The Bible is full of greetings, and our worship leader greets us in God’s name.
Based on Colossians 1:1-2
From the Council, Staff, and Pastors of the International Protestant Church, to all the holy and faithful brothers and sisters of the church in Zurich and beyond: grace and peace to you from God our Father!
We begin our worship with a silent meditation on our Psalm of the Day during the Prelude. Use this time to focus your hearts and minds on God as he speaks to us through his Word.
Psalm 32
Of David. A maskil.
1 Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night
your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
5 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.
6 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
will not reach them.
7 You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
9 Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
10 Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in him.
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
How Great Thou Art
Performed by Christine Schultz and Gordon Schultz
Our Call to Worship draws us into conversation with our God, and is usually taken from our Psalm of the Day. We address one another and enter God’s presence together.
From Psalm 32
Leader: Faithful people of God, pray to the Lord while he may be found!
People: We will pray in faith, and the floodwaters will not overtake us.
Leader: He saves you, protects you, and gives you a hiding place.
People: And he sings over us, and all around us, the songs of his victory!
Leader: Let us not be like the senseless horse or mule!
People: No! We will seek his guidance for our paths, and listen intently as he advises us!
Leader: So rejoice in the Lord, and be glad, all you who obey him!
People: We will shout for joy with pure hearts!
Leader: Let us worship God!
Having called one another to God’s praise, we turn to God and ask for his presence and power.
From Psalm 32
Our great Lord and God: We have come to seek your face and to pray to you. Open your ears and your heart to our prayers, for we pray with faith.
Lord Jesus Christ: we have gathered to rejoice in your deliverance and to sing our songs of praise. Surround us with your own songs of deliverance, and shelter us within your own presence.
Holy Spirit: we have come to lay our hearts bare before your convicting and convincing presence and power. Help us to acknowledge our sin, to confess our need, and to submit to your work of grace in our hearts.
Father, Son, and Spirit, we worship you alone, for there are no gods like you! Receive our prayers and praises through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
With our Song of Praise, we begin our worship by exalting God for who he is and what he has done.
Holy, Holy, Holy
Text: Reginald Heber
Tune: John Dykes
Recording: Gordon Schultz (Piano) and Ellie Stager.
(Musical Notation [PDF])
Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning
our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy,
merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons,
blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy!
All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns
around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim
falling down before Thee,
Who wert and art and
ever more shall be.
Holy, holy, holy!
Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy;
there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power,
in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name
In earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy;
merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons,
blessed Trinity!