Grace Gathering: 6.04.06

Grace Church of Columbia - Grace Gathering
Sunday, June 4th, 2006 10:00 am

Call to Worship
Isaiah 40:21-26

Opening Song
The Glories of Calvary Grace Church (Steve & Vikki Cook)

Confession of Sin/Assurance of Pardon
Silent Prayer of Confession
And Can It Be? (v. 4, read)

Song of Prayer
Lift Up Thy Bleeding Hand (Cecil Alexander, Andrew Osenga)

Confession of Our Common Faith
The Eternal Purposes of God (Bethlehem Elder Affirmation) God’s Eternal Purpose and Election
We believe that God, from all eternity, in order to display the full extent of His glory for the eternal and ever-increasing enjoyment of all who love Him, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His will, freely and unchangeably ordain and foreknow whatever comes to pass.
We believe that God upholds and governs all things – from galaxies to subatomic particles, from the forces of nature to the movements of nations, and from the public plans of politicians to the secret acts of solitary persons – all in accord with His eternal, all-wise purposes to glorify Himself, yet in such a way that He never sins, nor ever condemns a person unjustly; but that His ordaining and governing all things is compatible with the moral accountability of all persons created in His image.
We believe that God’s election is an unconditional act of free grace which was given through His Son Christ Jesus before the world began. By this act God chose, before the foundation of the world, those who would be delivered from bondage to sin and brought to repentance and saving faith in His Son Christ Jesus.

Song of Thanksgiving
Father, Long Before Creation (Francis Jones, Andrew Osenga)

Song of Prayer
One Pure and Holy Passion (Mark Altrogge)

Scripture Reading
Exodus 14:30-15:21

Song of Prayer
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (Robert Robinson)

Offering
Offering Prayer
Receiving the Offering
Lift Up Thy Bleeding Hand (Cecil Alexander, Andrew Osenga)

Message
Grace Church at One Year: Grabbing On and Not Letting Go of the Rope

Lord's Supper
Invitation to the Table of our Lord
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us (Stuart Townend)
Serving the Bread and the Cup
The Bread and the Cup

Community Life
Announcements
Sharing and Praying

Song of Thanksgiving
See What A Morning (Resurrection Hymn) (Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)

Benediction
Benediction: Exodus
Now may the God that rescued His people Israel in the Exodus and has saved us, His new Israel, through the New Exodus in Christ, make us a people who will profoundly experience and passionately proclaim the freedom of our Lord's grace here in our great city. Amen.

I'm Still Alive, If Only a Little Distracted

Hey brothers, I apologize for my failure to post for awhile. I've been a little distracted by some big changes. You know this, but our readers don't--On June 1, I officially began as pastor of Northbrook Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. My first Sunday preaching will be June 11 (this coming Sunday). I'd appreciate you prayers during this busy summer as I begin a new ministry, look to sell and buy a house, and as Jenny gives birth to our third child in August.

Teaching Doctrine Through Song

There was a heretic in church history who taught that Christ was a created being. He spread his error through song. The children would skip through the city streets singing, "There once was was when he was not."

I was reminded of the power of song to teach (and defend) right doctrine yesterday when I received this e-mail regarding my text, He is Altogether Lovely:

Mr. Schumacher,
I just wanted to encourage you to keep writing. Just the other day I was talking with 2 Morman missionary girls about the deity of Christ and how the person they call "Jesus Christ" is not at all the Jesus Christ of the Holy Scriptures . The words you penned (scripture shining through song) quickly came to mind and aided me as I proclaimed to them the deity of Christ. After a short conversation, they insisted that they could no longer stay and talk about this any longer as scripture clearly revealed Christ's deity. All that said, I just wanted to say thank you for your service to the kingdom.

Grace Gathering: 5/28/06

Grace Church of Columbia - Grace Gathering
Sunday, May 28th, 2006 10:00 am

Call to Worship
Psalm 96

Opening Song
And Can it Be? (Scott Roley/Charles Wesley)

Confession of Sin/Assurance of Pardon
Confession of Sin 2.2.68 from The Worship Sourcebook
Leader: God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God's People: But we have defiled our hearts with idols of our own choosing, doubting thatGod will keep his Word and his promises. We continually compromise the truth by trying to find meaning and security in our jobs, our friends, our pleasures, our projects—but not in God.
Leader: Lord, please show us your mercy.
God's People: Lord, have mercy upon us in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
1 John 1:9

Songs of Worship
I Will Glory in My Redeemer (Steve & Vikki Cook)
Better is One Day (Matt Redman)

Confession of Our Common Faith
Westminster Shorter Catechism Q37 & 38
Leader: Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
God's People: A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united in Christ, do rest in their graves, till the resurrection.
Leader: Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
God's People: A. At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.

Song of Prayer
Give Us Clean Hands (Charlie Hall)

Scripture Reading
Hebrews 10:1-25

Song of Meditation
The Gospel Song (Drew Jones and Bob Kauflin)

Offering
Offering Prayer
Give Us Clean Hands (instrumental)

Message: Matthew 5:8
Lord's Supper
Invitation to the Table of our Lord
Jesus, Cast a Look On Me (John Berridge, Matthew Perryman Jones)
The Bread and the Cup

Community Life
Announcements
Sharing and Praying

Song of Thanksgiving
How Great Thou Art (Stuart K. Hine)

Benediction
Jude 24-25