Introduction
This Lord’s Day, the last Sunday of 2020, we will resume our study of Luke. The text is a famous one, usually called the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). The next paragraph continues the Lord’s teaching on the subject of prayer.
Each year we take a Sunday at the end of January to focus on prayer—a fitting tradition that helps us face the new year with renewed focus and reliance on the Lord. This year, we take our time, slowly working through Jesus’ teaching on prayer, savoring every word. This focus will take us through the month of January. The only exception will be January 3 when we will observe the Lord’s Table.
The hymns selected for the worship service express praise to God, especially for his holiness (cf. “hallowed be your name”), and call us to pray.
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship: Psalm 92:1-4
Invocation
PROCLAMATION
Hymn 2 (alt. tune Lauda Anima 66) Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
Note: The fourth verse of this hymn prays to the Lord for help to adore the King of heaven. Woven throughout the hymn, we find motivation for such adoring worship: his saving work, graciousness, eternal constancy, patience, goodness, immutability, eternality, and sovereignty. “Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven!” is the only appropriate response.
Hymn 3 Holy, Holy, Holy
Note: This famous trinitarian hymn affirms that there is no other God but the One who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All who know him adore him (v. 4) and pray that all creation will join us in praising him (v. 4). Thus we pray, “hollowed by your name.”
Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:1-22
Note: David offers a prayer of praise to the Lord in this psalm. In the middle of it, he turns and call others to join him:
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Pastoral Prayer
Hymn (Insert): Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat
Note: John Newton’s heart-felt hymn is a prayer of confession set to a new tune by our friend, pastor Paul Hamilton.
O wondrous love! to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as I,
Might plead Thy gracious Name!
Message: Our Father Who is in Heaven
Luke 11:1-2
Pastor Steven Thomas
RESPONSE
Hymn 670 Behold the Throne of Grace!
Note: John Newton reminds us that we belong to a God “who loves to answer prayer.” He calls us and we respond,
Since ’tis the Lord’s command,
Our mouth we’ll open wide:
Lord, open Thou Thy bount’ous hand,
That we may be supplied.
Prayer Response: John Miles
Benediction: John Miles