Fairlawn Christian Reformed Church

Fifth Sunday in Lent

March 9, 2008        10:15 A.M.

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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      “Amazing Grace”                                                                           Hustad/Bish

    Welcome and Announcements 

    Silent Prayer and Preparation

*  Call to Worship:                                                                                                   Psalm 146

Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the Lord, who remains faithful forever.  The Lord reigns forever, even our God, O Zion, for all generations.

*  Hymn:  PH 460                 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”                         St. Denio

*  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: 

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and desires of our sinful hearts. Grant us grace to love what you command and desire what you promise, so that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely be fixed where true joys are found, through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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:                                                                                                        

O great and everlasting God, who searches and knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, we confess that we have not loved you with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  And we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have loved what we ought not to have loved, and we have coveted what is not ours.  We have not been content with your providence over our lives, or with the provisions you have made for us.  We have complained in our hearts about our families, our friends, our health, our vocations, our trials, and about your church. We have sought security in those things which perish, rather than in you, the everlasting God.  Cleanse and forgive us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives to make intercession for us according to your will.

Silent Prayer and Confession

Minister: Amen.

   Assurance of Pardon:                                                                                         Romans 5

      Vocal Solo:  “What Wondrous Love”                                                  Southern Harmony

      Congregational Prayer

The Service Of The Word

*  Hymn:  PH 384                   “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”                      Hamburg

[Children age 3 - grade Pre-K may leave during the hymn.]

*  Confession of Faith:  Heidelberg Catechism; Lord’s Day 23, Q and A. 60

Q.    How are you right with God?

A.     Only by true faith in Jesus Christ.  Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.  All I need to do is accept this gift of God with a believing  heart.

    Scripture Reading:                                                                                      Genesis 15:1-6

    Sermon:  Educating Father Abraham, Part IX

                      The Justification of Abraham

    Prayer

*  Hymn:  Insert                         “God, in the Gospel of His Son”                       Germany L.M.

The Offering of Tribute

*  Offertory Prayer

    Offering:  Fairlawn General Fund

            Offertory:  “Peace, Perfect Peace”                                                                        Bish

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.                

*  Doxology: PH 428, stanza 5                   “O Worship the King”                                 Lyons

O measureless Might, unchangeable Love,

whom angels delight to worship above!

Your ransomed creation, with glory ablaze,

in true adoration shall sing to your praise!

    Postlude:  “A Song of Lent”                                                                                         Taylor

*Indicates congregation stands

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