Calvary Presbyterian Church

(WILMINGTON)

Order of Worship

Prelude / Silent Meditation

(The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him.)

Karine Bendicion

Leader: Christ is calling, inviting, urging: come and follow me!

People: Let us set aside our agendas to respond to Christ's call.

Leader: Christ offers us the opportunity to walk with Him, to come to know His heart more deeply day by day.

People: Nothing is more precious than opening our hearts to God who fills us with love.

Leader: Christ grants us the privilege of working alongside Him.

People: There is no higher call and no greater joy than making a difference in the kingdom of God.

ALL: Let us worship Jesus Christ who calls us to follow Him! Amen.

Call to Worship

Elder Arvi Cruzado

Opening Hymn #260

“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

Hymn: Martin Luther, 1529
Tune: Martin Luther, 1529

1.
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood 
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

2.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing,
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus it is He,
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

3.
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

4.
That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill, 
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

* Invocation

Father in heaven, you have called us to be yours, yet we clearly remember the times when we did not take your call seriously. We recall the dark times in our lives when we could not see your light; nor did we seek it. We remember with remorse the time when we did not recognize the full life that you offered.

Forgive us Lord. We confess we have been so full of ourselves; so impressed with our accomplishments. Forgive us when our actions show we did not need you. Take us back in. Thank you because you have never left our side. Grant us your humility so that you can use us for your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer of Confession

(A time of silence for personal reflection, to be ended with the ringing of the bell.)

Assurance of Pardon

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Open now Thy gates of beauty, Zion, let me enter there, where my soul in joyful duty waits for God who answers prayer.

REFRAIN:
God is our refuge and strength;
a present help in time of trouble.
Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though the waters roar and foam
we will not fear.
Come and behold the work of the Lord,
the awesome acts of God.
He is in the midst of His people, in all the earth.

A.
He is the Word, we are His hands,
He will lead us.
He is the air, we are His song.
We will celebrate His presence all the day long
(REFRAIN)

B.
He is the rain, we are the stone,
He will cleanse us.
He is the air, we are His song,
we will celebrate His presence all the day long.

“God is Our Refuge”
by Allen Pote

“JUSTIFIED BY FAITH”
Rev. Emmanuel G. Orendain

We believe that, from the beginning to the end of the world, and from among the whole human race, the Son of God, by his Spirit and his Word, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself, in the unity of the true faith, a congregation chosen for eternal life.

We believe the Church is an assembly of the faithful called or gathered out of the world; a communion of all saints, namely, of those who truly know and rightly worship and serve the true God in Christ the Savior, by the Word and Holy Spirit, and who by faith are partakers in all the benefits which are freely offered through Christ.

This we believe, and so we live, Amen

(The Heidelberg Catechism – selected verses)

Hymn: Ernest Shurtleff, 1888
Tune: Henry Smart, 1835

1.
Lead on, O King eternal,
The day of march has come;
Henceforth in fields on conquest
Thy tents shall be our home;
Through days of preparation
Thy grace has made us strong,
And now, O King eternal,
We lift our battle song.

2.
Lead on, O King eternal,
Till sin's fierce war shall cease,
And holiness shall whisper
The sweet amen of peace;
For not with swords' loud clashing,
Nor roll of stirring drums;
With deeds of love and mercy
The heavenly kingdom comes.

3.
Lead on, O King eternal: 
We follow, not with fears;
For gladness breaks like morning
Where'er Thy face appears;
Thy cross is lifted o'er us;
We journey in its light:
The crown awaits the conquest;
Lead on, O God of might.