August 16, 2020 - Outdoor Worship
/Thanks for joining us for this week’s worship service! As you gather this morning, take a moment to notice God’s creation around you. Give thanks to God for what you see, hear, smell, and feel. Give thanks for the opportunity to gather together again, even in this different way. Notice God’s presence and welcome God in.
If you are joining us online, the service can be streamed on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at 9:30am at www.wrclive.org. It will also be archived for later viewing.
While we are all overjoyed to be together, please do not neglect our physical distancing guidelines. Six feet of separation should be maintained between individuals from different households and masks should be worn whenever moving around, singing, or speaking. There are disposable masks and hand sanitizer on the tables in the back if you need either.
If you need to use a restroom, they are available through the Nursery School entrance of the Education Building, near the playground. Please wear your mask, use the hand sanitizer inside the entrance, limit the number of people using the restroom at one time, wash your hands properly afterwards, and please do not venture into the rest of the building.
Childcare and Sunday School will not be offered this morning. All children will remain with us in worship.
Bold sections will be read aloud together
* Invites you to rise in body or in spirit
“Weeping may endure for a night; but nights are not for ever. Even in the dreary winter the day star lights his lamp. It seems fit that in our nights the dews of grief should fall. When the Bridegroom’s absence makes it dark within, it is meet that the widowed soul should pine for a renewed sight of the Well beloved.”
“Q #125: What does the fourth request mean?
A: Give us today our daily bread means,
Do take care of all our physical needs so that we come to know that you are the only source of everything good, and that neither our work and worry nor your gifts can do us any good without your blessing. And so help us to give up our trust in creatures and to put trust in you alone.”
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
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
Praise the Lord, all you nations!
Worship him, all you peoples!
Because God’s faithful love toward us is strong,
the Lord’s faithfulness lasts forever! Praise the Lord!
-Psalm 117
*SONG OF PRAISE
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see:
all I have needed thy hand hath provided--
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL
God of faithful love, we need you. We need your new mercies this morning. All we have, all that we are, is by your hand. Forgive us, for all the ways we forget or deny it. Redeem us, so the outpouring of our life would be extraordinary love and faithfulness toward our neighbor.
*PROMISE OF GRACE
“Yet Not I, But Through Christ In Me”
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing: all is mine
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing: I am free
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
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
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: Ruth 4:1-22
Sermon: HESED
Pastor Andy Kadzban
RESPONDING TO GOD
PSALM 113:5-9
“Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust,
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!”
*SONG OF RESPONSE
“Who Is Like the Lord Our God?”
Our Father, He lifts from the ashes
He raises the poor and the lost;
He seats them to dine at his table,
To feast without money or cost.
The lonely he settles in families
The barren, a mother he makes;
O happy the heart of the stranger
Who’s welcomed by this King of Grace.
Refrain:
Who is like the LORD our God? Who with glory fills the sky?
But humbles himself with the broken to dwell. Who is like our God?
Though equal to God in His glory,
Christ Jesus became like a slave;
He humbled himself in obedience
To Death, and the Cross, and the Grave.
Victorious, he rose to the highest;
In glory, the Savior was raised.
His name above all names exalted;
The heavens and earth sing His praise
Refrain
O Saints, fix your eyes on the Savior
And count all your righteousness lost.
Be found in his love and his favor,
And share in his death on the cross.
That all of his power in victory,
Imparted to you, may abound;
And sharing the suff’rings of Jesus,
You share in his glory and crown
Refrain
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
O Lord, you have been good to us. We praise you for your righteousness, your mercy and grace. You turn despair into joy, scarcity into abundance, barrenness to fullness. The world aches for you, then, O Lord. The world needs you, Christ. Open your heart to your servants as we lift up our prayer to you:
We pray for nations and peoples suffering under the weight of war, political and environmental oppression, and divisive cultural tensions. Lord, be swift in establishing your shalom. Use your church to bear love, justice, righteousness and reconciliation.
We pray for persons who feel lost and alone, shunned or glorified into isolation. We pray you would give us courage and commitment to open a place at our table, into our hearts that they might be welcomed in and loved.
We pray for our community at Wyckoff Reformed Church--bear us up under the strain of isolation. Lord, we miss the joy and encouragement of being together. Spirit, be diligent in building up our faith and our love for one another, even from afar.
Establish your kingdom, God. Bring you shalom. As we labor and hope for that day, we lift up your own words,
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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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
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 up an automatic payment through your bank!
Copyright Info:
"Great Is Thy Faithfulness" Words: Thomas Chisholm. Music: William Runyan. ©1923, Renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Company. Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005
“Not Yet I, But Through Christ in Me” Words and Music: Jonny Robinson, Michael Farren, Rich Thompson. ©2018 CityAlight Music, Farren Love And War Publishing, Integrity's Alleluia! Music, CCLI #7121852
“Who Is Like the Lord Our God?”, Words and Music: Wendell Kimbrough and Bruce Benedict, ©2013 Wendell Kimbrough, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005