Call to Worship – from Psalm 130
LEADER: Out of the depths we cry to you, Lord;
ALL: Lord, hear our voices.
LEADER: Let your ears be attentive
ALL: to our cries for mercy.
LEADER: If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
ALL: But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
LEADER: I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord
ALL: more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
LEADER: Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. ALL: He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Prayer
O Lord, we join with the psalmist and cry out to you. We recognize your forgiveness, trusting in you, waiting on you, and recognizing your kindness and mercy. There is a lot going on in this world. This Psalm is a song asking for your pardon and mercy as we recognize your goodness. Father, we place our trust in you, today and always. Amen.
Response – I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130) (Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Keith Getty, and Stuart Townend, 2018)
Lord, from the depths I call to You
Lord, hear me from on high
And give attention to my voice
When I for mercy cry
Out of the depths I cry to You
In darkest places I will call
Incline Your ear to me anew
And hear my cry for mercy, Lord
Were You to count my sinful ways
How could I come before Your throne
Yet full forgiveness meets my gaze
I stand redeemed by grace alone
I will wait for You, I will wait for You
On Your word, I will rely
I will wait for You, surely wait for You
Till my soul is satisfied
So put your hope in God alone
Take courage in His power to save
Completely and forever won
By Christ emerging from the grave
Now He has come to make a way
And God Himself has paid the price
That all who trust in Him today
Find healing in His sacrifice
I will wait for You, I will wait for You
Through the storm and through the night
I will wait for You, surely wait for You
For Your love is my delight
I pray my soul waits for the Lord
My hope is in His word
More than the watchman waits for dawn
My soul waits for the Lord
Prayer of Confession
Father, we come before you, with hope, trusting in you to forgive our sins. For we have done wrong, and continue to do so. We have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to you. But we know that you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you. And so we pray, have mercy on us. Forgive us. Wash us clean. Allow us to be in right relationship with you again, for we know that you are faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Amen.
Chalcedonian Creed (circa 451 A.D.)
This creed was adopted at the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held at Chalcedon, located in what is now Turkey, in 451, as a response to certain heretical views concerning the nature of Christ. It established the orthodox view that Christ has two natures (human and divine) that are unified in one person.
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God–bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only–begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only–begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.
Gospel Reading
Read John 7:25-53
Prayer for Others
O Sovereign and Almighty Lord, bless all thy people, and all thy flock. Give thy peace, thy help, thy love unto us thy servants, the sheep of thy fold, that we may be united in the bond of peace and love, one body and one spirit, in one hope of our calling, in thy divine and boundless love. (Liturgy of St Mark, 2nd century)
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Response – Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor (Matt Boswell, 2014)
Christ the sure and steady anchor
In the fury of the storm
When the winds of doubt blow through me
When my sails have all been torn
In the suffering, in the sorrow
When my sinking hopes are few
I will hold fast to the anchor
It will never be removed
Christ the sure and steady anchor
While the tempest rages on
When temptation claims the battle
And it seems the night has won
Deeper still then goes the anchor
Though I justly stand accused
I will hold fast to the anchor
It shall never be removed
Christ the sure and steady anchor
Through the floods of unbelief
Hopeless somehow, o my soul
Now, lift your eyes to Calvary
This my ballast of assurance
See His love forever proved
I will hold fast to the anchor
It will never be removed
Christ the sure and steady anchor
As we face the wave of death
When these trials give way to glory
As we draw our final breath
We will cross that great horizon
Clouds behind and life secure
And the calm will be the better
For the storms that we endure
Christ the shore of our salvation
Ever faithful ever true
Benediction
Let us use the lyrics from that song as our benediction: Christ the sure and steady anchor in the fury of the storm When the winds of doubt blow through me, when my sails have all been torn In the suffering, in the sorrow, when my sinking hopes are few I will hold fast to the anchor it will never be removed Hold fast to Jesus, the anchor for our souls, for Jesus is steadfast, immovable, the shore of our salvation, ever faithful and ever true. Amen.
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen