July 2, 2017

Before We Worship

When we are young, life is still before us and we feel impatient for it to happen. When we are older, with as much life behind us as there is before us, we are afraid of letting life slip us by. In our final years we wonder at the brevity of it all. Psalm 90, written by Moses in his later years, has a unmistakable air of wistfulness as he considers life’s fleeting moments.

The two most pervasive themes of the psalm are that of finding a home and a sense of loss. Moses knew both intimately well. As he led Israel out of Egypt, wandering in the wilderness for forty years, the thought of finding a home was ever present in his heart. He watched as entire generation of Israel died in the wilderness without ever reaching their home. Moses himself would not make it there either. The psalm is full of Moses’ own sense of loss for being denied entrance to the promised land because of his rebellion (Deuteronomy 4:23–25). It is these two strands that pull at our heartstrings.

The song of Moses is also our song. After all, are we not wanderers as well? We are also sojourners looking for a home. Are we not surrounded by ever present reminders of God’s wrath? “You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!…For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.” Was Moses being too negative when he wrote, “For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.” It is doubtful. What Moses knew well, which we no longer understand so well because we hire professionals to handle our dead with sterility and joke away at their funerals, is that the life that we have devised and schemed for ourselves ends like a sigh, like a breath of regret, and sometimes with the actual sound of a sigh.

Life is short and life is hard. That is why Psalm 90 shows how the statements of faith in vss. 1–2 are challenged by the difficulties of “mortal coil” in vss. 3–12. But it teaches us at the same time how to live the few days of our sojourning. We make God our home. “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.” And we pray for wisdom. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” And we rely on God’s grace, his steadfast love. “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” This is how we live with mortality. Then in the hour of death, we will not die with a sigh, but as John Newton put it, “We hope to die shouting, “The Lord will provide.””

Call to Worship

Psalm 90 (reading responsively from TH p. 816)

Trinity Hymnal #30 “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”

Trinity Hymnal 731 “Doxology”

Prayer of Invocation

The Reading and Exposition of the Law

James 4:1–4 (p. 1012)

Prayer of Confession

The Proclamation of the Gospel

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)

“Thy Will Be Done” (Bulletin p. 10)

Confession of Faith The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty; Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who, for us and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Presentation of Gifts and Offering

Pastoral Prayer

The Proclamation of God’s Word

Exodus 20:18–21 (p. 61)

The End of the Law

Rev. Ken Han

The Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

We participate in the Lord’s Supper weekly. We welcome to the Lord’s Table all baptized believers who have sincere faith in Jesus Christ, and regularly worship in a Reformed or evangelical church.

The Lord’s Supper is a sign and a seal of the new covenant blessings. When we participate in the Lord’s Supper with faith, it strengthens our bond with our covenant Lord, Jesus Christ. Thus we participate properly when we come to our Savior with faith and repentance as we renew our resolve to forsake sin and live for his glory.

The Lord’s Supper also renews our bonds with God’s covenant community, the body of believers in the local church. As we receive the Lord’s Supper, we renew our pledge to give ourselves away in loving service.

During the distribution of the bread we will sing Trinity Hymnal #257 “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” stanzas 1–2, and stanzas 3–4 during the distribution of the cup.

Trinity Hymnal #252 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

Benediction

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Growth Resources

Family Devotion for the Week

The June 25, 2017 sermon is posted to our church website here. You can also subscribe to sermon podcast here.

The Shorter Catechism lesson of the week is posted here: Qs. 14–15..

We have some new resources for you at the information table, including several new CCEF mini books, as well as other edifying books. Be sure to check them out!

Upcoming Events and Notices

Every Lord’s Day 10:15 AM: Please join us for Hymnsing, a time of preparing our hearts for worship in praise, and for learning new hymns for worship.

July 2: The Children’s Bible lesson (First Catechism Qs. 44–45). And adult Shorter Catechism (Qs. 14–15) lessons will meet after the worship service.

July 9: Please join us for our monthly potluck fellowship lunch after the worship service.

Nursery Volunteers

July 2: Kelly Rogers

July 9: Liza Beede