Lord’s Day Worship
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
November 6th, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Prelude by Eri Lyons, Pianist
Pslam 79:1-7 -“God, the Nations Have Invaded” #674 -“I Need Thee Every Hour”
#347 - “The Church’s One Foundation”
Welcome and Announcements
Missionary Moment
Entering into Worship
Responsive Reading
Reverend Tom Troxell
*Psalm 91
Leader: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
All: I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust.”
Leader: For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
All: He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
Leader: You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
All: Nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
Leader: A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, But it will not come near you.
All: You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
Leader: Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—The Most High, who is my refuge -
All: No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
Leader: For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
All: On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
Leader: You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
All: “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
Leader: When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
All: With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
*Hymn of Preparation – #672
June Ruyle, Organist
“Trust and Obey”
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his Word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
but his smile quickly drives it away;
not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear,
can abide while we trust and obey. (Refrain)
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief nor a loss, not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
But we never can prove the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay; for the favor he shows,
and the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,
or we will walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do, where he sends we will go,
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
Invocation
Congregational Confession of Sin
Leader: Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo.
All: Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment.
Leader: Set us free from a past that we cannot change;
All: Open to us a future in which we can be changed;
Leader: And grant us grace to grow more and more in Your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
Private Confession of Sin
Assurance of Forgiveness
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” – Ephesians 2:11-14
*First Reading – Bible pg. 4 Genesis 4:1-11
Adoration and Praise
*Congregational Response – Hymn #465
June Ruyle, Organist
“Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord”
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured,
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Refrain:
Grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin.
Sin and despair like the sea waves cold,
threaten the soul with infinite loss;
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
points to the Refuge, the mighty cross. [Refrain]
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today. [Refrain]
*Confession of Faith The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,
begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
who for us and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried;
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
and he shall come again, with glory,
to judge both the living and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified;
who spoke by the prophets;
and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church,
we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins,
and we look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen
*The Gloria Patri
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.
Offering “My Best for Jesus”
June Ruyle, Organist
*Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavn'ly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Thanksgiving
Choir – “Thou Art Worthy”
Lola Ryckman, Choir Director
Eri Lyons, Pianist
“Thou Art Worthy”
Thou are worthy, Thou art worthy,
Thou are worthy , oh Lord
To receive glory, glory and honour,
glory and honour and pow’r.
For Thou has created, hast all things created.
Thou has created all things.
And for Thy pleasure they are created,
for Thou art worthy, oh Lord.
The Word and Sacrament
Pastoral Prayer
*Sermon Text – Acts 6:8-15, 7:54-60
Sermon “The Cry of a Martyr”
Reverend Dr. Paul Muresan
Communion Hymn – #254
June Ruyle, Organist
“Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”
Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
for such a worm as I!
Was it for crimes that I had done
he groaned upon the tree!
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut his glories in,
when Christ, the mighty Maker, died
for man the creature's sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes in tears.
But drops of grief can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe;
here, Lord, I give myself away,
'tis all that I can do.
Holy Communion – “I Come to The Cross”
June Ruyle, Organist
God’s Blessing on His People
*Congregational Response – Hymn #679
June Ruyle, Organist
“’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise;
just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
just in simple faith to plunge me
'neath the healing, cleansing flood! [Refrain]
Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace. [Refrain]
I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
and I know that thou art with me,
wilt be with me to the end. [Refrain]
*Benediction
*Postlude by Eri Lyons, Pianist #689 - “Be Still, My Soul”
Sermon Notes
Acts 6:8-15, 7:54-60 – November 6th, 2022
“The Cry of a Martyr”
Reverend Dr. Paul Muresan
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