Worship

Prelude: “All Things Bright and Beautiful” arr. Burkhardt             Karen Holl, Organist

Gathering Hymn: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH (281)

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 103:1-8; 118:24)

All: This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

One: Again today we come together to worship— the God of creation, of salvation, of time and eternity; the God of all peoples, of all nations, of all conditions of people everywhere.

All: Praise the Lord. All that is within me, Praise God’s holy name.

One: Praise the Lord and remember all his kindnesses: in forgiving our sins; in curing our diseases; in saving us from destruction; in surrounding us with love.

All: The Lord is full of mercy and compassion. The Lord is slow to anger and willing to give us gifts of love. Praise the Lord! Oh, all that is within me, praise the Lord.

O MY SOUL, BLESS YOUR REDEEMER (223)

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness:

All: Merciful God, you made us in your image, with a mind to know you, a heart to love you, and a will to serve you. But our knowledge is imperfect, our love inconstant, our obedience incomplete. Day by day, we fail to grow into your likeness. Our lives are cluttered, Lord Jesus, by too many things and too much to do. We are driven by the need to succeed and distracted from our service. We have often lost our way. Forgive us. Help us to remember and find the one thing that is needed and sit at your feet, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

One: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

ALL: Hallelujah! We are forgiven and have great hope!

First Scripture Lesson: Ephesians 5:8-17 (p.1159)

Prayers of the People & THE LORD’S PRAYER

TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE (391) vs. 1-3,5,6

Sermon: “Holy Time”

Scripture: Psalm 90:1-12 (p.588)

Closing Hymn: MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND

My times are in Thy hand, my God, I wish them there!

My life, my friends, my soul, I leave, entirely to Your care.

My times are in Thy hand, whatever they may be,

Pleasing or painful, dark or bright, as You know best for me.

My times are in Thy hand, why should I doubt or fear?

My Father’s hand will never cause His child a needless tear.

My times are in Thy hand, Jesus, the Crucified;

Those hands my cruel sins had pierced are now my guard and guide.

• What is the biblical definition of wise vs the wider culture?
• What is the difference between being efficient with your time and fruitful with your time as a Christian?
• How did Christ treat time as holy? How did He spend the time He had in His ministry?
• Communing with God, Building Community, Building Character. Which of these three areas are an area of strength for you? Which of these is an area of growth?