::  Download the 7.26.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
::  Download the 7.26.2015 Bulletin
::  Download the 7.26.2015 Sermon Audio 

image :: The Thieves and The Donkey, Honore Daumier (1860, French)

Preparation for Worship :: The Eighth Commandment: Do Not Steal

“Giving… is the action that was designed into us before our birth. Some of us try desperately to hold on to ourselves, to live for ourselves. We look so bedraggled and pathetic doing it, hanging on to the dead branch of a bank account for dear life, afraid to risk ourselves on the untried wings of giving. We don’t think we can live generously because we have never tried. But the sooner we start, the better, for we are going to have to give up our lives finally, and the longer we wait, the less time we have for the soaring and swooping life of grace.” (Eugene Peterson)

“Consumerism is fed by a desire to forget our mortality.” (Kathleen Norris)

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday July 26 include ::

:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Come, Ye Sinners (Joseph Hart, 1759) CHART [bandcamp track=1143385813 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: My Lord I Did Not Choose You  (Joseph Conder, 1836) CHART [bandcamp track=3415696172 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: All I Owe (Robert Murray McCheyne, 1837; Ref. Matthew Smith) CHART [bandcamp track=3509868294 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: All Must Be Well (Mary Bowley-Peters, 1847) CHART [bandcamp track=2424243148 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]

Call to Worship :: Psalm 146:1-2, 8-10

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!  I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!

Gospel Reading :: John 10:10-11

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 110-111

What does God forbid in the eighth commandment? God forbids not only outright theft and robbery, punishable by law. But in God’s sight theft also includes all scheming and swindling in order to get our neighbor’s goods for ourselves, whether by force or means that appear legitimate, such as inaccurate measurements of weight, size, or volume; fraudulent merchandising; counterfeit money; excessive interest; or any other means forbidden by God. In addition God forbids all greed and pointless squandering of his gifts.

What does God require of you in this commandment? That I do whatever I can for my neighbor’s good, that I treat others as I would like them to treat me, and that I work faithfully so that I may share with those in need.

Prayer of Confession :: The Book of Common Prayer

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.

Words of Encouragement :: II Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.

Sermon :: Exodus 20:1-2,15

And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…”

¹⁵ “You shall not steal.”

::  Download the 7.19.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
::  Download the 7.19.2015 Bulletin
::  Download the 7.19.2015 Sermon Audio 

image :: Lamb of God (detail), Hubrecht and Jan van Eyck (1432, Belgium)

Preparation for Worship :: The Seventh Commandment: No Adultery

“The power and charge of sex are maintained when there is some sacredness to it, when it is not on tap all the time.” (Naomi Wolf)

“In the Name of God, I, _____ take you, _____, to be my husband/wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow.” (Wedding Vow, Book of Common Prayer)

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday July 19 include ::

:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Before the Throne of God Above (Charitie Lees Bancroft, 1863) CHART [bandcamp track=3844385493 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: O The Deep Deep Love of Jesus (Samuel Trevor Francis, c.1890) CHART [bandcamp track=828526162 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: What Wondrous Love is This (American Folk Hymn, c.1811) CHART [bandcamp track=455609457 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: The Church’s One Foundation (Samuel Stone, 1866) CHART [bandcamp track=4187815592 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: In Christ Alone (Getty, 2002)  CHART [bandcamp track=676321818 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]

Call to Worship :: Revelation 19:6-7, 9

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready.” Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Gospel Reading :: Matthew 5:27-30

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 108-109

What does the seventh commandment teach us? That God condemns all unchastity, and that therefore we should thoroughly detest it and live decent and chaste lives, within or outside of the holy state of marriage.

Does God, in this commandment, forbid only such scandalous sins as adultery? We are temples of the Holy Spirit, body and soul, and God wants both to be kept clean and holy. That is why God forbids all unchaste actions, looks, talk, thoughts, or desires, and whatever may incite someone to them.

Prayer of Confession :: The Book of Common Prayer

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.

Words of Encouragement :: I John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sermon :: Exodus 20:1-2,14

And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…”

¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.”

::  Download the 7.12.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
::  Download the 7.12.2015 Bulletin
::  Download the 7.12.2015 Sermon Audio

image :: Cain and Abel, Titian (1544, Italian)

Preparation for Worship :: The Sixth Commandment: No Murder

“The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

“The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.” (I Samuel 2:6)

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday July 12 include ::

:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder (John Newton, 1774) CHART [bandcamp track=3505470677 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]: :: We Are Not Overcome (Heiskell & Wardell, 2013) CHART [bandcamp track=3830598251 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]::  Amazing Grace (John Newton, 1779) CHART [bandcamp track=2203479634 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]::  God Who Saves (Aaron Senseman, 2001)

::  Rock of Ages (Augustus Toplady 1776) CHART 

Call to Worship :: from Psalm 96

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples! Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness.

Gospel Reading :: Matthew 5:21-24

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 105-107

What is God’s will for you in the sixth commandment? I am not to belittle, hate, insult, or kill my neighbor— not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds— and I am not to be party to this in others; rather, I am to put away all desire for revenge. I am not to harm or recklessly endanger myself either. Prevention of murder is also why government is armed with the sword.

Does this commandment refer only to murder? By forbidding murder God teaches us that he hates the root of murder: envy, hatred, anger, vindictiveness. In God’s sight all such are disguised forms of murder.

Is it enough then that we do not murder our neighbor in any such way? No. By condemning envy, hatred, and anger God wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves, to be patient, peace-loving, gentle, merciful, and friendly toward them, to protect them from harm as much as we can, to do good even to our enemies.

Prayer of Confession :: The Book of Common Prayer

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.

Words of Encouragement :: Jeremiah 31:34

 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

Sermon :: Exodus 20:1-2,13

And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…”

¹³ “You shall not murder.”

::  Download the 7.5.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
::  Download the 7.5.2015 Bulletin
::  Download the 7.5.2015 Sermon Audio

image :: Father and Son Beholding the Shadow of a Day, Roberto Aizenberg (1962, Argentina)

Preparation for Worship :: The Fifth Commandment: Honor Father & Mother

“I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.” (Ephesians 3:14-15)

“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:7-8)

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday July 5 include ::

:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: This Is My Father’s World (Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901) CHART [bandcamp track=1938979624 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Give Me Jesus (African-American Spiritual) CHART [bandcamp track=893825801 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (Stuart Townend, 1995) CHART [bandcamp track=4169581556 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Father Long Before Creation  (Chinese Hymn, c.1951) CHART [bandcamp track=165182312 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]

Call to Worship :: Psalm 113:1-6

Praise the Lord; Praise the Lord, you His servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

New Testament Reading :: Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 104

What is God’s will for you in the fifth commandment?  That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I submit myself with proper obedience to all their good teaching and discipline; and also that I be patient with their failings— for through them God chooses to rule us.

Prayer of Confession :: based on the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:1-17

O LORD, our God who brought His people out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery and by Christ delivered us from sin,You have been faithful to keep all the promises of Your covenant. But we, O LORD, have been a stiff-necked people who love unfaithfulness. We have loved other gods before You and become their servants. We have not worshipped You in spirit and in truth, and so we have mocked Your glory in heaven. We have used Your name in vain and profaned Your reputation on earth. We have desecrated Your Sabbath because we have not trusted You to give us rest. We have not honored our fathers and mothers, and so we have proved ourselves rebels. We have hated our neighbors and murdered them in our hearts. We have made adulterers of ourselves in the lust of our eyes or in the deeds of our flesh. We have stolen honor and wealth and privileges that are not ours. We have lied and falsely accused for we love gossip more than truth. We have coveted blessings which You wisely and righteously gave to others. O LORD, have mercy on us for we have not kept Your Law.

Words of Encouragement :: Revelation 5:5,9-10

Do not weep!  See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed.  With His blood He has purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.  He has made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.

Sermon :: Exodus 20:1-2,12

And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery…”

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

::  Download the 6.28.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
::  Download the 6.28.2015 Bulletin
::  Download the 6.28.2015 Sermon Audio

image :: Resting Under The Tree, Ivan Generalic (1942, Croatian)

Preparation for Worship :: The Fourth Commandment: His Rest

“The Resurrection of Christ was the truth of all truths among the early believers. It was not the day of His death they made their Sabbath, but the first day of the week—the day when the sadness of the weeping women at the sepulcher was turned into gladness… conscious that a new and nobler Genesis had dawned on a darkened world.” (John MacDuff)

Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs for Sunday June 28 include:

:: O Worship The King (Robert Grant, 1833) CHART [bandcamp track=7651308 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Calmer of My Troubled Heart (Charles Wesley, 1762) CHART [bandcamp track=787838808 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: None Other Lamb  (Christina Rossetti, b.1830)  CHART [bandcamp track=798046000 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]::  Jesus, I Am Resting (Jean S. Pigott, 1876) CHART [bandcamp track=104008922 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: O Day of  Rest and Gladness (Christopher Wordsworth, 1862) CHART [bandcamp track=2456210230 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923) CHART [bandcamp track=3717975761 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]:: Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]

Call to Worship :: Psalm 84:1-2, 10-12

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in You!

Gospel Reading :: Mark 3:1-6

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 103

What is God’s will for you in the fourth commandment?  First, that the gospel ministry and education for it be maintained, and that, especially on the festive day of rest, I diligently attend the assembly of God’s people to learn what God’s Word teaches, to participate in the sacraments, to pray to God publicly, and to bring Christian offerings for the poor. Second, that every day of my life I rest from my evil ways, let the Lord work in me through his Spirit, and so begin in this life the eternal Sabbath.

Prayer of Confession :: The Book of Common Prayer

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.

Words of Encouragement :: Matthew 11:28-29

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Sermon :: Exodus 20:1-2,8-11

And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

::  Download the 6.21.2015 Worship Study Guide and Sermon Notes
::  Download the 6.21.2015 Bulletin
::  Download the 6.21.2015 Sermon Audio

image :: Adoration of the Name of Jesus, Giovanni Battista Gaulli (1679, Italian)

Preparation for Worship :: The Third Commandment: His Name

“We of the churches often gather our robes away from contamination, and thank God that we are not as other men. We don’t despise God’s name; in fact, we call upon it constantly to justify ourselves…There can hardly be a more evil way of taking God’s name in vain than this way of presuming to speak in it. For here is spiritual pride, the ultimate sin, in action—the sin of believing in one’s own righteousness. The true prophet says humbly, ‘To me, a sinful man, God spoke.’ But the scribes and Pharisees declare, ‘When we speak, God agrees’.”  (Joy Davidman)

“The Cross of Jesus Christ was not some surprise, not some plan B for God, but rather the plan known within the Godhead since the beginning. God’s response to the belittlement of His name, from the beginning of time, has been the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a Roman cross.”  (Matt Chandler)

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for Sunday June 21 include ::

::  Doxology (Thomas Ken, 1709) CHART [bandcamp track=2257784892 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short] ::  In Christ Alone (Getty, 2002)  CHART [bandcamp track=676321818 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short] ::  Blessed Be Your Name CHART [bandcamp track=1903757000 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short] :: How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds CHART (John Newton, 1774) [bandcamp track=3647467981 bgcol=FFFFFF linkcol=4285BB size=short]

Call to Worship :: Philippians 2:5-11

Christ Jesus, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel Reading :: Matthew 10:32-33

Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Declaration of Faith :: The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 99-102

Q 99. What is the aim of the third commandment?  That we neither blaspheme nor misuse the name of God by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor share in such horrible sins by being silent bystanders. In summary, we should use the holy name of God only with reverence and awe, so that we may properly confess God, pray to God, and glorify God in all our words and works.

Q 100. Is blasphemy of God’s name by swearing and cursing really such serious sin that God is angry also with those who do not do all they can to help prevent and forbid it?   Yes, indeed. No sin is greater or provokes God’s wrath more than blaspheming his name. That is why God commanded it to be punished with death.

Q 101. But may we swear an oath in God’s name if we do it reverently?  Yes, when the government demands it, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote truth and trustworthiness for God’s glory and our neighbor’s good. Such oaths are grounded in God’s Word and were rightly used by the people of God in the Old and New Testaments.

Q 102. May we also swear by saints or other creatures? No. A legitimate oath means calling upon God as the only one who knows my heart  to witness to my truthfulness and to punish me if I swear falsely.  No creature is worthy of such honor.

Prayer of Confession :: The Book of Common Prayer

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us.

Words of Encouragement :: Romans 10:9,13

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Sermon :: Exodus 20:1-2,7

And God spoke all these words, saying,

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

³ “You shall have no other gods before me.”