Despair to Deliverance, God's Redemption of Suffering

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

—2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Introit                                                    Choir

“Llef”

Come, gracious Lord, descend and dwell,

By faith and love, in every breast;

 Then shall we know, and taste and feel

the joys that cannot be expressed.

 Come, fill our hearts with inward strength,

Make our enlarged souls possess,

 And learn the height, and breadth,

and length of Thine eternal love and grace.

 Now to the God whose power can do

More than our thoughts and wishes know,

 Be everlasting honors done -- by all the Church,

through Christ, His Son.  Amen.

Taken from Welsh and English Hymns and Anthems (Reformatted) © 1995 The Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, Inc., 662 Melwood Drive N.E., Warren, OH 44483.

Call to Worship*                                                               Psalm 34:19-22

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Hymn of Praise*                                                                         #660

“O God Beyond All Praising”

Invocation*

Confession of Faith                                        The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come 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.

Preparation for Confession of Sin                       Psalm 38:15-18

...for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer. For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!” For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever before me. I confess my iniquity...

Silent Confession of Sin

Corporate Confession of Sin

Assurance of Pardon                                            Psalm 103:11-12

...as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Hymn of Assurance*                                                                #552        

“From Out of the Depths I Cry, O Lord, to Thee”

Giving of Tithes and Offerings     

Prayer of Response

Scripture Reading*                      

       Psalm 25:1-5

2 Corinthians 4:7-10

Doxology*                                                                                           #733

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him all creatures here below;

Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Taken from “Trinity Hymnal Revised Edition”, ©1990 Great Commission Publications, Inc. Used by permission.

Preaching of God’s Word                                                     Lou Mattea

“Despair to Deliverance,

God’s Redemption of Suffering”

2 Corinthians 1:11

Hymn of Affirmation                                                     #159    

“O Savior, Precious Savior”

Blessing*                                                                 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Benediction*                                                                                      #730

“Benediction”

May the grace of Christ our Savior

And the Father’s boundless love,

With the Holy Spirit’s favor,

Rest upon us from above.

Thus  may we abide in union

With each other and the Lord,

And possess, in sweet communion,

Joys which earth cannot afford.

Taken from “Trinity Hymnal Revised Edition”, ©1990 Great Commission Publications, Inc. Used by permission.

Postlude*