Veil Drawn Back: January 2012

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Worship Gathering January 22, 2012

We are going to hang out another week with the Heidelberg Catechism question #1. It is so rich with the assurance of God's affections for us that it's worth a second week. So as you read through and prepare for this Sunday's gathering, read and reread the Heidelberg! See you on Sunday...

Call to Worship – Revelation 5:12-13

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Agnus Dei

Alleluia, Alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns.
Alleluia, Alleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns. Alleluia.

Holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb,
You are holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty.
Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb, Amen!

Now Why This Fear

Now why this fear and unbelief?

Has not the Father put to grief

His spotless Son for us?

And will the righteous Judge of men,

Condemn me for that debt of sin,

Now cancelled at the cross?

Jesus, all my trust

Is in Your blood

Jesus, You’ve rescued us

Through Your great love!

Complete atonement You have made,

And by Your death completely paid

The debt Your people owed

No wrath remains for us to face

We’re sheltered by Your saving grace,

And sprinkled with Your blood.

Be still, my soul, and know this peace

The merits of your Great High Priest

Have bought your liberty

Rely then on His precious blood,

Don’t fear your banishment from God

Since Jesus sets you free

How sweet the sound of saving grace

Christ died for me

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done. And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults.

Restore those who are penitent; According to your promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O merciful Father;

For his sake by the power of the Spirit, that may we hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life; To the glory of your holy name.

Assurance of Pardon—Heidelberg Catechism

Q. 1. What is your only comfort in life and death?

A. 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.

Saviour King

Let now the weak say I have strength

By the Spirit of pow'r

That raised Christ from the dead

Let now the poor stand and confess

That my portion is Him

And I'm more than blessed

Let now our hearts burn with a flame

A fire consuming all for Your Son's holy Name

And with the heavens we declare

You are our King

We love You Lord, we worship You

You are our God You alone are good

Let now Your church shine as the bride

That You saw in Your heart

As You offered up Your life

And now the lost be welcomed home

By the saved and redeemed

Those adopted as Your own

We love You Lord, we worship You

You are our God You alone are good

You asked Your Son to carry this;

The heavy cross, our weight of sin

I love You Lord, I worship You

Hope which was lost now stands renewed

I give my life to honour this:

The love of Christ, the Saviour King

Offering our Tithes and Gifts to the Lord

(Friendship Pads passed out)

It Is Well with My Soul

Public Domain / H. Spafford & P. Bliss / CCLI#1888005

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

it is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul).

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

let this blest assurance control,

that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

and has shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin – O the bliss of this glorious thought! –

my sin, not in part, but the whole,

is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;

praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,

the clouds be rolled back as a scroll,

the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend,

Even so! It is well with my soul.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Worship Gathering January 15, 2012

For this worship set I want to focus on the cross of Jesus. So we are going to sing songs that come at this theme from various perspectives all climaxing in the recitation of the Heidelberg Catechism question #1.

The Greatness of God — Psalm 29, A Psalm of David

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

O Worship the King

O worship the King, all glorious above,

and gratefully sing his wonderful love;

our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,

pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

O tell of his might, O sing of his grace,

whose robe is the light, and canopy space!

His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,

and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

You alone are the matchless King

to you alone be all majesty.

Your glories and wonders,

what tongue can recite?

You breathe in the air, you shine in the light.

O measureless might, ineffable love

while angels delight to worship above

thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,

our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

Jesus Paid It All

Text: Elvina M. Hall Music: John T. Grape (1865) Add. Chorus: Alex Nifong, Kristian Stanfill CCLI# 1888005

I hear the Savior say,

“Thy strength indeed is small;

Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow

Lord, now indeed I find

Thy power and Thine alone,

Can change the leper’s spots

And melt the heart of stone

And when before the throne

I stand in Him complete,

Jesus died my soul to save

My lips shall still repeat

Oh, praise the One who paid my debt

And raised this life up from the dead

Jesus Died My Soul To Save

I stand amazed at Your love for me

That lonely night in Gethsemane

This sinner's heart can't help but thrill

To hear You pray Father not my will

What depth of love what reach of grace

Oh how my grateful heart now aches

To sing it louder the refrain

Jesus died my soul to save

Atonement full applied to me

The blood that spilled at Calvary

Has swallowed all my sin and shame

I'm reconciled in Jesus' name

Oh such pleasure oh such pain

The Father's wrath and fury lay

On Christ whom saints and angels praise

Jesus died my soul to save

Come you broken bound by sin

And let your weary journey end

Come and lay your burdens down

Where mercy rules and peace abounds

Heidelberg Catechism—Question 1

1. Q. What is your only comfort in life and death?

Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go

O Love that will not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee

I give thee back the life I owe,

that in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be

My life is not my own, it’s Yours

O light that follows all my way,

I yield my flickering torch to thee

My heart restores its borrowed ray,

that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day

May brighter, fairer be

So light a fire in my heart, and I will burn for You

O Joy that seeks me through the pain,

I cannot close my heart to thee

I trace the rainbow through the rain,

and feel the promise is not vain

That morn shall tearless be

So anoint me with joy, and joyful I will be

O Cross that’s lifting up my head,

I dare not ask to fly from thee

I lay in dust life’s glory dead,

and from the ground there blossoms red

Life that shall endless be

We will sing, “Holy, Holy is the King of Kings!”

Offering our Tithes and Gifts to the Lord

(Friendship Pads passed out)

Now Why This Fear

Now why this fear and unbelief?

Has not the Father put to grief

His spotless Son for us?

And will the righteous Judge of men,

Condemn me for that debt of sin,

Now cancelled at the cross?

Jesus, all my trust

Is in Your blood

Jesus, You’ve rescued us

Through Your great love!

Complete atonement You have made,

And by Your death completely paid

The debt Your people owed

No wrath remains for us to face

We’re sheltered by Your saving grace,

And sprinkled with Your blood.

Be still, my soul, and know this peace

The merits of your Great High Priest

Have bought your liberty

Rely then on His precious blood,

Don’t fear your banishment from God

Since Jesus sets you free

How sweet the sound of saving grace

Christ died for me

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Worship Gathering January 8, 2012

The book of Zechariah includes some really incredible imagery. It reveals that God's redemption is apocalyptic, grand in scope. It continues the prophet/priest/king theme (that we saw in Haggai) setting us up, in dramatic ways, for how Jesus fulfills God's plan of redeeming the whole world. So let us sing as we think on God's glory as he has redeemed us in Christ...

Creation Sings the Father's Song

Creation sings the Father's song; he calls the sun to wake the dawn

and run the course of day till evening comes in crimson rays.

His fingerprints in flakes of snow, his breath upon this spinning globe,

he charts the eagle's flight; commands the newborn baby's cry.

Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing, “Hallelujah!”

Fill the earth with songs of worship; tell the wonders of creation's King.

Creation gazed upon his face; the ageless One in time's embrace

unveiled the Father's plan of reconciling God and man.

A second Adam walked the earth, whose blameless life would break the curse,

whose death would set us free to live with Him eternally.

Creation longs for his return, when Christ shall reign upon the earth;

the bitter wars that rage are birth pains of a coming age.

When he renews the land and sky, all heaven will sing and earth reply

with one resplendent theme: the glory of our God and King!

Our Father Calls Us To Himself—Psalm 102:18-22

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD: that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

Come and Welcome

From the cross uplifted high where the Savior deigns to die

What melodious sounds I hear bursting on my ravished ear

Love’s redeeming work is done. Come and welcome, sinner, come

Sprinkled now with blood the throne. Why beneath thy burdens groan

On my pierced body laid justice owns the ransom paid

Bow the knee and kiss the Son. Come and welcome, sinner, come

Spread for thee the festal board. See with richest dainties stored

To thy Father’s bosom pressed yet again a child confessed

Never from His house to roam. Come and welcome, sinner, come

Soon the days of life shall end. Lo, I come, your Savior, Friend

Safe your spirit to convey to the realms of endless day

Up to my eternal home. Come and welcome, sinner, come.

Come and welcome, sinner, come

We Have Refused His Mercy—Zechariah 7:9-14

Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear. They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the LORD of hosts, “and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and the pleasant land was made desolate.”

Thy Mercy, My God

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,

the joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue;

thy free grace alone from the first to the last

hath won my affections and bound my heart fast.

Without thy sweet mercy I could not live here;

sin would reduce me to utter despair;

but through thy free goodness my spirit revived

and he that first made me still keeps me alive.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,

which wonders to feel its own hardness depart;

dissolved by thy goodness I fall to the ground

and weep for the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

Father of mercies, thy goodness I own

and the covenant love of thy crucified Son;

all praise to the Spirit whose whisper divine

seals mercy and pardon and righteousness mine.

A Haven for the World—Zechariah 8:20-23

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities. The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Be Thou My Vision

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

naught be all else to me, save that thou art –

thou my best thought by day or by night,

waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;

thou my great Father, I thy true son;

thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

thou mine inheritance, now and always:

thou and thou only, first in my heart,

High King of Heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,

May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heav’n’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

Still be my vision, O Ruler of All.

The House of God, Forever

2008 Rubudub Rublishing Publishing, Jon Foreman CCLI#1888005

God is my shepherd I won’t be wanting, I won't be wanting

He makes me rest in fields of green with quiet streams

Even though I walk through the valley of death and dying

I will not fear ‘cause You are with me, You are with me

Your shepherd’s staff comforts me

You are my feast in the presence of enemies

Surely goodness

Will follow me

Follow me

In the house of God, forever

And Can It Be

Public Domain / C. Wesley & T. Campbell / CCLI#1888005

And can it be that I should gain an int’rest in the Savior’s blood?

Died he for me, who caused his pain?

For me, who him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be

that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be

that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!),

emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race.

‘Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray;

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

my chains fell off, my heart was free;

I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine!

Alive in him, my living Head,

and clothed in righteousness divine,

bold I approach the eternal throne,

and claim the crown, through Christ my own.