May 19, 2024 – Lord’s Day Worship – Ethos Communion Church

Preparation (9:45AM)

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

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.
Scripture Meditation. A) In your Bible, read Ecclesiastes 7 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 42

Let us stand together as we praise the Lord with a responsive reading of Psalm 42

(Congregation recites bolded lines)

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
6 and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Hymn of Praise – Good and Gracious King (C)

VERSE 1
I approach the throne of glory
Nothing in my hands I bring
But the promise of acceptance
From a good and gracious King

VERSE 2
I will give to You my burden
As You give to me Your strength
Come and fill me with Your Spirit
As I sing to You this praise

CHORUS
You deserve the greater glory
Overcome I lift my voice
To the King in need of nothing
Empty handed I rejoice
You deserve the greater glory
Overcome with joy I sing
By Your love I am accepted
You’re a good and gracious King

VERSE 3
O what grace that You would see me
As Your child and as Your friend
Safe secure in You forever
I pour out my praise again

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.

Spend some time now in personal confession and complaint to your God.

Assurance of Pardon

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Rom. 5:8–9)

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

Hymn of Thanksgiving – In Christ Alone (B)

VERSE 1
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light my strength my song
This cornerstone
This solid ground
Firm through the fiercest
Drought and storm

CHORUS
What heights of love
What depths of peace
When fears are stilled
When strivings cease
My comforter my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

VERSE 2
In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love
And righteousness
Scorned by the ones
He came to save

CHORUS
‘Til on that cross
As Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

VERSE 3
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again

CHORUS
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

VERSE 4
No guilt in life no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

CHORUS
No power of hell
No scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

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.

You shall have no other gods before Me.

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

You shall not make for yourself an idol.

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

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.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

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

Honor your father and mother.

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

You shall not murder.

We will value and protect human life as sacred.

You shall not commit adultery.

We will honor marriage and maintain faithfulness in relationships.

You shall not steal.

We will respect others’ property and rights.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

We will speak truthfully and with integrity.

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 5:1-4)

Please stand for the reading of God’s word.

Sermon – Blessed are Those who Mourn (Matthew 5:4)

What is Mourning?
How is Mourning a Blessing?
What Comfort Does the Gospel Give to Mourners?
Mourning Practice?

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 – Once Again (D)

VERSE 1
Jesus Christ
I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing
Poured out to death
Many times I’ve wondered
At Your gift of life
And I’m in that place once again
I’m in that place once again

CHORUS
Once again
I look upon the cross
Where You died
I’m humbled by Your mercy
And I’m broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life

VERSE 2
Now You are
Exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens
Where one day I’ll bow
But for now
I marvel at this saving grace
And I’m full of praise once again
I’m full of praise once again

BRIDGE
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross my Friend

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.

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

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:

Pray for one another, especially those who are still mourning the loss of a loved one, pray that they know the comfort of God
Let us mourn for the world, and those who have yet to know Christ (family, friends, neighbors), that they would know the comfort of God as well
Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in other local churches around the world that they might witness to the comfort of God.

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 – Goodness of God (G)

VERSE 1
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days I’ve been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
I will sing of the goodness of God

CHORUS
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

VERSE 2
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In darkest nights You are close like no other
I’ve known You as a Father
I’ve known You as a Friend
I have lived in the goodness of God

CHORUS
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

BRIDGE
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me
With my life laid down
I’m surrendered now
I give You everything
Your goodness is running after
It’s running after me

CHORUS
All my life You have been faithful
All my life You have been so so good
With every breath that I am able
I will sing of the goodness of God

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

5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans15.5-6)

Announcements

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.
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
Before we eat, let’s setup, then have some time to discuss how God might be speaking to you today.