Fairlawn Christian Reformed Church

Morning Worship

April 20, 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:  “How Great Thou Art”                                                                             arr. Rice

                     “Shout to the Lord/Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”                arr. Callaway

    Welcome and Announcements 

    Silent Prayer and Preparation

*  Call to Worship:                                                                                                      Isaiah 25

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.  This is our God and we trust in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

*  Hymn:  PH 246, stanzas 1-3         “Come, Thou Almighty King”                    Italian Hymn

*  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, who through your Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life, grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

To thee, great One in Three, eternal praises be hence evermore!

Thy sovereign majesty may we in glory see,

and to eternity love and adore.

Confession and Prayer

    Confession of Faith:  Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 21, Q. & A. 56

Q.    What do you believe concerning “the forgiveness of sins”?

A.    I believe that God, because of Christ’s atonement, will never hold against me any of my sins nor my sinful nature which I need to struggle against all my life.  Rather, in his grace God grants me the righteousness of Christ to free me forever from judgment.

    Prayer of Confession:                                                                                                            

Almighty God, who is rich in mercy to all those who call upon you, hear us as we come humbly confessing our sins and seeking your grace and forgiveness. We have broken your holy laws by our actions and choices, by our words and by the sinful affections of our own hearts. We confess before you our disobedience and ingratitude, our pride and stubbornness, and our neglect of  your will for our lives. Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, and grant that we, through your great goodness, may serve and please you in newness of life, through the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Silent Prayer and Confession

Minister: Amen.

    Assurance of Pardon:                                                                                         Exodus 34

      Response:  PH 232                           “You Are Worthy”                                            Worthy

You are worthy, you are worthy, you are worthy, O Lord;

you are worthy to receive glory, glory and honor and power:

for you have created, have all things created, for you have created all things,

and by your pleasure they were created; you are worthy, O Lord!    (Repeat)

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

      Congregational Prayer

The Service Of The Word

*  Hymn:  PH 400                 “Praise the Savior Now and Ever”                       Upp, Min Tunga

    Scripture Reading:                                                                                Revelation 21:1-21

    Sermon:  The New Jerusalem, Part II

    Prayer

*  Hymn:  PH 620                          “By the Sea of Crystal”                                           Crystal

The Offering of Tribute

*  Offertory Prayer

    Offering:  Fairlawn General Fund

            Offertory: “Crown Him with Many Crowns!”                                     Elvey/arr. Smith

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:                        “All Hail King Jesus”                                                                  

All hail, King Jesus!  All hail, Emmanuel.

King of kings, Lord of lords, Bright Morning Star.

And throughout eternity I’ll sing Your praises,

and I’ll reign with You throughout eternity.

Dave Moody, 1981, Temple Music, CCLI 1099351

    Postlude:  “We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise”                               Dearman/arr. Wilson

*Indicates congregation stands

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