Covenant Presbyterian Church of Simsbury - The Barn
In-Person Sunday Service 9:00am, Hayloft Sanctuary
Service of Worship
March 26, 2023
Hayloft Sanctuary - 9:00am
Welcome
We begin our prayers with praise because Jesus instructed that prayer begins with who God is, where He is, and with an active longing that our kingdoms become more like His.
God Summons Us
Call to Worship
Leader: Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
ALL: Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
Leader: Be gracious to me, O Lord,
ALL: for to you do I cry all the day.
Leader: Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
ALL: For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Adapted from Psalm 86
Praises of the People
Hymns and Choruses of Praise
#112 “Give To Our God Immortal Praise”
Spoken and Silent Praises
Our praise is to the God who is faithful in His lovingkindness.
The Gloria Patri - #813
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen, Amen.
God Sanctifies Us
Silent Personal Confession
The ways of Christ are the ways of life, real life. These ways help us avoid pain, harm to others and to ourself, and the disintegration of self that always accompanies sin. He commands us to confess because this is one of the ways we drink in the flourishing life He has for us. The most spiritual activity or practice available to us is obedience to Him.
Unison Confession
Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment.
Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
Declaration of Forgiveness
The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
The peace of the LORD be with you.
And also with you.
God Strengthens Us
The Prayers of the People
We ask for help boldly because Jesus taught us to do so.
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, the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn of Reflection
#713 “Seek Ye First”
The Doxology: #815
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.
God Speaks to Us
The Prayer of Illumination
The Reading - Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 21:18-22
Matthew 11:25-30 ESV
Matthew 21:18-22 ESV
Leader: This is the word of the Lord.
ALL: Praise be to the Christ.
The Sermon –
Sermon - The Good News of the With-God Life - Matthew 11:25-30, Matthew 21:18-22
Matt Blazer
Notes:
We display allegiance and love
when we forgive
and confront
as the Lord grows us up.
Closing Hymn
#291“O Sing A Song Of Bethlehem”
God Sends Us
God the Father loves us, Jesus has reconciled us to Him, and we have the Holy Spirit.
Benediction
Postlude
Welcome
This is a new, though also very old, kind of service of worship.
It is contemplative, that is, it invites its participants to reflect upon their Lord, His power, righteousness and mercies, the church universal, and their own lives as members of His body. We use periods of silence for reflection and inner prayer—and also for extemporaneous, short, spoken praises, prayers or songs.
It is traditional. It includes forms of worship, praise and prayer from the whole history of the Christian church, some from the earliest days, others that date from the Reformation, and still others that are more modern.
Such a service depends a great deal on the active participation of those attending. No liturgy guarantees a spirit-filled experience of worship (nor does the absence of liturgy do so). This service asks for worshipers who are intentional and concentrated in their opening of themselves to the presence of Christ, in their sensitivity to what the Holy Spirit is saying, and in fervent sharing of responses, prayers and song. It also calls us to remember that above all, we come together to please God. God has the first and last word this morning because He has the first and last word in all of the universe.
Such a service reminds us, too, of a mystery: that we inhabit not only a physical universe but a spiritual one, that all around us are angels and archangels and all the company of heaven with whom we join in our praises, and who are witnesses that what we do physically has eternal and supernatural consequences. We enter a sacred space and live a holy time as we draw near to God, and especially so when we share His feast, the Eucharist.
Church and Ministry Information
Are you a guest with us this morning?
Welcome and thank you for joining us today. Please introduce yourself and/or complete the “Welcome to The Barn!” form at the back of your bulletin and place it in the offering box.
Hearing Assist Receivers Available
Hearing assist receivers can be picked up from the sound crew before the service.
Prayer Opportunity
At the conclusion of the service, our prayer team is available to pray for you.
Offering
The Apostle Paul assumes that local gatherings of Christ followers support the work of the Gospel. He describes giving monetarily in almost every letter he writes in the New Testament. Christ followers give what they can for the work of the local church and for mission churches. Similarly here, we hope you are planning and then giving joyfully because you believe in the mission and vision of this local gathering. There is a box by the door to receive your offering.