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May 24, 2020

Pilgrims Homesick for Zion

Passage: Psalms 84:1-12

Preacher: Pastor Tony Phelps

Series: Christ in the Psalms

Category: Psalms

Summary:

Reading of Law – Deuteronomy 5:1-21; Sermon Main Text - Psalm 84:1-12, OT Reading - Psalm 84:1-12, NT Reading: Hebrews 12:18-29

Detail:

 LIVING HOPE OPC ORDER OF WORSHIP - Sunday, May 24, 2020 at 10:45 AM

 

Gathering Song – Prelude

Announcements

Gospel Greeting – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Call to Worship Song – NTH 734 – Gloria Patri

Call to Worship – But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:22-24

Prayer of Adoration & Invocation

Opening Hymn – NTH 358 – For All the Saints

Reading of Law – Deuteronomy 5:1-21

Confession of Sin – Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess before you our sinful nature – prone to evil and slothful in good – and all our shortcomings and offenses against you. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. O Lord, have mercy on us, who are ashamed and sorry for all the ways in which we have displeased you. Teach us to hate our errors, cleanse us from our secret faults, and forgive our sins for the sake of your dear Son. We trust not in our works but only in the work of Christ on our behalf – because he lived for us the obedient life we fail to live, died for us the cursed death we deserve, and was raised for our justification. Dear heavenly Father, please renew us by your Spirit, that we may from now on live in your light and walk in the way of your holy commandments. Amen.

Declaration of Pardon

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Jn. 5:24

Confession of Faith – Heidelberg Catechism, Q & A 60

Leader: Christian, how are you righteous before God?

Congregation: Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, of never having kept any of them, and of still being inclined to all evil, nevertheless, without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me – if only I accept this gift with a believing heart.

Exhortation to Give – For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Cor. 9:12-15

Doxology – NTH 731

Prayer for Collection & Pastoral Prayer

Scripture Readings – OT: Psalm 84:1-12 / NT: Hebrews 12:18-29

Psalm 84:1-12 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. 3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. 6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah 9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

 

Hebrews 12:18–29 (ESV)

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

Medley

– There Is a Higher Throne (Key of E)

– When This Passing World Is Done (Key of D)

Prayer for Illumination

Sermon – An Exposition of Psalm 84: “Pilgrims Homesick for Zion”

Christ has renewed our hearts to long for the heavenly Zion:

  1. We are longing for the joy and safety of God’s blessed presence. (Psalm 84:1-4)
  2. We are strengthened by His grace on our journey home. (Psalm 84:5-8)
  3. We are happy to be beggars in His house – favored in Christ and glorified forever. (Psalm 84:9-12)

Prayer of Application

Closing Song – NTH 375 – Lord of the Worlds Above (tune: NTH 18)

Benediction – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Rom. 15:13

 

Announcements – Ministry Opportunities

  •  1. A reminder that as we are gathering now for public worship, our other ministries will continue to meet online for the foreseeable future.
  • 2. Communion Preparations – we are in the process of figuring out how to have Communion on Sunday June 7th in the safest possible way.
  • 3. This Sunday evening 5/24, the Scott’s will host a “Potluck Dinner Gathering” over Zoom at 5:30pm. This will be a time for fellowship as folks gather around their tables and have a nibble or beverage. Look for the Zoom invitation by 3:00pm on Sunday afternoon.
  • 4. Wednesday evening we will again be having our Bible Study, Prayer and Fellowship time starting at 7:00pm. Look for your Zoom invitation on Wednesday afternoon. 
  1. 5. Reminder of office hours - Tuesday, Pastor Tony’s Office Hours are 9 AM-12 PM and Thursday, 12 PM-3 PM or by appointment. Please call Pastor Tony at (401) 932-1732 for prayer or pastoral needs.
  1. 6.. We are once again participating in the Bright Hope baby bottle campaign from Mother's Day to Father's Day, June 21st. (Last week I made the mistake of saying June 14th – It is June 21st) Due to the pandemic, we will not be distributing bottles this year.  If you choose to participate, you may make and/or decorate your own container to collect change (a fun project for little ones at home!).  At the end of the collection period, simply write a check (for the amount of change) made out directly to "Bright Hope Pregnancy Center" (NOT made out to Living Hope).  Please include "Living Hope Presbyterian Church - baby bottle campaign" in memo line of check and mail by Father's Day, June 21st to:
  •   
  • Bright Hope Pregnancy Support Center
  • 1036 Hamilton St.
  • Allentown, PA 18101
  •  
  • Please let them know if you would like a receipt (they will send a receipt for donations of $5.00 and over).  If you have any questions, please email Mary Ann Truscott at
  1. 7. As mentioned in an email on Friday, we will be taking the Home Missions – Spring Offering 2020 on Sunday May 31st. We have linked all that information to the Calendar announcement on our website Calendar.
  1. 8. The Session does want to thank everyone for the wonderful outpouring of Tithes and Offering during this time. As we slowly start back to gathering, we do still have financial needs. Please continue to either mail your gifts to the Church using the PO Box or by using the Secure Online Giving Platform.