A Congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian

Meeting at Ascension Lutheran Church, 33 Bayshore Rd., Deer Park, NY 11729 www.thehavenli.com

Then they were glad that the waters were quiet and He brought them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:30

The Lord’s Day, September 22, 2019 A Service of Renewal 4:30 p.m. Welcome

☩ A warm welcome to our visitors: If this is your first visit, please sign the guest register at the welcome table in the foyer. Please also accept our Welcome Pack for first time guests. Learn more about The Haven, OPC and why we want you to come back and be part of this growing community of people learning about Jesus Christ as the Great Haven. Also, please join us in the gymnasium for Haven Food and Fellowship after this afternoon’s worship service.

☩ Today’s Sunday Schedule:

4:30 p.m. Worship/Outreach

6:00 p.m. Open Forum & Haven Updates Today: We begin discussing your answers to the questionnaire given out last week. This is to help develop the stewardship plan to present to our presbytery Missions Committee and to the OPC Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension.

6:20 p.m. The Haven Food and Fellowship in the gymnasium.

☩ Nursery is available during worship for children ages 2 and under. Please speak to one of the greeters if you wish to use the nursery for your child. If you’d like to volunteer for nursery duty, e mail Margaret Shishko: [email protected]

☩ The concept of "covenant renewal" is beautifully introduced in our Directory for Public Worship: "The triune God assembles his covenant people for public worship in order to manifest and renew their covenant bond with him and one another. The Holy Spirit engages them and draws them into the Father’s presence as a living sacrifice in Christ. God himself has fellowship with them, strengthening and guiding them for life in his presence and service in his kingdom."

☩ We celebrate the Lord’s Supper every Sunday as the climax of our covenant renewal worship. If you are visiting with us, we invite to the Table those who have received Christian baptism, have publicly professed faith in Jesus Christ, and are members in good standing of a church in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is faithfully taught and practiced. By eating the bread and drinking the wine with us you are publicly acknowledging that you are seeking to walk in godliness before the Lord,. If you have any questions about whether you should partake of the Supper, please speak to the pastor either before or after the service.

☩ Scripture quotations are from The Holy , English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyrighted music reprinted under CCLI #11435067. All selections from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal are used with permission.

☩ The Haven, OPC is a home mission work of the Presbytery of Connecticut and Southern New York, Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). For more information on the Orthodox Presbyterian Church: www.opc.org For more information about this church, visit our website: www.thehavenli.com

☩ Pastoral Needs: To contact Pastor Bill, his study phone number is (516) 593-1507, or you can reach him by e mail at [email protected] Worship/Outreach The Lord’s Day — Sunday, September 22, 2019 Worship 4:30 PM Preparation for Worship: Psalm 18:1-24

THE LORD OUR GOD CALLS US

Salutation:

Pastor: Congregation of the People of God: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! People: Amen!

†Call to Worship: From Psalm 46

Pastor: God is our refuge and strength; an abundantly available help in trouble.

People: Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea…

Pastor: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God - the holy habitation of the Most High.

People: God is in the midst of her! She shall not be moved!

Pastor: God will help her when the morning dawns.

People: Be still and know that God is God!

Pastor: He will be exalted among the nations! He will be exalted in the earth!.

All: The Lord of hosts is with us! The God of Jacob is our fortress!

† Opening Psalm: “God is Our Refuge and Our Strength “ (Psalm 46A, TPH) (turn to next page)

Learn the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sREr_lHBId8

†Greeting Pastor: The Lord be with you! People: And also with you! Pastor: Our help is in the name of the Lord, People: Who made heaven and earth!

†Opening Prayer People: Amen!

THE LORD OUR GOD CLEANSES US

Meditation on The Sermon on the Mount: The Beatitudes

Confession of Sin (kneeling if able) - Begin with personal confession before God.

Corporate Confession: God of all comfort and giver of all grace: We come to you as those who mourn. We mourn all of the ways we fall short of your glory. We mourn because of the things that we do that we should not do; and we mourn because of the things that we do not do that we should do. We mourn over our fallen world and our own fallenness. But we look to Christ, knowing that he calls those who mourn to come to Him so that He might grant comfort. Grant that comfort to us in your way and in your time. And please hasten the day when all mourning shall cease forever, through Jesus Christ our Deliverer. Amen.

†Assurance of Pardon: Psalm 30:4,5

People: Hallelujah! Thanks be to God!

†Our Response of Praise: “I Run to Christ!” (turn to next page)

Listen & learn the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzUZSn_G9lo

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THE LORD OUR GOD CONSECRATES US

OLD COVENANT READING 1: GENESIS 2:15-17

15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

OLD COVENANT READING 2: DEUTERONOMY 8:1-3

8:1 “THE WHOLE COMMANDMENT THAT I COMMAND YOU TODAY YOU SHALL BE CAREFUL TO DO,

THAT YOU MAY LIVE AND MULTIPLY, AND GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND THAT THE LORD SWORE TO GIVE

TO YOUR FATHERS. 2 AND YOU SHALL REMEMBER THE WHOLE WAY THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS LED

YOU THESE FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, THAT HE MIGHT HUMBLE YOU, TESTING YOU TO KNOW

WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, WHETHER YOU WOULD KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS OR NOT. 3 AND HE

HUMBLED YOU AND LET YOU HUNGER AND FED YOU WITH MANNA, WHICH YOU DID NOT KNOW, NOR

DID YOUR FATHERS KNOW, THAT HE MIGHT MAKE YOU KNOW THAT MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD

ALONE, BUT MAN LIVES BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF THE LORD.

NEW COVENANT READING: II TIMOTHY 3:10-17

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

5 Pastor: The grass withers, and the flowers fade away; but the word of our God will stand forever!

People: Thanks be to God!

†Confession of Faith: The Nicene Creed

Pastor: Christians, what do you believe, and in whom do you trust?

All: I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

†We Prepare Our Hearts for the Word of God Preached: Hymn: “Speak, O Lord” (turn to next page) Listen & learn the tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubRlJj8xkds

6 7 Prayer for Understanding and for Transformation People: Amen!

Sermon: “Character: Living Out of God’s Word”

Prayer for Blessing on the Word of God Preached People: Amen!

Worship through Tithes and Offerings

†Pastoral Prayer (followed by the Lord’s Prayer with hands raised) All: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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 the Evil One. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen!

The Lord Our God Communes With Us Meditation; Lord’s Supper Celebration (Heads of households, please come forward to receive the elements for your household. Enjoy communion with one another while the elements are being distributed.) Prayer of Thanksgiving People: Amen!

Closing Hymn of Celebration: ‘Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord” (Psalm 150C) (Turn to Next Page)

The Lord Our God Commissions Us †[Hands Raised] Pastor: Benediction People: Amen! Go forth in peace to love and serve those around you - in Jesus’ Name!

PSALM TO LEARN: “ THE LORD IS MY REFUGE” (PSALM 11B, TPH) LAST PRINTED PAGE OF THIS BULLETIN

8 9 Announcements

☩ Deacon’s Offering Next Sunday: We take this added offering on the last Sunday of a month. This month’s deacon’s offering will go to Mission to the World (PCA) to assist those in the Bahamas who were devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Please give generously!

☩ Haven Hope Givers: That’s our ministry of reaching out by cards and notes to inmates who are regular listeners to A Visit to the Pastor’s Study. Send a message of Gospel hope to: Mr. Darren Emanuel, #03A2176, Fishkill Correctional Facility, POB 1245, Beacon, NY 12508 & Mr. Arthur F. Tomlinson #12B1623, Eastern New York Correctional Facility, PO Box 338, Napanoch, NY 12458

☩ The Haven Young Adult Disciples (age 13 and up): We’ll ordinarily meet on the first Sunday of the month from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Brewer’s (66 East 2d St., Deer Park) Our first meeting of the new school year is Sunday, October 6. Pizza, singing, and discussion. We’ll start the conversation about gender issues and sexuality. What does the Word of God say? Invite your friends to join us!

☩ Sing! Our monthly “choir practice” is at the home of John & Mary Vaeth (46 Monell Ave., Islip) usually on the first Tuesday of the month from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m This is a time to build our repertoire of “Haven Hymns. Our next Sing! meeting, though, will be on Wednesday, October 9. For these meetings we continue to learn new Psalms and Hymns from the Trinity Psalter Hymnal, and doctrinally rich contemporary hymns as well. Come to be enriched in the Word!

☩ “A Visit to the Pastor’s Study,” the weekly radio program hosted by Pastor Bill Shishko is broadcast at 8:00 a.m. on Sundays on WBWD, 540 AM. You can also to listen to the podcasts on sermonaudio.com (Search A Visit to the Pastor’s Study) or visitthepastorsstudy.org Upcoming Program for September - Education Month: Date: Topic: Guest September 28: Foster Parenting, pt. 2 Pastor Drew Eenigenburg

☩ Haven Food and Fellowship: This is a way for you to show hospitality following our worship each Lord’s Day. See our administrative assistant, Mary Vaeth and give her some dates that you can provide refreshments and be host and hostess for this outreach.

☩ Today’s Sermon will be available by tomorrow evening on sermonaudio.com at “The Haven, OPC” site (Search The Haven, OPC) You’ll also be able to access the sermon from our own website www.thehavenli.com

☩ Your Tithes and Offerings: Make your checks payable to “The Haven, OPC” Your gifts provide so that we can pay our weekly rent and other ministry expenses.

10 The Haven Heart to Heart Pastor Bill answers your questions about The Haven, OPC and its ministry Question: I notice that you put a lot of emphasis on singing the Psalms. Why? And aren’t some of these Psalms out of place in this New Testament period?

Pastor Bill responds (pt. 4): One of the most difficult questions when we sing about Christ in the Psalms, cf. Luke 24:44, is “What about the confessions of sin in the Psalms? Jesus never sinned!” For some examples, how do verses like these apply to Jesus? • I acknowledged by sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5) • Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. (Psalm 51:2,3) • I have gone away like a lost sheep… (Psalm 119:176) Never forget that Jesus never sinned. He had no personal iniquity or transgressions to confess. He never went astray like a lost sheep. Jesus was obedient - and completely obedient - even to the death of the cross, cf. Philippians. 2:9. If Jesus had sinned we would not have a Savior; and because Jesus was perfectly obedient in Him we have a perfect righteousness. Without this we wouldn’t have the good news of the Gospel. So how can we sing about Jesus in Psalms that confess sin? The first thing to keep in mind is that the Psalms were written by human authors who did sin, who needed to confess their sin, and who had to receive forgiveness of sins. This reminds us that while the Psalms show us the sinless Jesus, they were written by people who were not sinless. We can (and should) relate to that as we - who also are not sinless - use the Psalms for our own devotions and as a pattern for godliness. At the same time, we need to take with the deepest seriousness the profound truth that Jesus, who knew no sin by personal commission, nevertheless became sin (but NOT “a sinner”) for His people: For our sake, he, i.e. God the Father, made him, i.e. Jesus, to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21). That means that Jesus: • Felt in his inmost being what it meant to be a sinner who was under the wrath of God. He was, in the fullest sense of the word, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). • Experienced to the greatest depths possible the power of sin that makes our bones waste away through our groaning all the day and that dries up our strength as in the heat of summer, because God’s hand is heavy on us, cf. Psalm 32:3.4. • Knew in ways no mere mortal could ever even begin to grasp what it meant that sin causes us to be forsaken of everything but the eternal justice of an offended God. What awesome sorrow there is in Jesus’ cry, My God. My God. Why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22:1) So, as you sing what are often called “The Penitential Psalms”, e.g. Psalms 32, 51, 130, 143, remember that Christ experienced the depths of sin’s curse when he became a curse for us, cf. Galatians 3:13 - all so that the curse of sin might be taken away from those who trust in Jesus Christ as their sin-bearer. And he went to those depths because of the depths of his love for you! May that cause you to confess your own sins and receive from Jesus the forgiveness that comes at such a great price - the price of the sinless one becoming sin for us.

11 My Notes on Today’s Sermon:

“Character: Living Out of God’s Word

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