Lord, I Fly
Preaching of the Word
God Is My Joy, by Rev. Richard Lusk
Scripture: Psalm 16
Closing Hymn: Happy the Home When God Is There
Benediction
Ephesians 3:20-21
Leader: Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. And God's people said:
All: Amen!