EPIPHANY SONG SERVICE

7th Sunday After the Epiphany - February 16, 19 & 20, 2000

BELLS

ANTHEM 7PM "A Joyful Hallelujah" Mixed Choir

6PM "Lord Keep Us Steadfast" Male Choir

7:30 "Seek and You Will Find" Omega Choir

9:00 "Seek and You Will Find" Omega Choir

10:45 "Lord Keep Us Steadfast" Male Choir

WELCOME

INVOCATION

We have come into the presence of our holy and perfect God to worship and praise him. We have come to admit our rebellion and disobedience, our sin. We have come to hear the good news that God forgives and forgets all of our sins because of the work of his Son, Jesus Christ. We have come to receive strength and help to amend our sinful ways and to live a life that brings praise and glory to our God. In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

PRAYER

GOD'S WORD

"Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5

"I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing." Romans 7:18-19

"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6

CONFESSION OF SINS (Sung by People)

#302 Lord go you I make confession: I have sinned and gone astray; I have multiplied transgression, chosen for myself my way. Led by you to see my errors, Lord, I tremble at your terrors.

Yet, though conscience' voice appall me, Father, I will seek your face. Though your child I dare not call me, yet receive me to your grace. Do not for my sins forsake me; do not let your wrath o'er-take me.

#306 Before you, God, the Judge of all, with grief and shame I humbly fall. I see my sins against you, Lord, my sins of thought and deed and word. They press me sore; to you I flee: O God, be merciful to me!

O Jesus, let your precious blood be to my soul a cleansing flood. Turn not, O Lord, your guest away, but grant that justified I may go to my house at peace to be: O God, be merciful to me!

ANNOUNCEMENT OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS

God has been merciful to you! He assures you that as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed your sins from you. He comes to you and takes you by the hand and says, "Take heart, your sins are forgiven." He promises you. "I forgive your wickedness and I remember your sins no more!"

GOD'S WORD

"The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die."

2 Samuel 13:13b

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Whenever we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord - and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5

SONG OF PRAISE FOR GOD'S PARDON

#351 Hail, O once despised Jesus! Hail, O Galilean King! You have suffered to release us, hope to give and peace to bring. Hail, O universal Savior, bearer of our sin and shame; By your merits we find favor; life is given through your name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, all our sins on your were laid; by almighty love anointed, you have full atonement made. Ev'ry sin has been forgiven through the power of your blood; open is the gate of heaven; we are reconciled to God.

Jesus, heav'nly hosts adore you, seated at your Father's side. Crucified this world once saw you; now in glory you abide. There for sinners you are pleading, and our place you now prepare, ever for us interceding till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, pow'r, and blessing you are worthy to receive; loudest praise, without ceasing, right it is for us to give. Help, O bright angelic spirits, all your noblest anthems raise; help to sing our Savior's merits; help to chant Immanuel's praise.

OFFERING (Please sign the Friendship/Attendance Registers)

OFFERING PRAYER

DEVOTION HYMN #353

Praise the one who breaks the darkness with a liberating light; praise the one who frees the pris'ners, turning blindness into sight. Praise the one who preached the gospel, healing ev'ry dread disease, calming storms and feeding thousands with the Father's word of peace.

Praise the one who blessed the children with a strong, yet gentle, word; praise the one who drove out demons with the piercing, two-edged sword. Praise the one who brings cool water to the desert's burning sand; from this well comes living water, quenching thirst in ev'ry land.

Let us praise the Word incarnate, Christ, who suffered in our place; Jesus died and rose victorious that we may know God by grace. Let us sing for joy and gladness, seeing what our God has done; let us praise the true Redeemer, praise the one who makes us one.

DEVOTION JOEL 1:1-4, 2:12-13

Brought To Our Knees. Lifted To Glory!

"The word of the Lord that came to Joel son of Pethuel. Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your forefathers? Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. What the locust swarm has left the great locusts have eaten; what the great locusts have left the young locusts have eaten; what the young locusts have left other locusts have eaten."

"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity."

SONG OF INVITATION TO FOLLOW THE LORD #453

"Come, follow me," the Savior spoke, "All in my way abiding. Deny yourselves; the world forsake; obey my call and guiding. Oh, bear the cross, whate'er betide; take my example for your guide.

"I am the light; I light the way, a godly life displaying. I bid you walk as in the day; I keep your feet from straying. I am the way, and well I show how you should journey here below.

"My heart abounds in lowliness, my soul with love is glowing, and gracious words my lips express, with meekness overflowing. My heart, my mind, my strength, my all to God I yield; on him I call.

"I teach you how to shun and flee what harms your souls' salvation, your hearts from ev'ry guild to free, from sin and its temptation. I am the refuge of the soul and lead you to your heav'nly goal."

Then let us follow Christ our Lord and take the cross appointed and, firmly clinging to his Word, in suff'ring be undaunted. For those who bear the battle's strain the crown of heav'nly life obtain.

GOD'S WORD

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared, "Go now and leave your life of sin." John 8:11

"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." Matthew 3:8

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13b-14

"I can do everything through him (Jesus) who gives me the strength."

Philippians 4:13

PRAYER

INSTALLATION OF THE BOARD OF ELDERS (7:30 & 9:00 AM services)

LORD'S PRAYER

BENEDICTION

CLOSING HYMN OF DEDICATION #457

Fight the good fight with all your might; Christ is your strength and Christ your light. Lay hold on life, and it shall be your joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God's good grace; life up your eyes and seek his face. Life with its way before us lies; Christ is the path and Christ the prize.

Cast care aside, lean on your guide; his boundless mercy will provide. Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove Christ is its life and Christ its love.

Faint not nor fear; his arms are near. He changes not, and you are dear. Only believe, and you will see that Christ is Lord eternally.

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

PRE-COMMUNION HYMN #313 vv. 1-2

Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior turned away God's wrath forever; by his bitter grief and woe He saved us from the evil foe.

As his pledge of love undying, He, this precious food supplying, gives his body with the bread and with the wine the blood he shed.

CONSECRATION OF THE ELEMENTS

DISTRIBUTION OF THE SACRAMENT

PRAYER OF THANKS

BENEDICTION

CLOSING HYMN OF COMMITMENT #318 v. 1

Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from his dwelling take leave. The supper is ended; oh, be now extended the fruits of this service in all who believe. The seed of his teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all. His grace did invite us; his love shall unite us to work for God's kingdom and answer his call.