Walking Worthy in Humility

Order of Worship for March 29, 2020

Call to Worship: Psalm 90:1-17

Singing:  Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

1. Praise to the Lord the Almighty, the king of creation

Oh my soul praise Him for He is thy health and salvation

All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near

Join me in glad adoration

2. Praise to the Lord who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth

Shelters thee under His wing, yea so gently sustaineth

Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been

Granted in what He ordaineth

3. Praise to the Lord who doth prosper thy work and defend thee

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee

Ponder anew what the Almighty will do

If with his love He befriend thee

4. Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him

All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him

Let the amen sound from his people again

Gladly fore’er we adore Him

A Prayer for the Church in the Early Days of the COVID-19 Pandemic, by Walter Henegar

Almighty God,
     Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend,
     You who sit enthroned over the flood—
We are staggering in the surf of breakers
     bringing bad news, and worse news,
     while an invisible menace laps at our doorstep.

Father of all mercies, have mercy on us.
We are anxious, exhausted, angry, and sad.
     We need your peace that surpasses understanding
     to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Be our refuge and strength;
     be our very present help in this time of trouble.

Even in this trouble we thank you:  
     for green Spring life that refuses to wait for death’s shadow to pass;
     for technology that unites exiles and draws the solitary near;
      for your church that prevails in catacombs and quarantine;
     for your own Holy Spirit who is socially present with us, always. 

But Oh, forgive us, Holy Lord:   
     for hating our unwashed neighbors in our heart;
     for opening our hearts to unfettered fear;
     for closing our hearts, and our pockets, to any in need;
     for loosening our grip on your precious and very great promises.

Assure us, our Gracious Redeemer:
     that our sins are nailed to the cross of Jesus;
     that we are clothed in the righteous white robes of Christ;
     that you will never leave us nor forsake us;
     that nothing – nothing – can separate us from your love.

Great Physician, we pray for those most vulnerable to this virus:   
      for the elderly, the weak, and those with chronic conditions;
      for the poor, the hungry, and the isolated;
     for those already infected.
Deliver them from this evil,
     and prevent the rest of us from carrying it to them.

God of Hosts, we pray for the caregivers on the front lines:  
     for doctors and nurses and healthcare workers;
     for police and firefighters and government officials;
     for parents in the home and under-shepherds in the church:
Guard and guide them; shield and sustain them.

Rock of Ages, we pray for the newly unstable:  
     for those who have lost jobs, lost businesses, lost savings, lost homes;
     for those facing the likelihood of losing even more—
Hide them in the cool shadow of your wings;
      provide every good thing for them
      that you, as a good Father, know they need.

Indwelling Spirit, empower your people to serve: 
     to get wisdom, and live by it, and share it freely;
     to embody peace amid the strife of tongues;
     to present our bodies as living sacrifices;
     to suffer with Christ in patient endurance.

Give us all fresh confidence that there is:  
     no future where you are not present,
     no sorrow where you are not near,
     no tears not kept in your bottle,
     no locust-eaten years you will not restore.

And so we trust you, our generous Provider:  
     if the curve does not flatten,
     if the market does not pull up,
     if the shelves go empty,
      and if all our accounts drain to pennies—
Even still, let us rejoice in the Lord, our strength;
let us take joy in the God of our salvation.

In the name of Jesus we ask, Amen.

Reading from the Westminster Larger Catechism:

   6. Q. What do the Scriptures make known of God  

       A. The Scriptures make known what God is, the persons in the Godhead, his decrees, and the execution of his decrees.

7. Q. What is God?
   A. God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.

8. Q. Are there more Gods than one?
   A. There is but one only, the living and true God.

9. Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
   A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties.

10. Q. What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?
    A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, and to the Son to be begotten of the Father, and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity.

Prayers of Petition:    Below is a guide for a prayer of petition.

Feel free to add prayer requests of your own.

- Praise God for the birth of Cecelia Kay, born last Thursday to Kristin and Michael Leeman. Both mother and child are healthy.

- Pray for the protection of the most vulnerable among us and for those who have tested positive

- Pray for wisdom for our leaders who are making decisions regarding the pandemic

- Pray for the medical professionals exposed to the virus as they treat patients.

- Pray for other essential workers who are being exposed.

- Pray that we will experience God's peace in the midst of a very difficult situation.

- Pray that we would minister to one another and our neighbors

- Pray for our relationships and for those who are lonely

- Pray that the Lord would use this time to draw many to himself in faith

- Pray for our hearing of God’s word

Sermon:           Walking Worthy in Humility                     Ephesians 4:1-3

I. Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Calling

II. With All Humility

Discussion: What scriptures or ideas interested you? Challenged you?

What can you apply from the sermon?

Singing:  Be Thou My Vision  #642

1. Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;


Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art


Thou my best thought, by day or by night,


Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.                                                                                  

2. Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word;

I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;


Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;


Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

3. Be Thou my battle shield, sword for my fight

Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight

Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower

Raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power

4. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

Thou mine inheritance, now and always:

Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,


High king of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

5. High king of heaven, my victory won,


May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,


Still be my vision, O ruler of all.