Liturgy (10/25)

PRELUDE – “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Josh Garrels

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Hebrews 4:14-16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God,

let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace,

that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

SONG –

“How Great Is Our God” by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves

CONFESSION OF SIN –

Merciful Lord, we confess that with us there is an abundance of sin,

but in you there is the fullness of righteousness and abundance of mercy.

We are spiritually poor,

but you are rich and in Jesus Christ came to be merciful to the poor.

Strengthen our faith and trust in you.

We are empty vessels that need to be filled; fill us.

We are weak in faith; strengthen us.

We are cold in love; warm us, and make our hearts fervent for you

that our love may go out to one another and to our neighbors.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Psalm 103:8-12

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

SONGS –

“Give us Clean Hands” by Charlie Hall

“Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me” by Citylight

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE READING – Habakkuk 1:1-17

SERMON – “Our Hope in Christ”

SONG –

“All Glory Be to Christ” by Dustin Kensrue

THE LORD’S TABLE

SONG—

“Christ is Risen” by Matt Maher

BENEDICTION

ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – “Through it All” by Sean McDonald

Addendum to The Immanuel Plan for Gathering Again

As coronavirus cases are starting to surge in Chicago (which is going to be further complicated by entering what was already the normal flu and cold season), we wanted to give more guidelines for making sure that we can safely maintain meeting together for worship and fellowship.

We want to continue being Bible directed, which involves loving our city and our neighbors by trying to prevent the spread of COVID until there’s a vaccine or treatment (i.e. Rom. 13:10). And we want to continue to be local government informed (1Pe. 2:13-17).

Recommendations:

· Please be sure to RSVP to church services early every week! This helps us to follow city limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings and also helps us know who may be exposed in case of future infections.

· During this season, if you are feeling sick please do not attend worship, even if you don’t think you have COVID. Oftentimes how people respond to a cold and COVID can be very similar.

· Please default to getting tested if you are feeling ill. If you get tested negative, other people may not have to get tested. If you are positive, however, others have the chance to get tested so they can make informed decisions on how to avoid further infecting others in the community.  If you have tested positive, please let us know here.

· We encourage you to receive the flu vaccine this year. Although influenza is less deadly than COVID-19, it is also very infectious and can confuse people with whether they have COVID or not. This can negatively impact ability to go to work, school, or other things.

· Please follow city recommendations and guidelines for travel restrictions as best as you can.

· Please follow CDC recommendations on mask wearing and hand hygiene as best as you can.

· And remember: even if you may not be in danger of serious complications from COVID, you can start a chain of infection that can ultimately infect someone who is more likely to have serious complications. Please do not see these measures merely in the context of individual protection. They are in place to also help others.

The following are two flow charts to help you think through what to do if you are directly exposed to someone with COVID or are experiencing COVID-like symptoms.

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Liturgy 10/18/2020

PRELUDE – “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Josh Garrels

WELCOME & CALL TO WORSHIP – Psalm 5:7-8

But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
    will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
    in the fear of you.
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
    because of my enemies;
    make your way straight before me.

SONG –

“How Great Thou Art” by Stuart K. Hine

CONFESSION OF SIN – Dan. 9:4-11

Let’s confess our sins together praying Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9:4-11

“O Lord, the great and awesome God, 

who keeps covenant and steadfast love 

with those who love him and keep his commandments, 

we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, 

turning aside from your commandments and rules. 

We have not listened to your servants the prophets, 

who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, 

and to all the people of the land. 

 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, 

but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, 

to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, 

those who are near and those who are far away, 

in all the lands to which you have driven them, 

because of the treachery that they have committed against you. 

To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 

To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, 

for we have rebelled against him 

and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, 

which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 

 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. 

And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God 

have been poured out upon us, 

because we have sinned against him.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Heb. 4:14-16

Hear this assurance of pardon from Heb. 4:14-16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, 

Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, 

that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

SONGS – 

“Lord I Need You”by Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, and Matt Maher

“It Is Well with My Soul” by Horatio Gates Spafford and Philip Paul Bliss

PRAYER have people sit

SCRIPTURE READING –Habakkuk 1:1-15 have people stand for the reading. End with “This is the word of the Lord.” 

SERMON (Nathan) –  “LORD What Are You Doing?”

SONG –

“Before the Throne of God Above” by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook

LORD’S TABLE – 

SONG— 

“On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand” by Edward Mote

BENEDICTION

ANNOUNCEMENTS

POSTLUDE – “Through it all” by Sean Mcdonald