JANUARY 21, 2024

Prelude          Mary Heller

Welcome and Greeting

Preparation of Our Hearts

Call to Worship 

Hymn     # 18     Come, Christians, Join to Sing          (Supplemental Hymnal)

Confession of Sin and Assurance of Pardon 

Psalter     Psalm 62:5-12     (NRSVUE)          John Young

5For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.

6He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

8Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

9Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.

10Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; iif riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

11Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,

12and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.

Prayer for Illumination                                                          

Old Testament Reading     1 Chronicles 23:24-32

       24These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses, the heads of families as they were enrolled according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and up who were to do the work for the service of the house of the Lord. 25For David said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people, and he resides in Jerusalem forever. 26And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service”—27for according to the last words of David these were the number of the 

Levites from twenty years old and up—28“but their duty shall be to assist the descendants of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God; 29to assist also with the rows of bread, the choice flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size. 30And they shall stand every morning thanking and praising the Lord, and likewise at evening, 31and whenever burnt offerings are offered to the Lord on Sabbaths, new moons, and appointed festivals, according to the number required of them, regularly before the Lord. 32Thus they shall keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary and shall attend the descendants of Aaron, their kindred, for the service of the house of the Lord.”

Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.

Congregation: Thanks be to God for His Word.

Special Music     There Is a Redeemer          Dave Stith

There is a redeemer 

Jesus, God’s own son

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy one

Thank you, O my Father

For giving us your son

And leaving your spirit ’til the work on earth is done

Jesus, my redeemer

Name above all names

Precious Lamb of God, Messiah

Hope for sinners slain

Thank you, O my Father

For giving us your son

And leaving your spirit ’til the work on earth is done

When I stand in glory

I will see his face

And there I’ll serve my King forever

In that holy place

Thank you, O my Father

For giving us your son

And leaving your spirit ’til the work on earth is done

​

Children’s Sermon 

Hymn     # 384     When I Survey the Wondrous Cross          (Gray Psalter Hymnal)

New Testament Reading     Acts 6:1-7

       6 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

       7The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Sermon          Pastor Andrew Winter