SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY

October 5, 2025

The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

MINUTE FOR MISSION            John Lange, Nominating Committee

PRELUDE

Liturgist, John Lange

CALL TO WORSHIP – Revelation 15:3-4

Leader: Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.

People: Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.

Leader: Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?

People: For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you.

*OPENING HYMN #262 Rejoice, The Lord is King

*OPENING PRAYER

*PRAISE SONG 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

O Lord our God, you have searched us and known us. You know not only what we say, but also what we think. You know not only what we say, but also what we almost said. You know how quickly our thoughts rise to praise ourselves because we are well-off or good-looking or healthy or smart, boasting of your gifts as if they were our accomplishments. You know how slowly our thoughts sink to accuse ourselves even when we have turned our backs on you, fascinating ourselves with alien gods whose calling we heed while ignoring your own. Quickly boasting, slowly accusing, truly we need to repent. O God, forgive, correct, and heal us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — Westminster Confession of Faith 18.4

We believe that the assurance true believers have of their salvation may be shaken, lessened, or interrupted for various reasons: from neglecting to preserve it; from committing some particular sin, which wounds the conscience and grieves the Spirit; from some sudden or strong temptation; or from God’s withdrawing the sense of his presence and allowing them to walk in darkness. Nevertheless, they are never completely without God’s seed, the life of faith, the love of Christ and of other believers, and the sincere heart and obedient conscience, out of which the Spirit may revive this assurance in due time and by which they are in the meantime kept from complete despair.  Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC

WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

       Offertory 

       *Offertory Response — Doxology #808

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.

       *Prayer of Dedication

NEW TESTAMENT READING: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

GOSPEL READING: John 16:16-24

Pastor:  The Word of the Lord

People:  Thanks be to God

SERMON: Rev. David Garrison

JOY INVINCIBLE

Series: A Life That Shines

Rejoice always. — 1 Thessalonians 5:16

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Words of Introduction, Invitation, Institution

Partaking of the Communion Elements

Closing

*CLOSING HYMN #514 Blessed Assurance

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE 

WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies, ²¹ but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.

— 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (ESV)

¹⁶   “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷ So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” ¹⁹ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ²¹ When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²² So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ²³ In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

— John 16:16-24 (ESV)