August 2, 2020 | Fellowship Hall Service

Welcome and announcements David Caines, ruling elder

* Call to worship based on Psalm 89

Leader: I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

All: I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Leader: The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

All: O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

* Hymn of praise “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!”

Order of Worship

text by Edward Perronet, 1779, and John Rippon, 1787; music by Oliver Holden, 1793 text by Charles Wesley, 1740; music by Bob Kauflin, 1997

* Prayer of adoration and the Lord’s prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Call to confession based on Isaiah 30 and Daniel 9

Leader: This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! How gracious he will be when you cry for help!

All: Now, our God, hear our prayers. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive!

Hymn of confession “Depth of Mercy”

text by Charles Wesley, 1740; music by Bob Kauflin, 1997

Silent prayers of confession

Assurance of God’s pardoning grace taken from Psalm 103

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

* Hymn of assurance “Before the Throne of God Above”

Hymn of thanksgiving “He Will Hold Me Fast” (continue scrolling for words and music)

text by Charitie Lees Bancroft, 1863; music by Vikki Cook, 1997

original text by Ada Habershon, 1906; alt. text and music by Matt Merker ©2013 Matthew Merker Music, ARP, UBP, CCLI Lic. #152036

* Scripture reading from Acts 16:6-15 Jennifer Mixon

6Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

“He Will Hold Me Fast”

original text by Ada Habershon, 1906; alt. text and music by Matt Merker ©2013 Matthew Merker Music, ARP, UBP, CCLI Lic. #152036

13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

This is the Word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

Prayer of preparation for the study of God’s Word

Sermon “The Lord Leads the Way and Opens Our Hearts to Him” Chad Middlebrooks, pastor of discipleship

1. The Lord guides the way into the world for mission. (vv. 6-12)

2. The Lord opens the way into the heart for grace. (vv. 13-15)

BIG IDEA: God may choose to close doors for mission to divert us to closed hearts he alone is ready and able to open.

Pastoral prayer

* Hymn of response “Be Thou My Vision”

* Benediction

* Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;praise him, all creatures here below;praise him above, ye heavenly host;praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

* Postlude

* Congregation standing as you are able

Musicians for this week:

Stephen Bearden – flugelhornEleanor Caines – vocalistGreta Erickson – vocalistCalvin Garriott – piano

David Henry – guitar, vocalistHannah Lutz – violaSam Miller – violinFred Verwoerd – vocalist

Ancient Irish poem, ca. 8th cent; Traditional Irish melody

WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS

NEED HELP ACCESSING THE LIVE STREAM OR RECORDED VIDEO SERVICE? If you have been having trouble accessing the live stream or recorded worship service on Sunday morning, please let us know. We want to make sure that everyone who is worshiping at home is able to access the videos as easily as possible. Call the church office at 423-821-4528 or email info@lmpc.org.

IN LIGHT OF THE HAMILTON COUNTY MANDATE, we are now asking everyone entering the church building during the week to wear a mask.

To find out more about happenings at LMPC, visit lmpc.org/news