SERVICE FOR
THE LORD’S DAY

May 5, 2024
The Sixth Sunday of Easter

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

Liturgist, John Lange

CALL TO WORSHIP – based on 1 Peter 1:3-5

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

People: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Leader: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

People: He has given us new life and hope.  
He has raised Jesus from the dead.

Leader: God has claimed us as his own.

People: He has brought us out of darkness.  
He has made us light to the world.

Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.

People: He is risen indeed. Alleluia! 

*OPENING HYMN #356 All Creatures of Our God and King

*OPENING PRAYER

*PRAISE SONG  As It Is In Heaven

 PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak and abuse the earth you made.

{A time of silent, personal confession}

Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen. 

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — Westminster Larger Catechism Q.174

Leader: How must we receive the Lord’s supper when it is offered?

People: In receiving the Lord’s supper when it is offered, we should reverently and attentively wait on God, as we carefully observe the sacramental elements and their administration. We should take specific notice of the Lord’s body and meditate feelingly on his death and suffering and so stir up in us a lively effect of God’s spiritual gifts. We should critically examine ourselves and be sorry for our sins. We should earnestly hunger and thirst after Christ, feeding on him by faith, drawing from his fullness, trusting in his merit, rejoicing in his love, and giving thanks for his grace. We thereby renew our covenant with God and our love for fellow believers.

ANTHEM  Part of the Plan

N. Sleeth

WORSHIPING GOD WITH OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

       Offertory 

       *Offertory Response — 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.

       *Prayer of Dedication

NEW TESTAMENT READING: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Pastor:  The Word of the Lord

People:  Thanks be to God 

SERMON: Rev. David Garrison

What We’ve Received

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you…
— 1 Corinthians 11:32

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

Words of Introduction, Invitation, Institution

Partaking of the Communion Elements

Closing

*CLOSING HYMN #531  O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

*BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE

WELCOME TO NORTHMINSTER EVANGELICAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

¹⁷   But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, ¹⁹ for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. ²⁰When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. ²¹ For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. ²² What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

²³   For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷   Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰ That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. ³¹ But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. ³² But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

³³   So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— ³⁴ if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

— 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 (ESV)