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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
§CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 87:1-3 (Responsively)
Minister: On the holy mount stands the city he founded;
the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
All: Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God.
All: Amen.
§PRAYER OF INVOCATION
§PSALTER God, My King, Thy Might Confessing #145D
SCRIPTURE LESSON Psalm 39
David Matzen (Ruling Elder Candidate)
Living in light of the fact that we will die
CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN
All: Almighty God and holy Father, we praise you and declare our love to you as the one true God of heaven and earth. We thank you for your Word and how it speaks to us through your Spirit. As we have heard it read, we are again reminded and convicted of that restless evil that resides in our mouths. We confess those sinful ways that we use our tongues: for complaining, backbiting, slandering, gossiping, talebearing, and a host of other evils. We know that these things are a reflection of our heart which needs your cleansing power. Forgive us, Lord! Create in us a clean heart that we might not sin against you. These things we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Isaiah 53:4-5
Minister: Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All: Amen.
CONFESSION OF FAITH Westminster Larger Catechism 165-167
Q. 165. What is baptism?
A. Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself, of remission of sins by his blood, and regeneration by his Spirit; of adoption, and resurrection unto everlasting life; and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord's.
Q. 166. Unto whom is baptism to be administered?
A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, but infants descending from parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized.
Q. 167. How is baptism to be improved by us?
A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others; by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; and by endeavoring to live by faith, to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM OF AUTUMN GRACE SIRECI
PRAYER NEEDS FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
Dr. Lloyd Long, Ruling Elder
PASTORAL PRAYER AND LORD'S PRAYER
§HYMN Amazing Grace #433
THE PREACHING OF GOD'S WORD
Rev. William F. Hill, Jr.
Scripture Reading: James 1:26-27
Sermon Title: The Evidences of True Religion
§HYMN Be Thou My Vision #446
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
OFFERING
§DOXOLOGY
§THE BENEDICTION Romans 15:13
Minister: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
All: Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen!ill be available soon.