March 30, 2025
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
= = =
Do you remember playing hide and seek as a child? Throughout the world children play hide and seek. Why is hide and seek such a universally appealing game? On the one hand, it is a game with endless possibilities. You can be just about anywhere and it does not matter how many people are playing. There is nothing too complicated about the objective. Hide so that you won’t be found, and find those that are hiding. Simple and fun! And, just maybe, if you happen to find yourself hiding in a special wardrobe, it could be the beginning of an amazing adventure!
Hide and seek is a universal game in another sense, because we never seem to grow too old for it. One aspect of playing hide and seek is about being clever. Are you clever enough to hide where no one will find you? Are you clever enough to find those that do not wish to be found? It is a battle of wits fighting for the title of “most clever.” It is the game we play with God when we think we are being clever.
Psalm 32 speaks of a time when David sinned and he thought he could get away with it. He could not. David says, “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.” (Ps 32:3–4) David is recalling that time when he lusted after a married woman, committed adultery with her, and conspired and succeeded to murder her husband. David did all these things all the while pretending to be a descent man allowing Bathsheba to mourn her husband’s death before he took her as his wife. He may have succeeded in hiding his sin from people, although, even that is doubtful. More likely people around David who knew of his sin were too afraid to confront him. After all, he could arranged to have you killed just as easily as he arranged Uriah’s death.
"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit." David years for God's blessing. The man who is blessed is the man who is right with God. That is why the blessing David seeks, his wish, is that God would forgive his transgression, cover his sin, and not count his iniquity against him. The sin that David tried to hide was known to God. Yet God covered David’s sin. Why? Because there is more grace in God than there is sin in us. Yes, we may feel (and rightly!) a sense of indignation because David does not deserve forgiveness. But that sense of indignation quickly fades as soon as we remember our own sins. We do not deserve God's forgiveness, either. Yet God has covered our sins. So with grateful and humble spirit we worship and give thanks.
= = =
Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2025 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
This month: We are reading "To Seek and to Save: Daily Reflections on the Road to the Cross" by Sinclair Ferguson.
This week: We are reflecting upon Shorter Catechism Q. & A. 11.
Everyday: Noted pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson posts a short reflection every day, each around 5 minutes long. "Things Unseen" cover various aspects of the Christian life, worship, and theological topics in a very accessible and edifying way. We encourage you to incorporate this into your daily life. Please see this page for more information. There you will find links to various podcast platforms as well as YouTube page.
Upcoming Events and Notices
March 30 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for Sunday school on the topic of Lent.
April 2 (Wednesday 7 PM): Join us as we study Exodus via Zoom. Meeting ID: 885 5287 2349 / Passcode: 711992.
April 6 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for our annual congregational meeting for the purpose of adopting the budget for fiscal year 2025–26. All communicant members are requested to attend.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).