August 9, 2020

Thanks for joining us for this week’s Home Worship!  As you gather, we invite you to take a moment to set up your space differently. Sit at your dining room table or arrange chairs in your living room.  Set out a candle, a bowl, and a small pitcher of water before you.  If you’ve gathered with a group, you can take turns reading and praying so that everyone has a chance to help lead us in worship.  The sections in bold can be read aloud together.

Q: Since then we are redeemed from our sin and misery by grace through Christ without any merit of our own, why must we do good works?
A: Because just as Christ has redeemed us with his blood he also renews us through his Holy Spirit according to his own image, so that with our whole life we may show ourselves grateful to God for his goodness and that he may be glorified through us; and further, so that we ourselves may be assured of our faith by its fruits and by our godly living may win our neighbors to Christ.
— Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 86
Q: What are good works?
A: Only those which are done out of true faith, conform to God’s law, and are done for God’s glory, and not those based on our own opinion or human tradition.
— Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 91

GATHERED BY GOD

WELCOME

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth, Amen.
-Psalm 124:8

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

LIGHTING THE CANDLE

Action: Light a candle

One:   Jesus Christ
All:     is the Light of the World. 
One:   The Light shines in the darkness
All:     and the darkness did not overcome it.

INVITATION TO WORSHIP

“Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord;
   I have no good apart from you.’
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
   you hold my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   I have a goodly heritage.
I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
   in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
   because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
-Psalm 16:1-2, 5-8

SONG OF PRAISE

“All Thy Fullness”

You are my fullness, firm and steady;
To lavish mercies, at the ready;
Despite my wand'ring, Despite my weakness
Unrelenting strength and goodness 

Holy, Holy God almighty
All thy fullness here beside me 

You are my courage, truth and wisdom
Guiding hand and purest vision
Hope in fear, joy in victory
endless song, hope and yearning 

I am breaking, you are building
I am empty, you are filling
In my silence, you are speaking
In my dying, ever living 

Holy, Holy God almighty
All Thy fullness here beside me 

Holy, Holy, Alleluia
All Thy fullness here among us

PRAYER FOR RENEWAL

“I love the Lord, for he hears my voice.
He will hear my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me
I will call on him as long as I live.”
-Psalm 116:1-2

So, we call out to together saying:
Holy and loving God, show us the fullness of your faithfulness in these unsure days. We are weary. Our trust in your steadfast love is fragile. And so, we often choose our own portion; we do not always seek your counsel; we do not keep you always before us. Forgive us, in your mercy. Spirit, come work in us, that we would trust you without exception, and serve you wholeheartedly. In your name we pray, Amen.

PROMISE OF GRACE

Action: Pour water into the bowl and remember your baptism!

“Therefore, my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
   my body also rests secure.
For you do not give me up to Sheol,
   Or let your faithful one see the Pit.
You show me the path of life.
   In your presence there is fullness of joy.
   In your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
-Psalm 16:9-11

SONG OF GRACE

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”

Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart. 

Breathe, oh, breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find thy promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty. 

Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee with thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love. 

Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love and praise.

OFFERING

We respond to the love and grace of Jesus by giving back our whole lives to God in worship. In this offering, we give our financial gifts as a symbol that all we have comes from God and is to be used for God’s glory. Even though we aren’t worshiping together, our ministry still continues!  Please continue to support us!

DOXOLOGY

May be spoken or sung

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him, above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

LISTENING TO GOD

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-18

Sermon: HESED
Pastor Andy Kadzban

DISCUSSION

What did you hear?

What are you going to do about it this week?

RESPONDING TO GOD

APOSTLES’ CREED

We join our voices together with Christians throughout the ages and across the world to proclaim these words:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

SONG OF RESPONSE

“Be at Rest (Psalm 116)”

I love the Lord, he heard my voice
He heard my cry for mercy
Because he turned his ear to me
I call upon his name
The cords of death entangled me
The anguish of the grave
When sorrow overcame my soul
I cried “O Lord please save!” 

Refrain:
You delivered my soul from death
My eyes from tears
My feet from stumbling, Lord
That I may walk before you Lord my God
As long as I shall live

O how can I repay the Lord
For all the grace he’s shown me?
I’ll lift to him salvation’s cup
And call upon his name
I’ll speak of him with every breath
I’ll do all I have promised
I’ll trust him when affliction comes
And all men let me down
Refrain

How precious in the sight of God
The death of all his saints
Now I am one of them indeed
You’ve freed me from my chains
I’ll praise you for your righteousness
Your mercy and your grace
I’ll gather with the church of God
And I will praise your name
Refrain

Be at rest, O my soul
Be at rest once more
Be at rest, O my soul
For the Lord has been good
For the Lord has been good
For the Lord has been good to you

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

I love the Lord, for he hears my voice.
He will hear my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me
I will call on him as long as I live.

Lord, we cry out on behalf of our family… 

Lord, we cry out on behalf of our neighbors and community groups…

Lord, we cry out on behalf of ours and neighboring churches, who are seeking to serve and guide spiritually and physically…

Lord, we cry out on behalf of the poor and hungry, the outcast and oppressed, for prisoners, refugees, and those differently able…

Lord, we cry out on behalf of the wealthy and full, for the privileged and entitled, for the popular and healthy…

Lord, we cry out for the sick and dying, alone in hospital rooms or unremarkable places outside of the healthcare system…

Lord, we cry out on behalf of our country’s divisive and unsure political landscape…

Lord, we cry out for a hurting and broken world…

We call upon your name: O Lord, save us!
Send us out to join in all this work of restoration and reconciliation!

Let it be that we see you bring the world into your rest. As we wait and hope, holding glimpses of such peace, we lift up the prayer that you taught us, saying,
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.
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 forever, Amen.

SENT WITH GOD’S BLESSING

May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord lift up his presence to you and give you his peace,
Now and always, Amen.
-Numbers 6:24-26

To stay connected with what’s going on at WRC, check out the following video of announcements

Our congregation is able to do what it does because of your contributions!  Even though we aren’t meeting in person during this season, you can continue to give your gifts to God.  Visit www.wyckoffreformed.org/give to set up your one-time or recurring gift online.  You’re also welcome to mail a check or set us up as an automatic payment through your bank!

Copyright Info:

“All Thy Fullness”, Words and Music: Zach Pedigo, © 2012 Zach Pedigo, Used by Permission. 

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, Words: Charles Wesley, 1747. Music: Rowland H. Prichard, 1831. Public Domain

“Be at Rest (Psalm 116)”, Words and Music: Matt Searles, © 2011 Matt Searles, Used by Permission, CCLI #2588005