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Blended Worship

Our worship style is a blended mix of traditional with some contemporary music mixed in with a lot of bluegrass and county influence. If you play an instrument and wish to join in, then come to our 8:30 musician’s practice on Sunday Morning. We also have a choir that that you  are welcome to join. They practice on Wednesday at 8:00 PM following our 7:00 PM prayer service

We have intercessory prayer where you can bring your prayer request or your friends needs before the congregation. We always close with the Lord’s prayer.

Expect to hear a lot of Scripture Readings read by one of our Ruling Elders during the service.

We serve communion on the first Sunday of each month. All confessing Christians of any denomination in good standing are invited to the table.

Most importantly, expect to be greeted by some of the most loving people you have ever met.

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SERVICE OF WORSHIP MAY 28, 2023

 “Knowing Christ and Making Him Known”

Welcome!  This morning we continue our sermon series on the Gospel according to Mark, the shortest but most action-packed of the Four Gospels, showing how the Lord Jesus came to “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

The passage for our consideration this morning is Mark 7:24-30, and our memory verse for today is Mark 7:37b, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Welcome, Announcements, Prelude 

WE WORSHIP JESUS WHO OPENS THE EARS OF THE DEAF

Choral Call to worship:

Scripture Call to Worship                                                             Selections from Isaiah 35:3-10 (NKJ)

L:  “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted,

ALL: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”

L:  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

ALL;  A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. …  the redeemed shall walk there.

L: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads.

ALL: They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

*Opening Chorus                                                                           # 633 “Open our eyes, Lord”     

*Prayer of Invocation       

*Assurance of Pardon                                                                  2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJ)

“I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin”

Confession of Faith based on a new translation of the Apostle’s Creed

 Christian, What do you Believe?

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

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, 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, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and 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

[*”catholic” referring to the universal “one body” of Christ]

Hymn of Worship                                                               # 21 “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing”

WE PRAY TO JESUS WHO OPENS THE EARS OF THE DEAF

Sharing of Praises and Prayer Requests

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9–13 (KJV)

“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.”

WE LISTEN TO JESUS WHO OPENS THE EARS OF THE DEAF

Memory Verse for today                                                                                                   Mark 7:37b

“He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Memory Verse for May 27                                                                        Mark 8:1b-2a (NET)

“Jesus called his disciples and said to them, “I have compassion on the crowd.”

Scripture Reading Mark 7:31-37 (NKJ)

“Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.

³² Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him.

³³ And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.³⁴ Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

³⁵ Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

³⁶ Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.

³⁷ And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”“

Receiving of our Tithes and Offerings

Song of Praise  # 563 “Open My Eyes/ Ears/ Mouth”

Giving of our Tithes and Offerings                               

WE LEARN FROM WHO OPENS THE EARS OF THE DEAF

Children’s Bible Chat                                                                                                         

Children 7 and under are invited to attend the Children’s Church by leaving through the door next to the organ

Sermon on Mark 7:31-37, “Has Jesus Opened your Hears to hear and Your Tongue to Speak?

Context: Jesus returns from His only journey into Gentile regions where he had  freed a little girl of a demon (7:24-30), now He returns to Jewish territory to the Sea of Galilee where many sick were laid at His feet and He healed them, including this man who was deaf and mute:

[1] Here is Not An Unusual Condition (v. 32)

1. The condition of deafness (Lev 19:14)
2. The Condition of “difficult speech” like Moses (Exod 4:10)

[2] Here is A Most Unusual Healing (v. 33)

1. A Healing in private–why? (Mark 6:31)
2. A Healing with fingers (Exod 8:19)
3. A Healing of the tongue (1 Cor 14:9)

[3] Here is A most Unusual Prayer (34)

1. It begins with an upward look and deep sigh–wonder why?
2. Mark quotes the native language of Jesus, Aramaic
3. Do you need His prayer for opened ears (Ps 40:6)?

[4] Here is A most Unusual result (35)

1. Opened ears and “unchained” tongue! (Phil 1:14)
2. How important is it to speak rightly? (Luke 10:28)

[5] Here is A most unusual Command (36)

1. Why would Jesus command silence? (see Mark 9:9)
2. It seems we have the opposite issue today!

Closing Application:  Do you give a most unusual Response to a most unusual Person? (vs. 37; Matt 15:31)

WE SERVE JESUS WHO OPENS THE EARS OF THE DEAF

Hymn of Response                                                                        # 343 “Amazing Grace”

Invitation to Respond in Faith and Service

Benediction from Isaiah 50:4-5 (adapted from the CSB)

“The Lord GOD has given you the tongue of those who are instructed to know how to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens you each morning; He awakens your  ear to listen like those being instructed. The Lord GOD has opened Your ear!”

Chorus of Parting                          # 426 “Blest Be the Tie”

“Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;

The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.”

Postlude       As you depart, greet one another with the right hand of fellowship (Gal 2:9)