July 12, 2020
/Thanks for joining us for this week’s Home Worship! As you gather, we invite you to take a moment to set up your space differently. Sit at your dining room table or arrange chairs in your living room. Set out a candle, a bowl, and a small pitcher of water before you. If you’ve gathered with a group, you can take turns reading and praying so that everyone has a chance to help lead us in worship. The sections in bold can be read aloud together.
“We believe that this good God, after creating all things, did not abandon them to chance or fortune but leads and governs them according to his holy will, in such a way that nothing happens in this world without God’s orderly arrangement.
Yet God is not the author of, and cannot be charged with, the sin that occurs. For God’s power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible that God arranges and does his works very well and justly even when the devils and the wicked act unjustly.
We do not wish to inquire with undue curiosity into what God does that surpasses human understanding and is beyond our ability to comprehend. But in all humility and reverence we adore the just judgments of God, which are hidden from us, being content to be Christ’s disciples, so as to learn only what God shows us in the Word, without going beyond those limits.
This doctrine gives us unspeakable comfort since it teaches us that nothing can happen to us by chance but only by the arrangement of our gracious heavenly Father, who watches over us with fatherly care, sustaining all creatures under his lordship, so that not one of the hairs on our heads (for they are all numbered) nor even a little bird can fall to the ground without the will of our Father.
In this thought we rest, knowing that God holds in check the devils and all our enemies, who cannot hurt us without divine permission and will.
For that reason we reject the damnable error of the Epicureans, who say that God does not get involved in anything and leaves everything to chance.”
GATHERED BY GOD
WELCOME
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth, Amen.
-Psalm 124:8
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
LIGHTING THE CANDLE
Action: Light a candle
One: Jesus Christ
All: is the Light of the World.
One: The Light shines in the darkness
All: and the darkness did not overcome it.
INVITATION TO WORSHIP
“How lovely is your dwelling place,
Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—a place near your altar,
Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.”
SONG OF PRAISE
“Better is One Day”
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty.
For my soul longs and even faints for you.
For here my heart is satisfied, within your presence.
I sing beneath the shadow of your wings.
Refrain:
Better is one day in your courts,
better is one day in your house,
better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.
Better is one day in your courts,
better is one day in your house,
better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere,
than thousands elsewhere.
One thing I ask and I would seek: to see your beauty,
to find you in the place your glory dwells.
One thing I ask and I would seek: to see your beauty,
To find you in the place your glory dwells.
Refrain
Bridge:
My heart and flesh cry out
for you, the living god;
your Spirit's water to my soul.
I've tasted and I've seen,
come once again to me;
I will draw near to you,
I will draw near to you.
Refrain
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
Living God, our heart and flesh cry out to you. Come, once again, to us in our weakness and hear our prayer:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
PROMISE OF GRACE
Action: Pour water into the bowl and remember your baptism!
“The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love towards those who honor him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who honor him.”
OFFERING
We respond to the love and grace of Jesus by giving back our whole lives to God in worship. In this offering, we give our financial gifts as a symbol that all we have comes from God and is to be used for God’s glory. Even though we aren’t worshiping together, our ministry still continues! Please continue to support us!
DOXOLOGY
May be spoken or sung
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.
LISTENING TO GOD
Scripture: Psalm 84
Sermon: Psalms for the Journey
Pastor Andy Kadzban
DISCUSSION
What did you hear?
What are you going to do about it this week?
RESPONDING TO GOD
APOSTLES’ CREED
We join our voices together with Christians throughout the ages and across the world to proclaim these words:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Holy and merciful God, you created the heavens and the earth and everything under the earth and have sustained it, nurtured it by your loving hand. You see the world, our community, our church, and all of its needs. Come Lord Jesus, and meet all of them with your mercy and grace. Come and reconcile all things into flourishing.
This day we offer back to you Psalm 84:
O Lord God of hosts, hear our prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
For all who feel alienated and alone, for all who ache for shelter from fixed systems of justice; for all those wandering in anxiety or doubt, fear or resentment, do not abandon them to despair. By your provision and care, bring comfort. For all who long for joy to return to their hearts and overflow from their lips, we pray You bring them to Your dwelling place.
For all who feel small, unseen, unknown, for all who seem powerless and vulnerable, we pray they find shelter in your presence. We pray their offerings of praise declare your goodness and faithfulness and tell of your mighty hand and gentle mercy.
Grow in us unyielding strength and a heart that delights in your Word. Equip this worshipping body to witness to the Living Water and so become pools of water in a desolate landscape. From our hearts may rivers of living water flow.
O Lord God of hosts, hear our prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Our sun and shield;
bestow favor and honor upon us.
As we seek to walk faithfully, do not withhold your goodness from us.
We close by offering together the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, saying,
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, forever. Amen.
SENDING SONG
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, oh, breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find thy promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee with thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.
SENT WITH GOD’S BLESSING
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his presence to you and give you his peace,
Now and always, Amen.
-Numbers 6:24-26
Join us for In-Home Communion via Zoom on Sunday, July 12 @ 11:00am!
Make sure to have your bread and grape juice or wine ready!
To stay connected with what’s going on at WRC, check out the following video of announcements
Our congregation is able to do what it does because of your contributions! Even though we aren’t meeting in person during this season, you can continue to give your gifts to God. Visit www.wyckoffreformed.org/give to set up your one-time or recurring gift online. You’re also welcome to mail a check or set us up as an automatic payment through your bank!
Copyright Info:
“Better is One Day”, Words and Music: Matt Redman, © 1995 Thankyou Music, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, Words: Charles Wesley, 1747. Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1831. Public Domain