The Bible is full of greetings, and our worship leader greets us in God’s name.
Matthew 19:14
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Greetings, little children young and old, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
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 62
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”
Prelude in C Major BWV 567
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
Ruth Pfister, organ
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 62
Leader: Listen, all souls: find your rest in your God!
People: Our salvation comes from him alone; we will rest in him!
Leader: Hide yourself in your Rock! Take shelter, people, in your Fortress!
People: We cannot be shaken as we dwell in him!
Leader: Pour out your hearts to him!
People: We trust him with our hearts and our lives, for there is no one else who loves us with such unfailing love!
Leader: Let us worship God!
Having called one another to God’s praise, we turn to God and ask for his presence and power.
Gracious God and Father, we have no one in our lives that is trustworthy, compassionate, strong, and gracious like you. As we enter into the shelter of your name, we claim the name of Jesus Christ, our Rock and Fortress. In him we pour our our praises and prayers; in him we seek instruction in your holy ways; in him we look to bear the fruit of patience. Be patient with us as we worship, and form in us your own image, as we imitate Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray, and whose name we exalt upon our praises. Amen.
With our Song of Praise, we begin our worship by exalting God for who he is and what he has done.
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
Text: Christian Henry Bateman
Tune: MADRID, arr. Carr
Ruth Pfister, organ
Musical Notation
Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice;
Alleluia! Amen!
Come, lift your hearts on high;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let praises fill the sky;
Alleluia! Amen!
He is our guide and friend;
To us He’ll condescend;
His love shall never end;
Alleluia! Amen!
Praise yet our Christ again;
Alleluia! Amen!
Life shall not end the strain;
Alleluia! Amen!
On heaven’s blissful shore
His goodness we’ll adore,
Singing forevermore,
“Alleluia! Amen!”