LOVE REDEEMS “Love Is Holy Because It Is Like Grace— the Worthiness of Its Object Is Never Really What Matters.” Marilyn Robinson
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sunday | October 28, 2018 LOVE REDEEMS “Love is holy because it is like grace— the worthiness of its object is never really what matters.” Marilyn Robinson Called together for the renewal of all things through Jesus Christ. Welcome! ¡Bienvenido! Добро пожаловать! We’re glad you’ve chosen to worship at Third! We look forward to meeting and getting to know you. Sanctuary Decorations As followers of Jesus, we “tell time differently” with a calendar shaped by the story of God’s works of salvation and renewal. Not only do we mark the seasons of the Christian year through the readings and music in our worship service, we also use colors and textures to enrich our space and experience of worship. We are currently in the six-month period of Ordinary Time when we remember the story of God’s people as told throughout the Old and New Testaments. In Ordinary Time we are reminded that we are part of a great community of believers throughout time and history that has been called together to bear witness to God’s promises and presence in the world, finally fulfilled in Jesus and his kingdom. The color of this season is green, representing the way God is at work sustaining even the small, ordinary rhythms we experience year by year in his creation, and the way God is calling and empowering his Church to join in the work of renewing all things. GATHERING God gathers us all and calls us by his grace. Prelude “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” Jeff Hummel (Michael Praetorius) Welcome and Announcements Preparation for Worship “Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!” Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through his infinite mercy, his child, and forever, I am. Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through his infinite mercy, his child, and forever, I am. Let’s quiet our hearts in silent preparation for worship. † Call to Worship From Psalm 71:5–8 Leader: For you have been our hope, Sovereign Lord, People: Our confidence since our youth. Leader: From birth, we have relied on you; People: We will ever praise you. Leader: Our mouths are filled with your praise, Everyone: Declaring your splendor all day long. Prayer of Adoration Songs of Praise “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” (Music on page 6) † “What a Beautiful Name” (Music on page 7) † The cross indicates standing, as you are able. 5 I SING THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD 6 WHAT A BEAUTIFUL NAME You were the Word at the beginning, one with God, the Lord Most High. Your hidden glory in creation, now revealed in you, our Christ. What a beautiful name it is, what a beautiful name it is, The name of Jesus Christ, my King. What a beautiful name it is, nothing compares to this. What a beautiful name it is, the name of Jesus. You were complete in all your glory; still, Jesus, you brought heaven down. Our sin was great; your love was greater. What could separate us now? What a wonderful name it is, what a wonderful name it is, The name of Jesus Christ, my King. What a wonderful name it is, nothing compares to this. What a wonderful name it is, the name of Jesus. Death could not hold you, the veil tore before you. You silence the boast of sin and grave. The heavens are roaring the praise of your glory, For you are raised to life again. You have no rival, you have no equal. Now and forever God, you reign. Yours is the kingdom, yours is the glory, Yours is the Name above all names. What a powerful name it is, what a powerful name it is, The name of Jesus Christ, my King. What a powerful name it is, nothing can stand against. What a powerful name it is, the name of Jesus. Words and Music by Ben Fielding & Brooke Ligertwood © 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing; CCLI License # 706798 7 CONFESSING God invites us to be honest with him about ourselves. Prayer of Confession Everyone: Jesus Lord, in your mercy, by your holy life that heals us, by your holy death that saves us, by your Holy Spirit with us, come to cleanse these sinners that we are. Set us free to obey you; make us clear to stand before you; then, for your mercy, we will praise you. Amen. Silent Confession Song of Comfort and Assurance “Jesus Paid It All” For nothing good have I whereby thy grace to claim— I’ll wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary’s Lamb. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; he washed it white as snow. Sacrament of Baptism 11:15 a.m. service Noah Taylor The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you. And give you peace, and give you peace, and give you peace forever. † Greeting of Peace As a new spiritual family reconciled to one another through Christ, offer to one another a sign of peace: a handshake, a hug, or even just a smile. You could say something simple like “Peace be with you,” or just simply, “Peace.” 8 THANKSGIVING Our Offerings Pray for Kip Hart and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at VCU as they seek to build a witnessing community of students and faculty who grow as followers of Jesus Christ, impacting the campus and the world. We are thankful for the Gideons handing out between 4,000 and 6,000 Bibles to the VCU students this weekend. Pray they will read these Bibles and this will result in people coming to Christ. Offertory “The Same Love” (Music on page 10) Doxology Please stand as we sing to the Lord. 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. 9 THE SAME LOVE 10 11 PROCLAIMING God speaks to us through his word. Scripture Reading Ruth 4:1–12 1 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian- redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down. 2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.” “I will redeem it,” he said. 5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” 6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” 7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.) 8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal. 9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!” 12 PROCLAIMING 11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.” Leader: This is the word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! 13 Message: “Love Redeems” Derek Mondeau O LOVE THAT WILL NOT LET ME GO 15 16 RESPONDING We respond to God’s word. † Song of Response “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go” (Music on page 15) Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Leader: Our Father, thank you that you redeem even the darkest sorrows. Grant us hope and courage as we trust your redeeming work for our lives and our world. Lord, in your mercy, People: Hear our prayer. Leader: Lord Lord Jesus Christ, bring your kingdom to bear upon our lives, this city, and your world. May we all know your justice, peace, and daily provision. Lord, in your mercy, People: Hear our prayer. Leader: Spirit of God, help us in our weakness, and move us to pray as we ought. Renew us daily in the likeness of Christ.