Fairlawn Christian Reformed ChurchFourth Sunday in Lent March 2, 2008 10:15 A.M. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Preparation And Praise Upon entering the sanctuary please maintain silence and turn off all electronic devices for the sake of the congregation’s preparation for worship. Prelude “Lamb of God, Pure and Holy” Bach “Father, We Give You Thanks, Who Planted” (PH 314) Cherwien Welcome and Announcements Silent Prayer and Preparation * Call to Worship: Psalm 107 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe; let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for his people. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders; for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. * Hymn: PH 504 “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” Grosser Gott * God’s Greeting: Grace and peace be to you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Blessed be God, And blessed is his kingdom, now and forever. Amen. * Prayer of the Day: Gracious Father, whose Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world, evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us and we in him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. * Response: PH 635 “Gloria Patri” Meineke Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Confession and Prayer Prayer of Confession: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have too often followed the devices and desires of our own hearts and have broken your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done, and there is no health in us. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare those who confess their sins. Restore those who are repentant, according to your promises declared unto us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Grant that we may live a godly, righteous and holy life to the glory of your name, through Christ our Lord we pray. Silent Prayer and Confession Minister: Amen. Assurance of Pardon: Proverbs 16 Choral Anthem: “Let’s Sing About God’s Love” Sleeth Congregational Prayer The Service Of The Word * Hymn: PH 267 “And Can It Be” Sagina [Children age 3 - grade Pre-K may leave during the Hymn.] Scripture Reading: Genesis 15:1-6 Sermon: Educating Father Abraham, Part VIII The Justification of Abraham Prayer * Hymn: PH 462, stanzas 1-4 “Amazing Grace—How Sweet the Sound” New Britain The Offering of Tribute * Offertory Prayer Offering: Fairlawn General Fund Offertory: “Amazing Grace” Jordan * Doxology: PH 638 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” Old Hundredth Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Service Of The Sacrament Of Communion THE LORD’S SUPPER * SURSUM CORDA—THE GREAT THANKSGIVING Lift up your hearts. We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God. It is proper and right to do so. Truly it is proper and right and our duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, O Lord, holy Father, Almighty and Everlasting God. Therefore with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious Name, evermore praising you and saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty; heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to you, O Lord Most High. THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION PRAYER OF CONSECRATION Heavenly Father, show forth among us the presence of your life-giving Word and Holy Spirit, to sanctify us and your whole church through this sacrament. Grant that all who share the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ may be one in him, and remain faithful in love and hope. And as this grain has been gathered from many fields into one loaf, and these grapes from many hills into one cup, grant, O Lord, that your whole church may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom. Now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. THE INVITATION TO THE TABLE THE DEDICATORY PRAYER We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great and manifold mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord, whose nature it is to always have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND WINE Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia! The gifts of God for the people of God. (Please hold each element until all have been served. The outer ring holds wine; the inner rings, grape juice.) THE THANKSGIVING Congregation in Christ, since the Lord has fed us at his table, let us praise his holy name with thanksgiving. Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise. Blessing and Dismissal * Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen. * Response: PH 462, stanza 5 “Amazing Grace—How Sweet the Sound” New Britain 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. Postlude: “Jesus, Priceless Treasure” Bach *Indicates congregation stands _____________________________________________________________________________________ |