St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church
Pastor Daniel R. Schnabel 15480 County Road 31, Hamburg, MN
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever; With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever; Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.” Psalm 89:1-2
Lord’s Day — August 22, 2021
Prelude & Piano – Corinne
Ringing of the bell
Welcome & Announcements
Silent Prayer and Call to Worship
• Salutation and Prayer
• Gloria Patri 735
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.
• Confession of Faith- Apostles' Creed
Hymn “How Great Thou Art” 44
We Read God’s Word: Romans 1:18-32 (B. p. 1000)
Confession of Sin & Pastoral Prayer w/ Lord’s Prayer
Call to Repentance and Assurance of Pardon: Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself." Acts 2:38-39
• Hymn “I Am So Glad That Our Father in Heaven” 191
Scripture Reading: Psalm 8 (B. p. 483)
Sermon: God’s Glory, Our Children and Us!
We Celebrate The Baptism of Titus
Hymn-Offering “O Give Us Homes Built ” 310
• Benediction
• Doxology 731
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. Amen.
• Silent Prayer
• Ringing of the Bell
Postlude
• Those who are able, please stand
Welcome to St. Paul’s Evangelical Reformed Church, especially those who are visiting with us. If you are visiting with us for the first time, please fill out a visitor card in the pew or the guest registry in the entryway. But as for me it is good to be near God. Psalm 73:28
Digital bulletin at https://faithlife.com/stpaulsrcus/bulletins
Church 467-3878 Parsonage 467-3872 Cell Phone (952) 240-0886
(FM broadcast channel is fm 88.7 for just in the parking lot.)
- This Week at St. Paul’s -
Thursday Harbor Bible Study at 9:00 a.m.
Stiftungsfest family night from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sunday Worship Service at 9:30 a.m.
Stiftungsfest Parade at noon
Today we have the honor of celebrating covenant baptism for Titus. While water baptism does not wash away our sins, it is a covenant sign and seal pointing to the promise of the gift of righteousness through faith just as God gave to Abraham. Baptism is also setting apart our children as belonging to God and His people.
Brotherhood will meet briefly after worship.
We will have inquirers/new members class today after worship. It will be upstairs in the first classroom. No new members class next week.
Stiftungsfest family night, August 26th, Brotherhood will be serving root beer floats.
September 22nd the composer Calvin Jones,(son of one of our denominations former pastors) who helped us find the grand piano, will be having a concert at our church at 7:30 p.m.
- Prayer & Praise & Hospital Notes -
Congratulations to Mallory & Ben on the birth of their new little girl!
Note from Mori “I would like to thank everyone for all the prayers, cards, texts, calls and meals dropped off at the house while I was not feeling well. I’m thankful for God’s healing hand and for all of you!” Ephesians 1:16
Linda as she recovers from knee surgery. Deut. 31:6
Jacob as he has seizures and congenital issues with his eyes.. We are thankful this has improved. Ps. 121:2
Pray for Mallory & Ben as they are expecting a new baby. Psalm 71:6
Pray for the elderly, particularly those in nursing and assisted living homes – Lorna, Bernetta and Dorothy. This is particularly difficult as they cannot leave their building and many times even their room!2Corinthians 4:17
Pray for our first responders who are treating the sick. For Payton S. in her med school rotations, nurse Abbie H. and nurse Derek W.as they care for the sick including Covid 19 patients. For Abbie S. as she cares for Covid 19 patients needing dialysis. Pray also for those who are unemployed during this time as well as those suffering from this illness. Psalm 121:7
Pray for the police officers and their safety. Pray for our servicemen & women and national Guard who are members or related to members- Dakota, Jeremy, Ty , Ryan, Sam, Michael , Amanda, and Caleb, as well as their families as they are serving. Kayla would like to thank everyone for their prayers! Psalm 91
Pray for this nation. Jeremiah 3:21-22.
Pray for the United Reformed Church of the Congo, the Free Reformed Fellowship of Kenya, the Pearl of the Orient Reformed Church in the Philippines, Rev. Eric Kayayan of Reformed Faith and Life, Rev. Victor D’Assonville of Reformation To Germany, Middle East Reformed Fellowship and Westminster Biblical Missions which we help support with our missions offerings. 2Thess. 3:1
- Further Study -
Has the Lord adorned flowers with all the beauty that spontaneously presents itself to the eye, and the sweet odor that delights the sense of smell, and shall it be unlawful for us to enjoy that beauty and this odor? What? Has he not so distinguished colors as to make some more agreeable than others? Has he not given qualities to gold and silver, ivory and marble, thereby rendering them precious above other metals or stones? In short, has he not given many things a value without having any necessary use? John Calvin
If you neglect to instruct [children] in the way of holiness, will the devil neglect to instruct them in the way of wickedness? No; if you will not teach them to pray, he will to curse, swear, and lie. If ground be uncultivated, weeds will spring. John Flavel
The only person in this world who enjoys complete contentment is the person who knows that the only worthwhile and satisfying life is to be a means, however humble, to God’s chief end His own glory and praise. J. I. Packer
Why we Baptize Children?
Psalm 127:3 tells us children are a gift from God. God doesn't hand them to us to treat like little unbelievers. So in Genesis 17:7-11 God commanded a covenant sign for believers and their children to assure us we are God's! God gave this command knowing Ishmael would not believe, he would not be saved. For the old covenant sign of circumcision, like new covenant sign of baptism is not a sign of our faith or of our repentance, but of covenant possession (Matt. 28:19), belonging to the Triune God (Romans 14:8)! If one refuses to obey our Triune God applying His sign, it angers Him(Exodus 4:24-25).
While a baby will not remember their baptism, we as believing parents must remind them they belong to the Triune God and are members of His Church! We teach them they are responsible to repent, believe, and live for the Lord(Genesis 18:19; Galatians 3:27; 1Timothy 2:19). While there are no clear commands to baptize children, let others be honest! Children of believers in the Old Testament were always assumed to be part of the covenant people of God unless they showed something different. The same is true in The New Testament! Nowhere does Jesus or his Apostles exclude children from the covenant promises (Eph 6:1, Col. 3:20, 1Cor. 7:14)! More important Jesus clearly declared in Luke 18:16 "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God." Peter even restates Genesis 17:7&8 giving two separate commands in the Greek. "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Peter's point is baptism is not a sign of repentance, but points to the Holy Spirit, who by faith makes the promises of God our’s (Believers and their children)! This is why, like with Abraham, upon faith in Jesus by one adult, acting as the Spiritual head, whole households(the Greek word implies children also) were baptized in the NT(Acts 16:15, 30-34; 1 Corinthians 1:16).
People, in the covenant, may be brought to faith early or late in life. A true believer may sin greatly(2 Samuel 11; Psalm 51). This does not mean the covenant sign is to be reapplied, which is impossible with circumcision. John Calvin wrote, "however the covenant might be violated by them [wayward Jews in the OT], the symbol of the covenant remained ever firm and inviolable by virtue of the Lord's institution.” There are no re-baptisms in the NT! After Peter denied and cursed Jesus, he was not re-baptized. He did have to repent and recommit himself to serving the Lord(John 21:7). While many things are lacking in our faith, God’s promises do not lack anything! When we stumble baptism reminds us of God’s promises and Christ’s shed blood. For faith in Jesus saves (Romans 2:25-29) us and our children, not water baptism. 1Peter 3:21 tells us There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only-begotten Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Lord’s Prayer
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, for ever and ever. Amen.
God’s Glory, Our Children & Us!
Psalm 8
- We must praise God For His greatness!
2. We must praise God who has given us value, crowning humanity with glory and majesty!
Using even our children gloriously!
Redeeming and restoring what was lost by Adam and sin!
Picture: Bongards, MN
Bulletin cover, graphics and picture are by Pastor Schnabel.
