PROVIDENCE CHURCH

August 29, 2021

 

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 hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Call to Worship:   Isaiah 42:1-8

 

Leader:  Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

People:   He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;

Leader:   a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

People:   He will not grow faint or be discouraged[a] till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

Leader:  Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

People:   “I am the Lord; I have called you[b] in righteousness;

I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people,

a light for the nations,

Leader:  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

ALL:     I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to carved idols.

 

Songs of Praise:

Come, Thou Almighty King (Anon., ca 1757; tune Felice de Giardini, 1769)

Come, thou Almighty King, help us thy name to sing,

help us to praise.

Father, all glorious, o’er all victorious,

come and reign over us, Ancient of Days.

 

Come, thou Incarnate Word, gird on thy mighty sword,

our prayer attend.

Come, and thy people bless, and give thy Word success;

Spirit of holiness, on us descend.

 

Come, Holy Comforter, thy sacred witness bear

in this glad hour.

Thou who almighty art, now rule in every heart,

and ne’er from us depart, Spirit of power.

 

To the great One in Three eternal praises be,

hence evermore.

His sovereign majesty may we in glory see,

and to eternity love and adore.

 

The Battle Belongs to the Lord (Jamie Owens-Collins, 1977)

In heavenly armor we’ll enter the land, the battle belongs to the Lord.

No weapon that’s fashioned against us will stand, the battle belongs to the Lord.

 

Chorus:

And we sing glory and honor, power and strength to the Lord.

We sing glory, and honor, power and strength to the Lord.

 

When the power of darkness comes in like a flood, the battle belongs to the Lord.

He’s raised up a standard, the power of His blood, the battle belongs to the Lord. (Chorus)

 

When your enemy presses in hard, do not fear, the battle belongs to the Lord.

Take courage, my friend, your redemption is near, the battle belongs to the Lord. (Chorus X2)

 

Hosanna (Brooke Ligertwood  CCLI #4785835)

I see the King of Glory coming on the clouds with fire;

The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes.

I see His love and mercy washing over all our sin;

the people sing, the people sing:

 

Chorus:

Hosanna, Hosanna,Hosanna in the highest!

Hosanna, Hosanna,Hosanna in the highest!

 

I see a generation rising up to take their place

With selfless faith, selfless faith.

I see a near revival stirring as we pray and seek;

We’re on our knees, we’re on our knees: (Chorus)

 

Heal my heart and make it clean;

Open up my eyes to the things unseen.

Show me how to love like You

have loved me

 

Break my heart for what breaks yours,

Everything I am for Your kingdom’s cause,

As I go from earth into

Eternity. (Chorus 2X)

 

Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna in the highest!

 

Confession/Assurance    

 

Respond in Praise:

 

This is My Father’s World (Maltbie Babcock, 1901; tune Franklin Sheppard, 1915)

This is my Father’s world, and to my list’ning ears,

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; his hand the wonders wrought.

 

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world: he shines in all that’s fair;

In the rustling grass I hear him pass, he speaks to me everywhere.

 

This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done;

Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heav’n be one.

 

Apostles Creed

 

Your Love Remains (Renee Allsbrook) – musical offering, sung by Natalie Brouwer

When hardship mocks the ease I’ve known,

When I feel lost, or left alone,

When troubles stun and overwhelm,

Your love remains, secure and strong.

 

When hungry mouths aren’t satisfied,

When longings, prayers return denied,

When danger lurks, when evil wins,

Your love remains, sure to the end.

 

Through blinding tears, I will my eyes

To see beyond this earth, these skies.

Christ’s nail-scarred hands will dry each face,

His gladness flood each broken heart with praise.

 

We are perplexed, but won’t despair,

Crushed, but not more than we can bear;

We are insulted and struck down,

But not abandoned, not alone.

 

My soul to you will ever cling,

My lips your praise will ever sing.

Though pain would otherwise persuade,

In heaven’s eyes we are bold conquerors made.

 

Through blinding tears, I will my eyes

To see beyond this earth, these skies.

Christ’s nail-scarred hands will dry each face,

His gladness flood each broken heart, this broken heart

With praise of you, sweet praises of you, God!

 

So through these blinding tears, I will my eyes

To see beyond this earth, these skies.

Christ’s nail-scarred hands will dry each face,

His gladness flood each broken heart with praise.

When troubles stun and overwhelm, your love remains, sure to the end.

 

Scripture Reading:    Matthew 12:15-29

 

God’s Chosen Servant

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

 

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,

my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,

nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

20 a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench,

until he brings justice to victory;

21     and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

 

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.

 

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

Sermon:  “Captured, Ransomed, Freed”              

 

Communion Hymn

 

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (Stuart Townend, 1995)

1.How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure,

That He would give His only Son to make a wretch his treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss; the Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen one bring many sons to glory.

 

2.Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders.

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.

It was his love that held him there, until it was accomplished;

His dying breath has brought me life; I know that it is finished.

 

3.I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no pow’r no wisdom.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.

But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.

Lord’s Supper

 

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

Our God, Our Help in Ages Past (Isaac Watts, 1719; tune William Croft, 1720)

Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

 

Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.

 

Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame,

From everlasting you are God, to endless years the same.

 

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away;

They fly forgotten as a dream dies at the opening day.

 

Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come:

O be our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.

 

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.  Thom and Pastor Edward will alternate teaching a study this semester.   Will/Christina are leading a study of The Risen Lord for couples/singles. Bill/Jerry are leading the Youth SS in a classic book by CS Lewis.

Fellowship Time: Between the end of our worship service and before SS, please enjoy coffee and snacks and conversation in the Fellowship Hall.

Children of all ages are invited to participate in the entire service of worship.  We will have

childcare for children up to 6 years of age, in our downstairs Christian Ed wing (on the left) at the end of the hallway.

 

GROW

Pastor Bible Study – meets each Tuesday at noon in the fellowship hall to discuss the previous week’s sermon as well as the upcoming sermon (Matthew12:30-37)   Bring your Bible and a bagged lunch if you would like.

 

UPCOMING NEW WED. NIGHT BIBLE STUDY!!!  Beginning Sept 8, we will begin a new Wednesday night Bible Study at 6:30pm until 8pm for both men and women.  The study will be on the book of Philippians.  Our desire for Providence is to have a line-by-line Scripture based study. We will have a potluck at 5:30 for the first study on Sept. 8.  If you are interested in joining us for this time of learning and fellowship, please let Glenda Brouwer know at glendajbrouwer@gmail.com or 828-713-6115.  Childcare will be provided if needed.

 

Would you like to grow in the joy and work of prayer? Join our women on Tuesday mornings at 10:15am or our men on Thursday mornings at 6:45am. These seasons of weekly prayer are rich in fellowship and in prayers. Want to know more about Women’s Prayer? Contact Linda Roberts. Want to know more about Men’s Prayer?  Contact Sam Mitchell.

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GO

Open Door Soup Kitchen: This is an ongoing commitment of Providence Church to the least, the last, the lost and the lonely of our community.  While Open Door is no longer able to serve meals, we are still volunteering to cook the meals on the first Friday of each month.  If you can serve in this way, please let Linda Wilson know at 901-230-7178.  Thanks for your faithfulness.  Please join us this Friday, September 3rd to bless and be blessed.

 

Bible in our Public Schools: we have the privilege to be involved with a Bible Club program in our local schools. We don’t know if clubs will be allowed to start yet this Fall, but pray that this opportunity may continue on in God’s perfect timing.

 

 

Prayer Requests: Healing: Melanie (Mike and Rhonda’s daughter), Jill Lear, Lisa Rhodarmer’s mother; Judd and Susanne Harriot, Robbie Hargrove, Chuck & Carole Torpy; Glenn & Laura Glad; Thom Morgan’s mother; Lisa Rhodarmer’s brother Michael – cancer; Sarah Altman