July 19, 2020
Words of Approach
What is your only comfort in life and in death?
My only comfort is that I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death – to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the enemy. He also watches over me in such a way that not even a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
~ Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1
Prayer of Approach
Songs of Approach
Come People of the Risen King
Celebration of Baptism
(11:00 Service Only)
- Thomas Harold VanWingerden
- Ruth Elizabeth VanWingerden
Baptism Questions
For the Parents:
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- Do you acknowledge your children’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?
- Do you claim God’s covenant promises in his/her behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation, as you do for your own?
- Do you now unreservedly dedicate your children to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before them a godly example, that you will pray with and for them, that you will teach them the doctrines of our Faith, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?
For the Church:
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- Do you as a congregation undertake the responsibility of assisting these parents in the Christian nurture of this child?
Invitation to Confession
(8:30 Service Only)
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
BOLD = Congregation Response
– Silent Confession of Personal Sin & Brokenness –
Words of Grace
(8:30 Service Only)
Remember that you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in this world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. (Ephesians 2.12-13, 19)
Song of Celebration
His Mercy Is More
Prayer for God’s Protection, Provision, and Guidance
Doxology
Meditation on God’s Word
- Scripture: Mark 8.27-29
- Message: Who Do You Say I Am?
Song of Dismissal
Jesus I My Cross Have Taken
Benediction
***
NOTES
Passage Next Week:
John 6.22-40
Worship Leaders Today:
- Musicians: Isaiah Day, Timothy Seaman
- Vocals: Candy Cleary
- Liturgy: Rev. Camper Mundy, Associate Pastor
- Message: Rev. W. Dennis Griffith, Lead Pastor
- Congregational Prayer: Kathy Buhl (8:30); Isaiah Day (11am)
- Video/Sound/Tech: Tim Nargi & Jeff Field
Special Note on Supporting the Mission & Work of Grace Covenant:
Our giving is an act of worship. It is a response to who God is and to God’s grace. Giving is a way that God invites us to participate in His work. During these extraordinary times, the life and ministry of our church will continue – even when we are not all able to meet together for worship. We humbly but boldly ask the people of Grace Covenant to continue to give generously for the benefit of God’s kingdom here in Williamsburg and beyond.
You can make your gifts in any of three ways:
- Online at www.gracecovpca.org/resources/giving
- Sending your check to the church offices at 1677 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg, VA 23185
- Bringing your gifts with you to worship. We will not be passing an offering plate in our service for the foreseeable future, but an offering box is available for you to place your gift before or after each service.
If you would like to make a special gift to help those from our church and community who are in need, please write “Mercy Ministries” on the memo line of your check or select that fund when making a gift online.
Other News & Notes:
Even during this time when many are still scattered and social distancing, the ministry of Grace Covenant continues. News and notes about events and activities of Grace Covenant are all included in our weekly Grace Notes e-bulletin. If you are not receiving Grace Notes, but you would like to, please contact the church office to provide us with the e-mail to which you would like Grace Notes to be delivered: kathy@gracecovpca.org or 757-220-0147.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church 