August 30, 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.
“Grant, Almighty God, since from our first origin we have been entirely accursed, so that we were entirely foul and polluted in thy sight, that we may be mindful of our condition, and acknowledge your inestimable pity towards us, since you have deigned to draw us from the lowest estate, and to adopt us among thy children: and may we so desire to spend our whole life in obedience to thee, that we may at length enjoy that blessed glory to which you has called us, and which you have prepared for us in your only-begotten Son. — Amen.”
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
“At one time you were like a dead person because of the things you did wrong and your offenses against God. You used to live like people of this world. You followed the rule of a destructive spiritual power. At one time you were like those persons. All of you used to do whatever felt good and whatever you thought you wanted so that you were children headed for punishment just like everyone else.
“However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.
You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift. It’s not something you possessed. It’s not something you did that you can be proud of. Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.”
-Ephesians 2:1-10 (CEB)
SONG OF PRAISE
“O For a Thousand Tongues”
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace
He breaks the power of canceled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me
Refrain:
O for a thousand tongues to sing
O for a thousand years to praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace
My great Redeemer's name
Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb
Your loosened tongues employ
Ye blind, behold your Savior come
And leap, ye lame, for joy
Refrain
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given
By saints below and saints above
The church in earth and heaven
Refrain
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
Christ our Redeemer, we are filled with gratitude for your deliverance!
We turn to you in prayer, that we might come to know your forgiveness and grace more fully:
Spend a moment in silence, bearing all of yourself to our gracious God.
Ask God to search your heart for the sin that hides there.
Ask God to break the patterns that bind you to sin.
Ask God to forgive you and cover you with the love and grace he has promised us in Christ Jesus.
Ask God for the courage and strength to live in this freedom each day.
Ask God to use your life as a witness to your neighbors.
We rest in the triumph of your grace, Lord. With a thousand tongues we praise your name, for glory belongs to you, our God and King. Amen.
PROMISE OF GRACE
Action: Pour water into the bowl and remember your baptism!
“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’
“They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
-Ezekiel 11:17-21 (CEB)
SONG OF GRACE
“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)”
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Refrain:
My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
Refrain
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: Ezekiel 16:1-14
Sermon: HESED, B-Sides
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
God of holy love, as we listen to the world’s concerns, hear the cry of the brokenhearted and distressed, and learn of new discoveries, give us knowledge, teach us to respond with maturity and humility, and give us courage to act with integrity.
Open our eyes, that we may see the needs of others. Open our ears, that we may hear their cries. Open our hearts, that they need not be without help. Let us not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, nor be afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show us where love and hope are needed, and use us to bring them to those places. Open our eyes and ears, that this day we may do the work of peace and reconciliation to which you have called us.
By your grace and for your glory, accomplish these things in and through us, O Lord. As you work to that end, we pray as Christ did, 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.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.
SONG OF SENDING
“Open Our Eyes”
Refrain:
Come and bring light to a people in darkness
Come set us free from the chains we have made
We are Your people the flock that You tend
Lord open our eyes once again
To the victims of violence
To the ones who seek justice
To those sitting in prison
Open our eyes
Teach us compassion and love
Refrain
To those full of life's sorrow
To the needs of the lowly
Top the ones who seek peace
Open our eyes
Teach us compassion and love
Refrain
To those suffering illness
To those trapped by addiction
To those lost or forgotten
Open our eyes
Teach us compassion and love
Refrain
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
To stay connected with what’s going on at WRC, check out the following video of announcements
Check out our back-to-school mission project: Project Backpack
Join us at 11am on Sunday for Zoom Coffee Hour!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83538679618?pwd=MEUzY1phYkZCaVdLbVBqeXkxR1B6Zz09
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:
“Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” Words: John Newton (stanzas), Chris Tomlin and Louie Giglio (refrain). Music: Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio (refrain), Traditional American Melody (stanzas). © 2006 worshiptogether.com Songs/sixsteps Music, Vamos Publishing, admin. Capitol CMG Publishing. Used by Permission. CCLI #2588005
“O For A Thousand Tongues” Words: Charles Wesley 1739. Music and Alternate Words by Zach Sprowls and Whitney Bozarth. © 2014 Zach Sprowls, Whitney Bozarth. Used by Permission. CCLI #2588005.
“Open Our Eyes” Words and Music: Kevin Keil. © 1998 Lorenz Publishing Company. Used by Permission. CCLI #2588005.