Click here to download the worship service as a PDF: Worship service-3.22.20
Sunday Worship
Faith Community Church
March 22, 2020
APPROACH
The Call to Worship Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!
The Passing of the Peace of Christ
Reader 1: The peace of the Lord be with you.
Reader 2: And also with you.
Reader 1: Lift up your hearts.
Reader 2: We lift them to the Lord.
Reader 1: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Reader 2: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Links to all worship songs:
Spotify Playlist Link:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2z9Ro5jf2fpbPJNuh41goG?si=8_rtaUlpSXaE8Q7HmHUYQA
YouTube Playlist Link:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRR_hLN1r32bf22bT7xmLcIYpGQu_QKFp
Apple Music Playlist Link
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/faith-community-church/pl.u-qxylyRMtXyZEEv
O Worship the King
O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing His power and His love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.
O tell of His might O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light whose canopy space!
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light,
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail:
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end;
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
It Is Well With My Soul
When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, You have taught me to say,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, tho’ trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. [Refrain]
My sin – O the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin – not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! [Refrain]
And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
“Even so” – it is well with my soul. [Refrain]
The Confession of Sin
Hear the words of our God inviting us to confess our sin to him that we may receive his forgiveness and grace:
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Time of personal confession.
Prayer of Confession (optional)
Behold, Lord, I am an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.
I am weak in the faith; strengthen me.
I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor.
I do not have a strong and firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether.
O Lord, help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you.
In you I have sealed the treasure of all I have.
I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the poor.
I am a sinner; you are upright.
With me, there is an abundance of sin; in you is the fullness of righteousness.
Therefore I will remain with you, of whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen.
A Prayer of Martin Luther
The Assurance of Pardon
In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven and we are right with God. Hear the words of Ephesians 1:7: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
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.
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
The Reading of Scripture: Proverbs 20:9; 11:2; 16:18; 16:5-6; 22:4; 29:23
Proverbs 20:9: Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
Proverbs 11:2: When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:5-6: Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
Proverbs 22:4: The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 29:23: One’s pride will bring him low,
but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Following Jesus Down the Path of Humility Pastor Rhett Austin
RESPONSE
The Hymn of Response
Lead On, O King Eternal
Lead on, O King Eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields of conquest
Thy tents shall be our home.
Through days of preparation
Your grace has made us strong,
And now, O King Eternal,
We lift our battle song.
Lead on, O King Eternal,
Till sin’s fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet Amen of peace;
For not with swords loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums,
With deeds of love and mercy
The heav’nly kingdom comes.
Lead on, O King Eternal,
We follow, not with fears;
For gladness breaks like morning
Where’er Your face appears;
Thy cross is lifted o’er us;
We journey in its light:
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.
The Prayers of the People Valerie Austin
Our Merciful God,
We thank you that you are always in control and always working for the good of your people, no matter the circumstances. You are our refuge and strength, and present to help in times of trouble. Thank you for hearing our prayers on behalf of your people. We pray that you would please have mercy on all of us during this pandemic. We pray especially that you would protect us and help us to stand ready to show your mercy and care for others in the ways you call us to.
Please help us to be faithful and obedient to you in our call to missional prayer, mercy, and mentoring. We ask that you would especially care for the vulnerable in our community, including the homeless, the food insecure, and refugees. We ask that you would help us to be diligent in following you and intentional in our discipleship as we are all limited in our access to one another in various ways.
We pray for the Joe and Amy Paglia and Phil and Jessica Smith in their work with LRI. Thank you for how well the Global Summit went in Brazil and please protect those who are still returning to their home countries. Please protect these pastors from the Coronavirus, and instead equip them to serve your people well in their home countries.
We ask for your blessing and protection on all who serve with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and pray that you would help them to care for all those who have been affected by school closures and the shelter-in-place order. Please provide for them as they seek to care for the basic needs of those whom you love.
We pray for those in leadership in our nation, our president and representatives, and ask that you would help them to make wise decisions in these days. We pray for our elders, Tim, Rhett, and Larry, and ask that you would protect their health during this time so that they may be able to serve the church.
Finally, Lord, we lift up our congregation’s concerns. Please protect Paola Viland and the Viland’s baby during her pregnancy and prevent her from getting sick. Please comfort Karen Snowden in the recent loss of her sister, and Kai Cullerton in the loss of her sister. Lord, have mercy on these women and help them to know the sustaining presence of your Holy Spirit. Please protect all those in our congregation who have vulnerabilities that would make them especially susceptible to this illness, and keep them safe in every way.
We ask all these things in Jesus’ Name, knowing that it is always your pleasure to do good to your people. Please accept our tithes and offerings now, and use them to extend mercy to our church, our neighborhood, and the world.
Amen.
On Jordan’s Stormy Banks
On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand
And cast a wishful eye
To Canaan’s fair and happy land
Where my possessions lie.
Refrain:
I am bound, I am bound,
I am bound for the promised land.
I am bound, I am bound,
I am bound for the promised land.
All o’er those wide extended plains
Shines one eternal day,
There God the Son forever reigns
And scatters night away. (Refrain)
No chilling winds nor poisonous breath
Can reach that healthful shore,
Sickness, sorrow, pain, and death
Are felt and feared no more. (Refrain)
When shall I see that happy place
And be forever blessed?
When shall I see my Father’s face
And in His bosom rest? (Refrain)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be your Name;
Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven:
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil:
For yours is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.
The Benediction
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)
The Doxology
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.