Morning Worship
Silent Prayer and Apostolic Greeting
1 Corinthians 1:3
Call to Worship
Psalm 66:1-4
Hymn of Adoration
Joy to the World! (Trinity Hymnal #195)
Confession of Sin
Almighty Lord, We find great delight in your creation and the good things you have given us to enjoy, but we rarely spend time delighting in you. We tend to enjoy you when you give us what we want, but we become anxious, fretful, and angry when life is hard and you seem unwilling to rescue us from uncomfortable or painful circumstances. We spend many days haunted by guilty fears over the sins that we have committed, forgetting the wounds that will forever scar the hands of your Son, and that plead forgiveness for us every moment of everyday. We fail to bear grief and shame patiently, because we forgot that you alone are our stronghold in times of trouble, and you are working all things together for our good, Father forgive us. Cause us to find overwhelming delight in the salvation you have given us through Christ. Stir our souls to arise and shake off the fearful guilt we cling to with stubborn pride. Give us such great confidence in the gospel that we run joyfully to you in the midst of our weakness, to hear your pardoning voice. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
1 Peter 1:3-5
Confession of Faith
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets; and we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and of the life of the world to come. Amen.
Hymn of Response
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (Trinity Hymnal #196)
Prayer of Supplication & Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in 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.
Psalm
Psalm 96A (Book of Psalms for Singing)
Scripture Reading
Old Testament: Esther 8:1-9:19 (Sermon Text)
New Testament: Revelation 7:13-17
Sermon
The Great Reversal
Hymn
Thou Who Wast Rich beyond All Splendor (Trinity Hymnal #230)
Tithes and Offerings
Doxology
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.
Benediction
Jude 24-25