March 8, 2026

Please note the Daylight Saving Time begins this Lord's Day. We spring forward one hour.

You can find the order of worship and songs here.

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Children summoned to the principal's office walk in with hesitating steps and in trepidation. Their serious faces betray their thoughts. They would rather be anywhere else than here! Similarly, a criminal who is led into the courtroom in handcuffs shows no joy in his face. But it is an altogether a different thing when a child runs into the arms of his loving mother. There is joy and exuberance when we come face to face with a dear friend. That, of course, explains the joy of Psalm 95. "Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"

Love brings us into the presence of the LORD with joy. We do not come with dread, muttering to ourselves "I would rather be anywhere else but here!" Joy in worship, indeed, may be the clearest sign of our love for the Lord. And how we love him! "For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand." When we come to the Lord, we in fact come home to our Maker, our Shepherd, and our Father.

Psalm 95, of course, is well-known for its serious tone. The joyful exuberance is answered by a sobering call. "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…" It is fine and good to come into the Lord's presence with joy. But the profession of love must be matched by acts of love — hearing God's word with faith and obedience. What God has joined together, let no man separate.

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Growth Resources

In March we are reading "Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters" by Timothy Keller. See also 12 for 26.

This week's Shorter Catechism lesson: Qs. 88–90.

Announcements

3/8 (Lord's Day): Please note the Daylight Saving Time begins. We spring forward one hour.

3/8 (Lord's Day): Fellowship Lunch.

3/11 (Wednesday 6 PM): 1 Timothy Zoom Study. Meeting ID: 884 9003 6844. Passcode: 5sUpUi

3/15 (Lord's Day): Sunday school lesson on Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, ch. 73, "The Last Resurrection."

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).

This Week's Prayers

Please email your prayer request by Thursday to include it in the list for the upcoming week — info@gracefallbrook.church