Ever Ancient Ever New | Psalm 145: The Great, Glorious, Good, and Gracious God and King

Dear God, I cannot love You the way I want to. You are the slim crescent of a moon that I see and my self is the earth’s shadow that keeps me from seeing all the moon. The crescent is very beautiful and perhaps that is all one like I am should or could see; but what I am afraid of, dear God, is that my self shadow will grow so large that it blocks the whole moon, and that I will judge myself by the shadow that is nothing. I do not know You God because I am in the way. Please help me to push myself aside. + Flannery O'Connor 

Sermon Audio | The Great, Glorious, Good, and Gracious God and King

Sermon Scriptures | Psalm 145

Call to Worship | Matthew 6:9-10

9 Jesus said, You should pray like this:
"Our Father in heaven,
Your name be honored as holy.
10 Your Kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ... "

Father Let Your Kingdom Come
The Porter's Gate, 2017 A.D.

Hallelu! Hallelujah!
Father, let Your Kingdom come!

May the works of my hands
Bring You joy. (x4 + Chorus)

May the words from my mouth
Speak Your peace. (x4 + Chorus)

You make all things new, You make all things new,
In places we don't choose, You make all things new!
(Chorus)

You Never Change
Austin Stone Music, 2014 A.D.

Oh, may I run to no other refuge,
No other rest for my soul.
Oh, may I drink from no other fountain
Where living waters will flow.

Jesus, You’re all I need.
Jesus, You’re all I need! ...

You are my life, may You be lifted high!
There is no other like Jesus Christ!
You are my story, You’re my everything!
You are my glory, my God, and my King!
You are my rock, and You never change!

No other power can break the darkness,
No other hand that can save.
Forever faithful, Your love is stronger,
I trust in no other name!
Jesus, You’re all I need ... (Chorus)

My strength to stand, all of my days are in Your hand!
My light to see, Your glory goes before me!
My King, You reign, My Rock,
And You never change, no, You never change! (Chorus)

Faithful to the End
Paul & Hannah McClure, 2016 A.D.

We're heaven-spun creations,
His pride and adoration,
Treasures woven by His love.
His careful hands, they hold us,
Safe within His promise
Of calling and of destiny.

I will sing of all You've done,
I'll remember how far You carried me.
From beginning until the end,
You are faithful, faithful to the end.

The Father's heart that's for me,
A never-ending story
Of love that's always chasing me.
His kindness overwhelming
And hope for me unending,
He's never given up on me. (Chorus)

There wasn't a day that You weren't by my side,
There wasn't a day that You let me fall!
All of my life Your love has been true,
All of my life I will worship You! ... (Chorus)

This Glorious Grace
Austin Stone Worship, 2013 A.D.

God, I need You, I need You, I need You,
With every breath, every pulse of my heart.
Christ have mercy, have mercy, let mercy abound,
I need You, I need You now.

God, pour out Your grace, glorious grace
That I would be held by Your perfect embrace!
I am undeserving, You are high and worthy,
All of my praise for this glorious grace!

God we're longing, we're longing to see You,
In Your presence all darkness will fade.
Shine Your glory, Your glory, let glory surround,
We're longing to see You now. (Plural Chorus)

God, Your grace like rising seas
Has swallowed death and sin in me! ...

Glory to our God who saves,
Jesus Christ, our glorious grace! (Plural Chorus)

God we worship, we worship, we worship You
For Your glory, our all in all.
You are worthy, You’re worthy, You’re worthy,
We worship, we worship You.
God we need You, we need You now.

Solid Rock (My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less)
Edward Mote, 1834 A.D.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. (Chorus)

All my hope is in You! All my strength is in You!
All my peace is in You! All my life is in You!

Prayers of Confession and Assurance

One: King Jesus, You showcase the love of the Father.
Forgive us for settling for lesser loves. Turn us again
from our self-focused and self-dependent striving to
resting in Your love, and how You renew and restore ...

Congregational Prayers

One: And now we pray together, Jesus, as You taught us to pray ... 
All: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil for Thine is the
Kingdom and the power and the glory
now and forever. Amen.

Pass the Peace | In the Story of God, Jesus declared, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you" (John 14:26) during humanity's darkest, most tragic weekend of His death. And then after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, defeating evil and death, He said, "Peace be with you ... Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:21-22). Somehow, with Jesus, peace is possible even in our darkest moments. During this time, we desire to share with each other peace that passes understanding, empowered by the Spirit of Christ.

The peace of the Lord by always with you.

And also with you.

Prayers of Preparation for Eucharist

Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Prayer Asking for Jesus' Help
Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. I want to see. Please reveal to me who You are. Give me ears to hear You, and understanding for the Good News You are saying to me today. Amen.

Prayer for Communion with Jesus and Each Other

Jesus, by Your Spirit, fill us with Yourself, the true Bread and Vine. We turn to You now to unite us, strengthen us, and empower us to be Your Kingdom family of servants and witnesses together until You return and make all things new. Amen.

Eucharist | Thanking God for Communion with Christ and His Church

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 

Jesus, dying, You destroyed our death.

Rising, You restored our life.

Lord Jesus, come in glory! 

Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 1
1563 A.D.

Q. What is your only comfort and hope
in life and death?

A. That I am not my own, 1
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death, 2
to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3
He has fully paid for all my sins
with His precious blood, 4
and has set me free
from all the power of the devil. 5
He also preserves me in such a way 6
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head; 7
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation. 8
Therefore, by His Holy Spirit
He also assures me
of eternal life 9
and makes me heartily willing and ready
from now on to live for Him. 10

1. 1 Cor 6:19, 20.
2. Rom 14:7-9.
3. 1 Cor 3:23; Tit 2:14.
4. 1 Pet 1:18, 19; 1 Jn 1:7; 2:2.
5. Jn 8:34-36; Heb 2:14, 15; 1 Jn 3:8.
6. Jn 6:39, 40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess 3:3; 1 Pet 1:5.
7. Mt 10:29-31; Lk 21:16-18.
8. Rom 8:28.
9. Rom 8:15, 16; 2 Cor 1:21, 22; 5:5; Eph 1:13, 14.
10. Rom 8:14.

Benediction: 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely,
and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.

Next sermon audio + liturgy notes post: Psalm 42: The Thirst for the Living God

Emmaus City Church is a local church made up of Micro City Groups.

A Micro City Group (CG) is a growing group that begins with 3+ people – children, women, and men included – who are befriending, serving, and loving a community together in Jesus' name in Worcester. Micro CGs start small enough that people can know you and value you, but seek to grow large enough (10-30 people) to make an impact in communities throughout Worcester. Each CG gets together throughout a month (i.e. dinners, times of prayer or learning from the Story of God in the Bible, acts of service, parties, etc.) to see Worcester become a city of neighbors and friends that showcase Jesus' love and compassion to all. Those who are cautious or curious to hear and see what it means to follow Jesus are just as welcome as those who believe Jesus is Lord and God and seek to follow Him in every area of life.

Current Micro City Groups: W.R.A.P. | Fellow Travelers | YMCA | Freedom City | Westside Welcome 

To connect with one of the City Groups above, please contact info@emmauscitychurch.com

Christ is all,

Rev. Mike "Sully" Sullivan

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