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Congregational Virtual Meeting - Today form 12-12:30 p.m. To ordain and install elders and deacons and to approve changes in terms of call for Goodie Bell moving from part-time 30 hours per week to full time Associate Pastor. Zoom link on the CCB homepage.

Blacknall Worship from Home
August 30, 2020

Invocation

Our Heavenly Father
Once again as we gather for worship we bring all of our lives before you, daring to affirm that you are both sovereign and loving. Our nation and our world stands in need of the Redeemer. A virus continues to threaten, storms rage, racial division, violence and destruction of life are the reality in many places in our country and world. This is no surprise to you. Because you see the world more clearly in its need than we do, you entered our world, suffered its injustices and rebellion, with healing in your wings. As we gather this morning, more aware than usual of our brokenness, would you meet us, in the power of your Holy Spirit, and give us a vision of another day, another world, a renewed hope. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Song | “Forever”

Give thanks to the Lord our God and King,
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things,
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm,
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn.
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful, forever God is strong
Forever God is with us, Forever, Forever

From the rising to the setting sun,
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on,
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

Scripture Reading | Psalm 62

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

3 How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down—
    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.

5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
    the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
    together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
    or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
    do not set your heart on them.

11 One thing God has spoken,
    two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12     and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
    according to what they have done.”

Song | “He Will Hold Me Fast”

(v1&2 choir alone; all join on v3)

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.

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast,
For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast.

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.

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
‘Til our faith is turned to sight, when He comes at last!

Words by Ada Habershon, 1906. Music by Mark Merker, 2013.

Call to Confession

Even as we have just sung, we yearn to be with the Lord, and all the more so in the midst of a world that leaves us in no doubt that it needs a Redeemer. We do too. As the Scripture says, If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. The truth is not in us. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God.

Prayer of Confession

Lord Jesus Christ, you alone can order our unruly wills and affections. Help us to love what you command, and desire what you promise; that in the midst of this world with all its challenges, griefs, losses, and gifts, our hearts may be fixed where your true joy is to be found, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Assurance of Pardon

The Lord is faithful to his promises: If you confess your sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive you your sins. This he has done in Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!

Passing the Peace

May the peace of the Lord be with you.
Response: And also with you

Affirmation of Faith | Apostles Creed

We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Children’s Blessing

With Pastor Goodie Bell

Children’s Worship

If you would like to receive the Children’s Worship video email, please contact Beth Solie.

Proclamation of the Word | Pastor Goodie Bell

The sermon is provided above in video and audio format.

Ephesians 1:1-14
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Song of Response | “Knowing You”

All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres, and wars to own,
All I once thought gain I have counted loss;
Spent and worthless now, compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
There is no greater thing.
You’re my all, You’re my rest,
You’re my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.

Now my heart’s desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and known as Yours,
To possess by faith what I could not earn,
All-surpassing gift of righteousness.

Oh, to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings,
To become like You in Your death, my Lord,
So with You to live and never die.

Presenting Our Gifts | Online Giving

You are invited to respond to God’s Word by giving to the mission God has called us to at Blacknall. Your financial giving includes support of Empower Bihar, a network operating in several North Indian states and in Nepal. Read their prayer requests here.

Prayers of Thanksgiving & Intercession

(You are invited to pause at each line and add your own intercessions.)

We praise you, God our Father, our Creator, for your handiwork in shaping and sustaining your wondrous creation. We especially thank you for:

the miracle of life and wonder of living…
the particular blessings of this day…
the gifts that you give making everyday life possible…
the treasure of every human life…

We pray for one another, God our Savior, claiming your love in Jesus Christ for the whole world and committing ourselves to those around us in his name. We especially pray for:

those who work for the benefit of others…
those who are unemployed…
those who teach and those who learn…
those who are in need of provision for their daily bread…
(especially those affected by Hurricane Laura)
those who are in need of bodily and spiritual healing…
our country, divided and violent, where there remains so much hatred, distrust, and fear....
the church in persecution around the world…

Lord, yours is the morning and yours is the evening. Even the darkness is not dark to you. May Christ, the sun of righteousness, shine forever in our hearts and lives, and draw us to the light of your radiant glory.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer. Amen

Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father...

The Lord’s Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever.
Amen.

Benediction

Song | “I Will Praise Him, Still”

When the morning falls on the farthest hill,
I will sing His name, I will praise Him, still.
When the dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him, still.

For the Lord, our God, He is strong to save
From the arms of death,
from the deepest grave.
And He gave us life in His perfect will;
And by His good grace I will praise Him, still.

When my days are bright and my cup is filled
With all happiness, I will praise Him, still;
And when suffering in this world, until
You set all things right, I will praise Him, still.