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Ethos Communion Church

May 12, 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 Matthew 5:1-12 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

Psalm of Praise – Psalm 99

Let us stand together as we praise the Lord with a responsive reading of Psalm 98

(Congregation recites bolded lines)

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Hymn of Praise – Holy! Holy! Holy! (A)

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.

Assurance of Pardon

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. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. (Ps. 103:8, 10–14)

Believe this Gospel and go forth to live in peace. Amen.

Hymn of Thanksgiving – Jesus Paid it All (F)

VERSE 1
I hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness
Watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all

CHORUS
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

VERSE 2
Lord now indeed I find
Thy pow’r and Thine alone
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone

CHORUS
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

BRIDGE
O Praise the One who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead
O Praise the One who paid my debt
And raised this life up from the dead

VERSE 3
And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete
Jesus died my soul to save
My lips shall still repeat

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.

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 5:1-3)

Please stand for the reading of God’s word.

Sermon – Blessed are the Poor in Spirit (Matthew 5:3)

  1. Who is Blessed?
  2. What is Poverty of Spirit?
  3. What is the Kingdom of Heaven?

Response to the Word

Almighty God,
grant that the words we have heard this day
may, through your grace, be so grafted within our hearts
that they may bring forth in us the fruits of the Spirit,
to the honor and praise of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Response Song – My Worth is Not in What I Own (A)

VERSE 1
My worth is not in what I own
Not in the strength
Of flesh and bone
But in the costly wounds of love
At the cross

VERSE 2
My worth is not in skill or name
In win or lose in pride or shame
But in the blood of Christ that flowed
At the cross

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone

VERSE 3
As summer flowers we fade and die
Fame youth and beauty hurry by
But life eternal calls to us
At the cross

VERSE 4
I will not boast in wealth or might
Or human wisdom’s fleeting light
But I will boast in knowing Christ
At the cross

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone

VERSE 1
Two wonders here that I confess
My worth and my unworthiness
My value fixed my ransom paid
At the cross

CHORUS
I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him no other
My soul is satisfied in Him alone

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.

Let’s stand together as we recite our common hope

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.

“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.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

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. Let’s pray together.

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 – He Will Hold Me Fast (F)

VERSE 1
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast

CHORUS
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

VERSE 2
Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast

CHORUS
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

VERSE 3
For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
‘Till our faith is turned to sight
When He comes at last

CHORUS
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Savior loves me so
He will hold me fast

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

May our Lord, who has stored up for you a hope in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (from Col. 1:5; Matt. 6:19–20; 1 Cor. 1:8)

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: Grass-fed Hamburgers
  3. Before we eat, let’s setup, then have some time to discuss how God might be speaking to you today.