Worship Notes for Sunday, January 8, 2012
Pastor Kevin Twit is preaching from Hebrews 1 of Christ as our foundation. Our service themes this morning will focus on the idea of sanctification and justification that comes through the work of Christ. We begin with our Introit for the Season of Epiphany, O splendor of God’s Glory Bright, which reminds us that the light has indeed shown in the darkness—of the world and in our own hearts. The Call to Worship from Psalm 96 exhorts us to sing anew the song of the Lord for He is holy. We continue by singing the hymn of praise Come, Christians, Join to Sing. The New Testament Reading from I Corinthians 1 expounds boldly on the person and work of Christ as He is our “righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” The Prayer of Confession from Ephesians 4 seeks the face of God in putting on the new self that is “create after Your likeness in true righteousness and holiness.” Our following hymn, Speak O Lord, emphasizes the desire for the truth of Christ to “shape and fashion us” in His likeness that through our love and obedience, others may see the Gospel.
The Hymns for Communion reiterate the theme that true redemption is only found in Christ but though we are “weak and wounded, sick and sore,” our Savior stands ready to save us and offer us promised grace. Our final hymn, Now Unto Jehovah, calls us to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness as we “ascribe to Him glory, and render Him honor.” In essence we have come full circle from the Call to Worship—for we sing of God’s glory and holiness in redeeming and sanctifying a people for Himself having walked through the Gospel message of the foundation of Christ.
