Worship
9 & 11:15 a.m. every Sunday
Welcome to worship at first pres
Giving
You may give on Sundays in the giving boxes in the back of the sanctuary, or you can give through several convenient, online methods, including by texting your gift.
Text to Give
Text FIRSTPRESHBG to 73256, followed by your gift amount, to give online through text.
Mail a Gift
To mail a gift, use this address:
First Presbyterian Church
17 Court Square
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Worship Guide
9 a.m.
Gathering Music: ON JORDAN’S STORMY BANKS I STAND
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 107)
One: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
All: Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
One: Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty,and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
All: Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
One: Let us worship the Lord together.
STEADFAST / THE LORD IS MY SALVATION
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness: (Based on Heidelberg Catechism, Questions 27 & 28)
One: What do you understand by the providence of God?
All: God’s providence is His almighty and ever present power, whereby, as with His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures, and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things, come not by chance but by His fatherly hand.
One: What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by His providence?
All: We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from His love; for all creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will they cannot so much as move.
One: Almighty God, our trust is weak, and we long to trust you more when we face the wilderness. We long to believe the truths we have just proclaimed.
All: We believe, Lord. Help our unbelief.
One: Hear us now as we, in silence, confess our unbelief and ask for your help.
(Silent Confession) We trust you, God, to help us believe. Friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made righteous.
First Scripture Reading: Numbers 14:1-4,26-38 (p.143)
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’S PRAYER
COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE
Children’s Message
Sermon: “God’s Purposes for the Wilderness” – Deuteronomy 8 (p.180)
I SHALL NOT WANT / COME ALIVE (DRY BONES)
Benediction
11:15 a.m.
Prelude: Karen Holl, Piano
Gathering Song: THE LORD IS MY SALVATION
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship: (based on Psalm 107)
One: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
All: Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
One: Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty,and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.
All: Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
One: Let us worship the Lord together.
BLESS THE LORD, MY SOUL AND BEING (224) vs. 1,2,4,5
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness: (Based on Heidelberg Catechism, Questions 27 & 28)
One: What do you understand by the providence of God?
All: God’s providence is His almighty and ever present power, whereby, as with His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures, and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things, come not by chance but by His fatherly hand.
One: What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by His providence?
All: We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from His love; for all creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will they cannot so much as move.
One: Almighty God, our trust is weak, and we long to trust you more when we face the wilderness. We long to believe the truths we have just proclaimed.
All: We believe, Lord. Help our unbelief.
One: Hear us now as we, in silence, confess our unbelief and ask for your help.
(Silent Confession) We trust you, God, to help us believe. Friends, hear and believe the good news of the gospel.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made righteous.
GLORIA PATRI
First Scripture Reading: Numbers 14:1-4,26-38 (p.143)
Prayers of the People & THE LORD’S PRAYER
WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS (101)
Sermon: “God’s Purposes for the Wilderness” – Deuteronomy 8 (p.180)
LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING (376)
Benediction
Discussion Questions
- Why did God lead the Israelites into the wilderness, and what does that say about our own wilderness times?
- In what places of your life do you need to be humbled or experience more discipline? How is God working on you in those areas?
- What is a wilderness you are experiencing or have experienced? What purposes did you see in those times?
- How has God provided for you in times of wilderness?
- Moses tells the Israelites to remember God. Take some time to remember Him: Who He is, how He is leading you, His faithfulness and His provision. Ideally, do this with someone or a group of people.
- How can you make remembering a regular part of your spiritual disciplines?