Songs:
“A Mighty Fortress”
Martin Luther
“Jesus, Firm Foundation”
George Keith & R. Keen
“I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130)”
Jordan Kauflin, Keith Getty, Matthew Merker & Stuart Townend
“He Will Hold Me Fast”
Ada Ruth Habershon & Matthew Merker
Call To Worship: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
The heavens declare the glory of God,
And the sky above proclaims His handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.
The law of the Lord is perfect; the testimony of the Lord is sure.
The precepts of the Lord are right; the commandment of the Lord is pure.
The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer!
Classic Prayer: Martin Micronius
O Heavenly Father, whose law is perfect, converting the soul; a sure testimony, giving wisdom to the unlearned, and enlightening the eyes —we humbly implore you, through your boundless goodness, to enlighten our blind intellect by your Holy Spirit, so that we may truly understand and profess your law and live according to it. Since it has pleased you, most merciful Father, to reveal the mysteries of your will only to the little ones; and since you look to him alone who is of a humble and contrite spirit, who has reverence for your Word, grant us a humble spirit and keep us from all fleshly wisdom, which is enmity against you. Bring to the right way those who stray from the truth, so that we all may unanimously serve you in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our life. We ask this from you, most merciful Father, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Creed: The Providence of God (Heidelberg Catechism, Questions 27 & 28)
Leader:
What do you understand by the providence of God?
People:
Providence is the almighty and ever-present power of God by which God upholds, as with His hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them, that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty – all things, in fact, come to us not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.
Leader:
How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us?
People:
We can be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature will separate us from His love.