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TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
January 19, 2025
GATHERING AND PREPARING TO WORSHIP GOD
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
PRELUDE: “Rejoice! the Lord Is King” arr. Anna Laura Page
Readying Our Hearts (A time of silent prayer and reflection in preparation for worshiping God together.)
Scripture for Reflection and Memorization: Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from Psalm 145:1-3, 21)
Leader: Let us exalt our God, the King; let us praise His name for ever and ever.
People: Every day let us praise God, and extol His name for ever and ever.
Leader: For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; God’s greatness no one can fathom.
People: May our mouths continually speak in praise of the LORD. May every creature praise and worship God’s holy name for ever and ever.
PRAYER OF ADORATION/INVOCATION
*OPENING SONG: #106 “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name!”
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all;
Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all!
Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all;
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all!
O that with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all;
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all!
SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Peter 1:2-11 (Pew Bible pp. 1893-1894)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Leader: This is the word of the LORD.
People: Thanks be to God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: (Unison prayer after a time of silent personal confession.)
O Lord, who shows mercy toward all whom You have made, take away from us the guilt and punishment for our sins, and in Your mercy kindle in us the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take from us our hearts of stone, and give us hearts of flesh: hearts that love and adore You; hearts that hunger to know You and that are desirous of making You known; hearts impassioned to worship You and committed to serving You; hearts that overflow with joy in You. We ask this in Jesus’ name and for Your glory.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (adapted from Matthew 11:28-30)
Leader: In love Jesus calls out to all God’s children saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Remembering the forgiveness that’s ours through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, let us take hold of God’s forgiveness and walk in the peace and rest that is ours in Him.
*All: (Gloria Patri)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH GOD’S WORD
SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 1:3-14 (Pew Bible pp. 1817-1818)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.
Leader: This is the word of the LORD.
People: Thanks be to God.
CHILDRENS MESSAGE
ANTHEM: “Praise the One Who Makes Us One” Edwards/Trenney
Choir
SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 8:26-30 (focus verse 28; Pew Bible pp. 1757-1758)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
Leader: This is the word of the LORD.
People: Thanks be to God.
SERMON: “God’s Working for Our Good”
RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD THROUGH AFFIRMATION,
OFFERING, AND PRAYER
*SONG OF REFLECTION AND RESPONSE
“Amazed” Jared Anderson
Acoustic Worship Team
You dance over me while I am unaware.
You sing all around but I never hear a sound.
Lord I’m amazed by You;
Lord I’m amazed by You;
Lord I’m amazed by You;
How You love me.
How wide,
How deep,
How great,
Is Your love for me.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER AND OFFERING
Invitation
Affirmation of Faith: (Heidelberg Catechism Question #1)
Q#1. What is your only comfort, in life and in death?
That I belong — body and soul, in life and in death — not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of His own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that He protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit His purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Words of Institution
Partaking of the Elements and the Giving of Our Offering
“Holy Song” Ingram/Ligertwood
Acoustic Worship Team
Verse 1
What joy to know You Lord to walk within Your ways
To live beneath the shadow of Your wing
Faithful You will lead me and I won’t fear a thing
You alone my song will always be
Chorus
Holy, holy, holy,
Is the Lord God Almighty.
Worthy, worthy, worthy,
All of the earth is full of Your glory
Verse 2
What mercy to me Lord to choose me for Your own,
That You would make my heart Your dwelling place.
And when I stand in glory and we are face to face,
Surely then my song will be the same
Chorus
Holy, holy, holy,
Is the Lord God Almighty.
Worthy, worthy, worthy,
All of the earth is full of Your glory.
All of the earth is full of Your glory.
Worthy now to receive
Power and wisdom and majesty
Unto You Christ our King
Splendor and honor eternally (REPEAT)
Yours forever
Yours forever
Verse 3
What beauty to behold there before the throne
As all of earth and heaven hail the King.
The Lion and the Lamb our God the Great I Am
To You alone our song forever be,
To You alone our song forever be. (Chorus)
(For those joining with us in the Sanctuary this morning, you are invited, as you come forward to receive the Communion Elements, and as you feel so led, to place your offering in one of the plates up front. For those unable to be with us physically, you are encouraged to partake of the elements in your home at this time. Also, as you are able, we invite you to set aside your offering as an act of personal dedication at this time, either to be mailed in, dropped off at the church, or brought in when you are able to join us in worship. Let this time be one of receiving from and offering yourself up to our Lord — to the praise of His holy name.)
Prayer of Commitment
*Sung Response (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.
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION/SUPPLICATION
THE 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. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
BRINGING OUR WORSHIP INTO OUR WORLD
*CLOSING SONG: #138 “Holy God, We Praise Your Name”
Holy God, we praise Your name, Lord of all, we bow before You;
All on earth Your scepter claim, all in heaven above adore You;
Infinite Your vast domain, everlasting is Your reign.
Hark! The loud celestial hymn angel choirs above are raising;
Cherubim and seraphim in unceasing chorus praising,
Fill the heavens with sweet accord: holy, holy, holy Lord.
All apostles join the strain as Your sacred Name they hallow;
Prophets swell the glad refrain, all the white robed martyrs follow;
And from morn to set of sun, through the Church the song goes on.
Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, Three we name You;
While in essence only one, undivided God we claim You,
Then, adoring, bend the knee, while we own the mystery.
*BENEDICTION: (Hebrews 13:20-21)
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
*POSTLUDE: “If You Will Only Let God Guide You” arr. Anna Laura Page
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Note: The church’s new email address is – office@trinitychurchtroy.org. The new website address is – www.trinitychurchtroy.org.)
- If you would like to help support the work of Hope 7 in our local community, we encourage you to drop off non-perishable food items, toiletries and other hygiene items either at Trinity Church, or at Hope 7 directly (M-F 9:30-11:45), or call Sue Laz (518-892-4042) to arrange for a pick-up.
- We are receiving new or gently used clothes for the Capital City Rescue Mission (CCRM). There is a box in the narthex for donations. You may bring your items to the church or call Sue Laz to arrange for a pick-up.
- Adult Bible Study meets on Sundays before worship (9:15-10:00am). The current study is a survey of the Old Testament. We will continue to look at those Bible texts (historical and prophetic) that cover the time period between the Divided Kingdom of Israel to the fall of the Northern Kingdom at the hand of the Assyrians (931-722 BC). Our focus for Sunday, January 12 will be on the Prophets Amos, Hosea, and Jonah.
- Wednesday Evening Bible study (via Zoom). We will meet on January 15th, 2025 at 7:00pm. We will be studying Romans 8:28.
- Church “business-style” cards are available in the narthex. You are encouraged to take some to hand out as you invite others to join us in worship.
- The Annual Congregational Meeting of the Trinity Presbyterian Church of Troy, NY will be held on Sunday January 26th following the worship service. The purpose of the meeting being to:
- Review committee reports for 2024;
- Approve Pastor John’s Terms of Call for 2025;
- Review the 2025 General Fund budget;
- Elect members to serve on the Nominating Committee for 2025;
- Act on any other business or information brought before the congregation.
We will begin with a potluck luncheon and then move into the business of the annual meeting. You are encouraged to attend as we celebrate God’s faithfulness over the past year and look ahead to how God will use Trinity Church to be a blessing in the new year.