Loving God and loving neighbor here in central Vermont and to the ends of the earth—all to the glory of God.
November 23
Prelude
Selah Cheng
Welcome and Announcements
σ Listen for upcoming events and ways you can get involved.
Pastor Josh
Lighting the Candles
σ Jesus is the light of the world.
Acolytes
Statement of Faith—Philippians 2:5-11
σ Confess what you believe about the Christian faith.
Pastor Josh
L: Let us confess our faith together.
C: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord!
Greeting Your Neighbors
σ Greet your neighbors in the name of the Lord.
Congregation
Call to Worship—Psalm 93, selections
σ Hear God call you to worship through his word.
Charlie Stabolepszy
L: The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;
C: The LORD is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
L: Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.
C: Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days.
Opening Prayer
σ Invite God to work in you as you worship today.
Charlie Stabolepszy
Worship Songs
σ Join with the congregation in praise to God.
Selah Cheng and Pastor Josh
He Is Exalted
Verse
He is exalted
The King is exalted on high
I will praise Him
He is exalted forever exalted
And I will praise His name
Chorus
He is the Lord
Forever His truth shall reign
Heaven and earth
Rejoice in His holy name
He is exalted
The King is exalted on high
#376—May the Mind of Christ My Savior
Verse 1
May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
live in me from day to day,
by His love and pow’r controlling
all I do and say.
Verse 2
May the word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through His pow’r.
Verse 3
May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.
Verse 4
May the love of Jesus fill me
as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing:
this is victory.
Verse 5
May His beauty rest upon me
as I seek the lost to win,
and may they forget the channel,
seeing only Him.
#143—Lift High The Cross
Chorus
Lift high the cross the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore His sacred name
Verse 1
Come brethren follow where our Savior trod,
Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God
Verse 2
Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of God in conqu’ring ranks combine.
Verse 3
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious Tree
As Thou hast promised, draw men unto Thee
Verse 4
Set up Thy throne, that earth’s despair may cease,
Beneath the shadow of its healing peace.
Verse 5
For Thy blest Cross which doth for all atone,
Creation’s praises rise before Thy throne
Missions Moment—Nigeria
σ Hear of God’s work and how we can pray.
Pius Joseph
Scripture Meditation—Proverbs 2 (p. 626 in Pew Bible)
σ Hear a reading from the Gospel that relates to the sermon text.
Frances Post
My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.
So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.
So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.
Confession and Assurance—From the WSB P.2.4
σ Confess your sins together to the Lord.
Pastor Josh
L: Let us come before our King and confess our sins.
C: We confess that we have not bowed before him and are slow to acknowledge his rule. We give allegiance to the powers of this world and fail to be governed by justice and love. In your mercy, forgive us. Raise us to acclaim him as ruler of all, that we may be loyal ambassadors, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ.
L: Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. With his blood he has purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. He has made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. Thanks be to God! (based on Revelation 5:5, 9-10)
Congregational Prayer
σ Join together in prayer and lift your concerns to our gracious God.
Charlie Stabolepszy
The Lord’s Prayer
σ In closing, pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray.
Congregation
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Children Dismissed for Program
Megan Moore
Scripture Reading—Philippians 2:12-18 (p. 1165 in Pew Bible)
σ Read this portion of God’s word.
Scott Puopolo
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
L: The grass withers and the flower fades.
C: But the word of our God will stand forever.
Sermon
σ Hear God’s word proclaimed and explained.
Pastor Josh Moore
Song of Response—#53 All Hail the Power of Jesus ‘Name
σ Respond to the preaching of the word with song.
Selah Cheng and Pastor Josh
Verse 1
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name
Let angels prostrate fall
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all
Verse 2
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race
Ye ransomed from the fall
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all
Verse 3
Let ev’ry kindred ev’ry tribe
On this terrestrial ball
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all
To Him all majesty ascribe
And crown Him Lord of all
Verse 4
O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all
Extinguishing the Candles
σ You are the light of the world.
Acolytes
Benediction
σ Receive a parting blessing.
Pastor Josh
Postlude
Selah Cheng