PROVIDENCE CHURCH

      September 18, 2022

 

Welcome

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ. The peace of Christ be with you!  And also with you!

 

Doxology

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

 

Call to Worship:   Psalm 133

Leader:  Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

 

Congregation:  It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!

 

Leader:  It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!

 

ALL:  For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.

 

 

Songs of Praise:

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (Henry Lyte, 1834; tune John Goss, 1869)

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet your tribute bring;

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven—who, like me, his praise should sing?

Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him, praise the everlasting King.

 

Praise him for his grace and favor to our fathers in distress;

Praise him, still the same forever, slow to chide and swift to bless.

Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him, glorious in his faithfulness.

 

Father-like, he tends and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows;

In his hands he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes;

Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him, widely as his mercy goes.

 

Frail as summer’s flower we flourish, blows the wind and it is gone;

But while mortals rise and perish, God endures unchanging on.

Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him, praise the High Eternal One.

 

Angels, help us to adore him; you behold him face to face;

Sun and moon bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space;

Praise him, praise him, praise him, praise him, praise with us the God of grace.

 

Lord, I Lift Your Name on High (Rick Founds, 1989)

Lord, I lift your name on high

Lord, I love to sing your praises

I’m so glad you’re in my life

I’m so glad you came to save us

 

You came from heaven to earth, to show the way

From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay

From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky,

Lord I lift your name on high (Repeat all)

 

You came from heaven to earth, to show the way

From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay

From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky,

Lord I lift your name on high,

Lord I lift your name on high,

Lord I lift your name on high!

 

Daughters and Sons (Renee Allsbrook)

Break up your unplowed ground, stop casting seeds on thorns

plow into the bitterness, face the pain you’ve borne

See Him on the cross, bearing all our sorrow

He who carried every sin bids you place your load on Him…

 

Hallelujah, Jesus, Lamb of God

Hallelujah to Our King!

In his light all fear and shame must flee

My new name is “Child Who Sings”

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, He has come for me

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, He has set me free

(Interlude)

Daughters and sons are we, delights to our good Father

Christ, our Brother, Risen One, ushers us to the Throne

where poison tongues are stilled and failures all forgotten

Lift up your head—you’re washed, you’re freed

and shielded from the enemy…

Hallelujah, Jesus, Lamb of God

Hallelujah to Our King!

In his light all fear and shame must flee

My new name is “Child Who Sings”

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, He has come for me

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, He has set me free

 

Break up your unplowed ground, break up your unplowed ground

Daughters and sons are we, daughters and sons are we

 

 

Confession/Assurance    Titus 3

 

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life

 

 

 

Respond in Praise: 

When All Your Mercies, O My God (Joseph Addison, 1712)

When all your mercies, O my God

My rising soul surveys

Transported with the view, I’m lost

In wonder, love and praise

 

Unnumbered comforts to my soul

Your tender care bestowed

Before my infant heart conceived

From whom those comforts flowed

 

When worn with sickness, oft have you

With health renewed my face

And when in sins and sorrows sunk,

Revived my soul with grace

 

Ten thousand, thousand precious gifts

My daily thanks employ

Nor is the least a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy

 

Through every period of my life
Your goodness I’ll pursue

And after death, in distant worlds

The glorious theme renew.

 

 

 

Scripture Reading:   1 Thessalonians 2:17- 3:13

 

Paul’s Longing to See Them Again

17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker[a] in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers,[b] in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

 

This is the Word of the Lord.   Thanks be to God!

Sermon:  “ A Longing to Visit”                                                                                                        

 

Hymn of Dedication

 

Speak, O Lord (Gettys/S. Townsend)

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

to receive the food of Your Holy Word

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness

That the light of Christ might be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us

All Your purposes for Your glory

 

Teach us, Lord, full obedience
Holy reverence, true humility
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity

Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority
Words of pow’r that can never fail—
Let their truth prevail over unbelief

 

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds

Help us grasp the heights of your plans for us

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time

That will echo down through eternity

And by grace we’ll stand on your promises

And by faith we’ll walk as you walk with us

Speak, O Lord till your church is built

And your church is filled with your glory

 

 

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.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil:

for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.  Amen

 

Hymn of Thanksgiving

Crown Him with Many Crowns (Matthew Bridges, 1851; tune George Elvey, 1868)

1.Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne

hark! How the heav’nly anthem drowns all music but its own

Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee

and hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity

 

2.Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave

and rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save

His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high

who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that Death may die

 

3.Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose pow’r a scepter sways

from pole to pole that wars may cease and all be prayer and praise

His reign shall know no end, and ‘round his pierced feet

fair flowers of paradise extend, their fragrance ever sweet

 

4.Crown Him the Lord of love: behold his hands and side

those wounds yet visible above, in beauty glorified

All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou hast died for me!

Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity

 

Benediction 

 

KNOW

Welcome to Providence Church! We are glad that you are here, joining us in person or via Zoom!.

Sunday School:   Adult and Youth Sunday School is at 11:15. Paula Rhodarmer will be teaching.   Will/Christina are leading a study in Exodus.

Fellowship Time: Between the end of our worship service and before SS

Children of all ages are invited to participate in the entire service of worship.  Childcare for children up to 6 years of age, in our downstairs Christian Ed wing (on the left) at the end of the hallway.

Nursery Worker Needed –     Providence is looking to hire a part time nursery worker for each Sunday from 9:45 to 12noon.  Please contact Edward Brouwer 828-550-4615, or Linda Wilson, 901-230-7178, providencechurchassistant@gmail.com, if you are interested or know of anyone that might be.  Also, please be in prayer that God will guide this process. Thank you!

Potluck Sunday, October 2 –

It’s time for a churchwide meal together! Sunday, October 2 after the worship service we’ll gather in Fellowship Hall for an Oktoberfest-themed potluck. The church will provide all the meat (sausages/wurst) and we’ll have a signup sheet for sides and desserts. There will be no Sunday School that day. See you all there!

 

 

GROW

Women’s Prayer Group – 10:15am Tuesday mornings, contact Linda Roberts for more info

Men’s Prayer Group – 6:45am Thursday mornings, contact Sam Mitchell for more info.

 

GO

 

Prayer Requests:    For Mercy and Grace:  Bill Silverthorne, Glenda White, Judd and       Susanne Heriot, Robbie Hargrove, Mike and Rhonda Lear, Chuck & Carole Torpy; Lisa Rhodarmer’s mother Ruth