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Ethos Communion Church

April 28, 2024 – Lord’s Day Worship

Preparation (9:45AM)

This is a time to look upward and to commune with the Lord.

  1. Sit in silence for five minutes to “just be.” Just be “still” to know that God is “good.” Try to still your busy mind and put it into a mode of listening. If you find “thought monkeys” that disturb your silence, jot them down, and then continue in silence.
  2. Scripture Meditation. A) In your Bible, read Isaiah 53 slowly, pausing between clauses. B) After a minute of silence, read it again and look for words or phrases that catch your attention. C) Read it a third time and begin to wonder: “What might God want to say to me specifically?” D) Turn the previous question into a prayer, and then write down anything God might be saying to you. E) Be still and silent, and then ask yourself and God, “What am I being called to do as a result of the word I have been given?”

Invocation – Calling Upon God

Welcome to Ethos Communion Church. Ethos exists to foster communion with the Triune God in a way that leads to spiritual peace, holistic transformation of character, communion with the visible body of Christ, and the making of disciples from all cultures and generations all to the glory of God.

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 124:8

As we begin our worship service, let us quiet our hearts and minds, and turn our attention to the One who is worthy of all our praise.

Psalm of Praise – Psalm 97

Let us stand together as we praise the Lord with a responsive reading of Psalm 96

(Congregation recites bolded lines)

1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

Hymn of Praise – Holy, Holy, Holy (Bb)

VERSE 1
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

VERSE 2
Holy holy holy
All the saints adore Thee
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea
Cherubim and seraphim
Falling down before Thee
Which wert and art
And evermore shalt be

VERSE 3
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

VERSE 4
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

Confession and Complaint

You may be seated.

Having considered and praised the goodness of God, we now turn to confessing and complaining to God because things are not yet as they ought to be.

After the representative prayer, spend some time now in personal confession and complaint to your God.

Assurance of Pardon

The Law of God

Having received the grace of the Lord, he then calls us to live in the newness of this life in Christ by obeying his commandments by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us stand together.

(Congregation recites bolded lines)

Let us now hear the commandments of God as given to us in Scripture.

We will listen and obey.

  1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

We will worship the Lord our God and serve Him only.

  1. You shall not make for yourself an idol.

We will worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, without idols or images.

  1. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

We will honor the name of the Lord and speak of Him with reverence.

  1. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

We will set aside time for rest and worship, honoring the Sabbath day.

  1. Honor your father and mother.

We will respect and care for our parents and those in authority.

  1. You shall not murder.

We will value and protect human life as sacred.

  1. You shall not commit adultery.

We will honor marriage and maintain faithfulness in relationships.

  1. You shall not steal.

We will respect others’ property and rights.

  1. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

We will speak truthfully and with integrity.

  1. You shall not covet.

We will be content and grateful for what we have, avoiding envy and greed.

These are the commandments of God. Let us strive to follow them in love and obedience, seeking to live lives that honor Him.

We will follow God’s commandments with all our heart, soul, and mind.

Hymn of Thanksgiving – His Mercy is More (D)

VERSE 1
What love could remember
No wrongs we have done
Omniscient all knowing
He counts not their sum
Thrown into a sea
Without bottom or shore
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

CHORUS
Praise the Lord
His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness
New every morn
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

VERSE 2
What patience would wait
As we constantly roam
What Father so tender
Is calling us home
He welcomes the weakest
The vilest the poor
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

CHORUS
Praise the Lord
His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness
New every morn
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

VERSE 3
What riches of kindness
He lavished on us
His blood was the payment
His life was the cost
We stood ‘neath a debt
We could never afford
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

CHORUS
Praise the Lord
His mercy is more
Stronger than darkness
New every morn
Our sins they are many
His mercy is more

Prayer for Illumination

You may be seated.

As we prepare to hear the word of God, let us pray for the Holy Spirit’s illumination.

Scripture Reading (Matthew 9:35-38)

Please stand for the reading of God’s word.

Sermon – Heart of The Harvester (Matthew 9:35-38)

Response to the Word

Response Song – Give Me Jesus (G)

VERSE 1
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
In the morning when I rise
Give me Jesus

CHORUS
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
(But give me Jesus)

VERSE 2
And when I am alone
Oh and when I am alone
And when I am alone
Give me Jesus

CHORUS
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
(But give me Jesus)

VERSE 3
When I am afraid
Oh when I am afraid
When I am afraid
Give me Jesus

CHORUS
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
(But give me Jesus)

VERSE 4
And when I come to die
Oh and when I come to die
And when I come to die
Give me Jesus

CHORUS
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
(But give me Jesus)

Confession of Faith – Heidelberg Catechism Q1

The Heidelberg Catechism, crafted in 1563, is a foundational text in Reformed Christian worship, presenting the essentials of faith through a resonant question-and-answer format. It deepens our understanding of faith, sin, and grace, guiding and comforting congregants in their spiritual journey. This catechism remains a vital tool for personal reflection and communal devotion, enriching our worship experience.

What is you only comfort in life and in death?

That I am not my own,
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death,
to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins
with his precious blood,
and has set me free
from all the power of the devil.

He also preserves me in such a way
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head;
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation.

Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
he also assures me
of eternal life
and makes me heartily willing and ready
from now on to live for him.

Doxology (E)

Let us now sing the doxology in praise to our triune God.

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.

Meaning of Communion with Christ

You may be seated.

“…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.” (John10:10-11)

Communion Prayer

Let us give thanks to the Lord for this spiritual meal he has given to us.

Communion

  • Because of the significance of the Lord’s Table, only baptized believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should partake.
  • Also, if you are willingly living in sin, you should refrain.
  • If you are unable to partake of the Lord’s Table today, you may still partake of Christ!
    • The Lord’s Table is just an aid in your relationship with Christ. Without it, you can still go to Christ.
    • There are some prayers below that you may use to guide you.
  • And so all who are able, now I invite you to come to the Lord’s Table to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Prayer for those searching

Oh God, I am discovering that the more I have, the more I need to have, the more I am loved, the more I need to be loved, the more I achieve, the more I need to achieve. Nothing seems to satisfy me. “Nothing tastes.” Could it be, as someone once said, that “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” Dear God, if this is true, and if as the Bible teaches there is life and life eternal in Christ alone, please guide me to him. Open me to the reality of the one who alone can satisfy my restless heart. Give me the courage to believe that which I cannot see but can understand through your Word, sacraments and church family. Lord I want to believe, please help me in my unbelief! Amen.

Prayer of belief

Lord God, I now see that I am weaker and more flawed than I ever before believed, but in Christ, I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. Even as I have not loved you or my neighbor with all of my heart, you have shown your love for me in that while I am still sinning, Christ died for me and took upon himself the condemnation that I deserve. I now know that You owe me nothing for my efforts, but you offer acceptance, love and blessing into all eternity because of Christ’s efforts on my behalf. I therefore ask that you would enable me to turn away from trusting in my own efforts to gain your acceptance and forgiveness, and trust in the perfectly righteous efforts of Christ on my behalf in order to be accepted by you and entered into your holy family. And just as you raised Christ from the dead, so too I ask that you would give me a new life in Christ, one that will lead eventually to heaven itself. Thank you for Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit to believe in him alone for my salvation. And as You have called us to follow You in baptism and in a life of committed discipleship in Your church, grant that I may take the necessary steps to be one with Your people, and live in the fullness of Your Spirit. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Prayers of Intercession

Having partaken of the body of Christ we now want to intercede on behalf of his body, the church and also for the world.

Topics:

  1. Pray for one another, that the Lord give you peace in suffering, and strength to obey
  2. Ask the Lord to send more laborers into the global harvest
    1. Local churches
    2. Missionaries and evangelists
  3. Pray for government officials to lead with justice
  4. Pray for the poor, suffering, and sick

All these mercies we ask in the name of Jesus,
who ever sits at your right hand, O Father.
He it is who is our intercessor,
and it is through him
that we are taught to pray, saying,

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom,
And the power, and the glory,
Forever. Amen.

Hymn of Thanksgiving – All Glory be to Christ (D)

VERSE 1
Should nothing of our efforts stand
No legacy survive
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders strive

VERSE 2
To you who boast tomorrow’s gain
Tell me what is Your life
A mist that vanishes at dawn
All glory be to Christ

CHORUS
All glory be to Christ our king
All glory be to Christ
His rule and reign will ever sing
All glory be to Christ

VERSE 3
His will be done His kingdom come
On earth as is above
Who is Himself our daily bread
Praise Him the Lord of love

VERSE 4
Let living water satisfy
The thirsty without price
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
All glory be to Christ

CHORUS
All glory be to Christ our king
All glory be to Christ
His rule and reign will ever sing
All glory be to Christ

VERSE 5
When on the day the great I Am
The faithful and the true
The Lamb who was for sinners slain
Is making all things new

VERSE 6
Behold our God shall live with us
And be our steadfast light
And we shall ere his people be
All glory be to Christ

CHORUS
All glory be to Christ our king
All glory be to Christ
His rule and reign will ever sing
All glory be to Christ

Benediction – What is the hope with which you go out?

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20–21)

Announcements

  1. Tithes and offerings may be given online at EthosChurch.Co. FYI the fees are 2.15% + $0.30/donation for credit and debit card donations, and 0% + $0.30 per ACH bank transfer donation. So using your bank is preferred.
  2. Having looked upward during the worship service, we now want to look outward, in sharing the love of Christ we have in our hearts for one another. To do that, food always helps, so following the service we will have a refreshment hour followed by a meal. Today’s menu: Costco Pizza and Rotisserie Chicken Salad
  3. Before we eat, let’s setup, then have some time to discuss how God might be speaking to you today.