March 15, 2020
Before We Worship
Is now a good time to panic?
Clearly, that is exactly what many people are doing in light of COVID-19. But for us, Christians who rest in our Heavenly Father’s sovereign care, there is never a right time to panic. This is certainly a time to be prudent and careful. But it is not now, nor ever will be, a time to panic.
We panic when we have lost control over life and future. Truth be told, we never had control over life and future. As Jesus reminds us, we have never been able to “add a single hour” to our span of life (Matthew 6:27). We have never known what tomorrow will bring. So it is important to remember that exactly nothing has changed with COVID-19. Life has always been fragile, and we were never more than a few heartbeat away from a certain death. Much of the world’s economy runs on its ability to make us forget and deny this reality. Pleasure and addiction are all narcotics designed to make us forget that death comes to us all, and with it, makes so much of our life’s cravings and pursuits meaningless. COVID-19 has simply taken away the scales from the eyes of people, at least for a little while. And the panic is the telltale sign of people who have built their house on sand.
But we are building on Jesus Christ. And he tells us, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” O me of little faith! I have no reason to panic! Yes, Jesus promises us. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” So we do not panic. We are building on Jesus Christ. This foundation will stand. So we trust in our Father’s sovereign care. So we greet each day with faith, and pray that we might be wise.
This (as all times are) is a time to worship, pray, and love our neighbors. For now we will plan to meet for worship. We will carefully monitor how the situation changes, and consider very carefully what it means to love our vulnerable neighbors. At some point, the most Christ-honoring and loving thing may be to forego public worship, and help slow the spread of infection. So let us together seek God’s grace. We will not act out of unbelief and fear. But we will trust in our Father’s loving care, and act with faith and love, for God and for our neighbors. May our God give us joy while the world is in anguish. May the Lord enable us to serve him and the world well.
Order of Worship
Call to Worship
‡ Matthew 6:25–34 (p. 811)
‡ Bulletin Insert “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand”
‡ Trinity Hymnal #731 “Doxology”
Prayer of Invocation
The Reading and Exposition of the Law
Exodus 20:1–3 (p. 61)
Prayer of Confession
The Proclamation of the Gospel
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”” (John 1:29)
Bulletin Insert #6 “The Lord Will Provide"
Confession of Faith — The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) Lord’s Day 1
Presentation of Gifts and Offering
Pastoral Prayer
The Proclamation of God’s Word
1 Peter 3:13–17 (p. 1016)
Zealous for What Is Good
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 #647 “How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” stanzas 1–3, and stanzas 4–6 during the distribution of the cup.
Trinity Hymnal #108 “What’er My God Ordains Is Right”
Benediction
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Growth Resources
Family Devotion for the Week
The March 8, 2020 sermon, 1 Peter 3:8–12. "Godliness Makes Sense" is available on our church website. You can also catch up on older sermons from our Sermon page and subscribe to sermon podcast here.
Upcoming Events and Notices
Join us for “12 for 20” as we read 12 great books in the year 2020. In March we are reading “The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction” by Sinclair Ferguson.
March 22 (Lord’s Day): The Session will meet.
March 22 (Lord’s Day): Please join us as we discuss Sinclair Ferguson’s “The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction”.
March 29 (Lord’s Day): All members are requested to attend the annual Congregational Meeting for the purpose of presenting and adopting the new budget for the fiscal year 2020–21.
Nursery Volunteers
March 15: Kelly Rogers
March 22: Michelle Kay