Hymn Sing
Gray Psalter Hymnal
# 465 Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above vs 1, 2, 3
# 452 He Leadeth Me vs 1, 2
# 461 Beautiful Savior vs 1, 2, 4
Call to Worship
Hymn # 249 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty (Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Psalter: Psalm 36 (NRSV) Matthew Kain
1Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes.
2For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good.
4They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil.
5Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
6Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
7How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
8They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
10O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!
11Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away.
12There the evildoers lie prostrate; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
Prayer for Illumination
New Testament Reading: Romans 9:6-18
6It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, 7and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants; but “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9For this is what the promise said, “About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.” 10Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. 11Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, 12not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.” 13As it is written,
“I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.”
14What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 17For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God for His Word.
Choral Anthem Speak O Lord
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 power 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, 'til Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory
Children’s Sermon
Hymn # 262 My Faith Looks Up to Thee (Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Old Testament Reading: Malachi 1:1-5
1An oracle. The word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
2I have loved you, says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” Is not Esau Jacob’s brother? says the Lord. Yet I have loved Jacob 3but I have hated Esau; I have made his hill country a desolation and his heritage a desert for jackals. 4If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says: They may build, but I will tear down, until they are called the wicked country, the people with whom the Lord is angry forever. 5Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the borders of Israel!”
Sermon “Great is the Lord” Pastor Andrew Winter
