Home Worship Guide

January 3, 2021

Welcome

Thank you so much for joining us! The following page will take you through the order of worship for this Sunday.

If you are new, welcome! We also want to invite you to learn more about us. You can do so by selecting the button below.
A few tips for parents:
  • Plan for your time – read through the guide and prepare the room where you are gathering
  • Make your time joyful – have fun!!!
  • Remember, it’s primarily about a relationship, not a task to scratch off
  • Have your kids participate in age and maturity appropriate ways – reading, singing, etc.

Time of Reflection

“Never let a single day pass over your head without a visit to the garden of Gethsemane, and the cross on Calvary…. [W]hen you come to Christ, you may come boldly. There is no fee required; there is no preparation necessary. You may come just as you are…. Run into his arms, poor sinner.”
~Charles Spurgeon, New Year’s Day 1860

“Because [God in Christ] loves me and He accepts me, I do not have to do things just to build up my résumé. I do not have to do things to make me look good. I can do things for the joy of doing them. I can help people to help people – not so I can feel better about myself, not so I can fill up the emptiness.”
~Timothy J. Keller, pastor in Manhattan

“Our huffing and puffing to impress God, our scrambling for brownie points, our thrashing about trying to fix ourselves while hiding our pettiness and wallowing in guilt are nauseating to God and are a flat-out denial of the gospel of grace.”
~Brennan Manning (1934-2013), Franciscan priest and author

“This is that mystery which is rich in divine grace unto sinners: wherein by a wonderful exchange, our sins are no longer ours but Christ’s; and the righteousness of Christ is not Christ’s but ours. He has emptied himself of his righteousness that he might clothe us in it, and fill us with it: and he has taken our evils upon himself that he might deliver us from them.”
~Martin Luther (1483-1546), German pastor-reformer

“We must never rest until everything inside us worships God.”
~A.W. Tozer (1897-1963), pastor and author

Opening Prayer

(select someone from your group to open your service in prayer)

Call to Worship

Psalm 90 (ESV & NASB)

LEADER: Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.

PEOPLE: Before the mountains were brought forth,
or you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

Songs & Liturgy

(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions)
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
(John Rippon, Joseph Funk, 1787)
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame will not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose.
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake
PUBLIC DOMAIN
PSALM MEDITATION: Psalm 90 (ESV & NASB)

LEADER: You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”

PEOPLE: For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

LEADER: You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:

PEOPLE: In the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

LEADER: For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.

PEOPLE: You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

LEADER: For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

PEOPLE: The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

LEADER: Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?

PEOPLE: So teach us to number our days that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.

LEADER: Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!

PEOPLE: Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Sharing

(as a lead into the Prayer Time, as a group share how you are feeling and what you are learning; below are suggested questions)

Prayer Time

(You may have an open time of prayer or select someone to pray)

  • Pray for our church’s short and long-term meeting place needs, that God would give us favor in the eyes of those in authority and that He would give us provision that would go far beyond all that we could ask or imagine.
  • Pray for our world – that the good news of Jesus Christ would flourish and that many would come to know God genuinely and personally.
  • Pray for those experiencing racial injustices; specifically, that God would bring hope, reconciliation, and restoration through the good news of His Son.
  • Pray for those in authority at every level in our country, that they would govern wisely and justly.

Listen to Sermon

“The ‘One Thing’: Seeking God with All Your Heart in 2021”
preached by Pastor Don Willeman

Song of Response

(sing as a group and/or sing along to recorded versions) 
COME BEHOLD THE WONDEROUS MYSTERY
(Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, and Michael Bleecker)
Come behold the wondrous myst’ry
In the dawning of the King.
He the theme of heaven’s praises,
Robed in frail humanity.
In our longing in our darkness,
Now the light of life has come.
Look to Christ who condescended,
Took on flesh to ransom us.

Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
He the perfect Son of Man.
In His living in His suff’ring,
Never trace nor stain of sin.
See the true and better Adam,
Come to save the hell-bound man.
Christ the great and sure fulfillment
Of the law in Him we stand.

Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
Christ the Lord upon the tree.
In the stead of ruined sinners,
Hangs the Lamb in victory.
See the price of our redemption,
See the Father’s plan unfold.
Bringing many sons to glory,
Grace unmeasured love untold.

Come behold the wondrous myst’ry,
Slain by death the God of life.
But no grave could e’er restrain Him,
Praise the Lord; He is alive!
What a foretaste of deliv’rance,
How unwavering our hope.
Christ in power resurrected,
As we will be when He comes.
©2012 Bleeker Publishing (Admin. by Michael Bleeker) CCLI #1791178

Confession of Faith

The Apostles’ Creed (circa 5th Century)

LEADER: Christian, what do you believe?

CONGREGATION: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell*.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the holy catholic** church; the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.


Amen.


*i.e. suffered under the judgment of God for His people
**i.e. “universal”

Sharing Time

(have everyone share one thing that struck them from the sermon)

Closing Meditation

Psalm 90 (ESV & NASB)

LEADER: Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.

PEOPLE: Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.


LEADER: Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

ALL: And establish for us the work of our hands;
yes, establish the work of our hands!

Benediction

(The leader or individual should read this aloud relishing in the confident assertion that Christ has conquered.)

Luke 12:29-32

LEADER: Do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

PEOPLE: Amen!

Worshipping God through Giving

God has called us to be generous. He has entrusted this earth and all that is in it to us, but it is, ultimately, His! The Father gave what was most precious to Him, His own Son, in order to die for our sins. He has given to us abundantly beyond all that we could possibly ask or imagine! He is a benevolent and generous Giver! So, we give.

First, we want to remind you to continue your regular giving to CRC. This supports the ongoing work and ministry here in the Upper Valley and around the world through our missions support. Second, please consider giving to our Benevolence Fund, which supports local community care, both inside and outside the church. This is vitally important right now! As we see needs sprouting up around the community, we want to be positioned to extend a loving hand of support to those in need.

Giving Numbers
Budgeted Giving YTD: $617,100
Actual Giving to Date: $530,196
Difference: (-$86,904)
Missions Giving YTD: $112,266
updated as of 11/30