congregational prayer time god of our fathers offertory

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Daniel C. Roberts (b. Bridgehampton, Long Island, NY, 1841; d. Concord, NH, 1907) wrote this patriotic hymn in 1876 for July 4 centennial celebrations in Brandon, Vermont, where he was rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Originally entitled “God of Our Fathers,” this text was later chosen as the theme hymn for the centennial celebration of the adoption of the United States Constitution. It was published in the Protestant Episcopal Hymnal of 1892.

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER TIME FOR OUR NATION

Let us join our hearts this morning in earnest prayer for our nation.

Christians too may sing this anthem, using it to recognize the national association we have on earth but remembering that the practice of “true religion” (st. 3) transcends earthly loyalties and promotes citizenship in the kingdom of heaven.

FRANKLIN GRAHAM

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” —Psalms 11:3

We give thanks for the freedoms we have in this country To worship and seek the Lord in peace. We pray today for: Our National Leaders; Our State Leaders; Our Local Leaders And we pray that The Gospel would “take hold” of us and our nation in a mighty way, and God would grant Spiritual awakening to our lives, our church, and our nation - turning our hearts back to the Lord. We conclude with The Lord’s Prayer

GOD OF OUR FATHERS NATIONAL HYMN

I believe our nation is in trouble today, probably more than I’ve seen in my lifetime. We are contending with issues that are causing the very foundation of our country to crumble. Our moral and spiritual roots are eroding, the economy is misleading, family life is disintegrating, and political forces are at unprecedented odds. There seem to be very few leaders who will take a stand for God and for His Word. It can be tempting to believe that America has reached a point of no return. While these factors cause despair, we are reminded in Scripture that with God, nothing is impossible. No problem is too great for Him. Seasons of distress and uncertainty and hardship call for faithful, fervent prayer by God’s people and remind us of our responsibility to humble ourselves before Almighty God. We cannot expect healing to come to our nation apart from obedience to God through His Holy Word. God longs for His people to humble themselves and to seek forgiveness and pray for guidance. God’s Word says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12). The Bible commands that we repent of our sins and turn to Almighty God. And because we are confident that we serve a God of mercy and compassion, we know that He stands ready to respond to our cries out of the abundance of His divine wisdom.

Educated at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, Roberts served in the union army during the Civil War. He was ordained in the Episcopal Church as a priest in 1866 and ministered to several congregations in Vermont and Massachusetts. In 1878 he began a ministry at St. Paul Church in Concord, New Hampshire, that lasted for twenty-three years. For many years president of the New Hampshire State Historical Society, Roberts once wrote, “I remain a country parson, known only within my small world,” but his hymn “God of Our Fathers” brought him widespread recognition. Unlike many other nationalist hymns, this text keeps our focus on God. This is a Go who created the universe, who leads and governs his people, who serves as our protector, and who refreshes his people with divine love.

HOW TO PRAY FOR AMERICA

It is a crucial time for us to individually and collectively seek God’s divine intervention for the challenges facing us. We need to pray not only for our nation, but we need to pray for our leaders, for all those who govern us, that they will turn to God with humble hearts and follow Him. Our military leaders need our prayers as we have dedicated men and women serving on battlefields and sacrificing their blood to protect our nation and many innocent people around the world. God is faithful to bless those who turn to Him. Pray that as a nation we would return to God. As we call on God, let us do so by genuine faith, believing that He hears our prayers. God can heal this great land, for which our forefathers fought and died. We need spiritual renewal, we need a revival in America, and we need each and everyone to pray. Lord, Hear Our Cry! ... if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. -- 2 Chronicles 7:14

OFFERTORY PRAYER OFFERTORY

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CONGREGATIONAL GREETINGS THE MORNING SERMON

LELAND BROWN, MIDDLE SCHOOL PASTOR

BENEDICTION

361 Egypt Road Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 843.856.3222 Equipping people to pursue Jesus Christ passionately as they impact the culture. eastcooperbaptist.com

WORSHIPGUIDE

GOD OF OUR FATHERS Hymn Story

PSALM 34 for reflection

The Church in Corporate Worship Please use the following prayer to prepare your hearts for worship: PSALM 34 has all the marks of relief and gratitude for a miraculous escape. Is that where you are this morning... relieved and grateful that God has rescued you from a body of death? Then magnify Him in your worship... make Him big as you sing and read and pray and listen. Rejoice in His grace! Exalt His name with your voice, your heart, all of you... lift Him up.

JUNE 26, 2016

As we celebrate the birthday of our Nation this week, we gather today to give thanks to King Jesus for the freedom we haveto worship Him openly and with great joy.

REFLECTION

THOUGHTS FOR WORSHIP PREPARATION Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time that we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith. -- Ronald Reagan

Spend a few minutes reflecting on the Great Escape God provided for you in His Son. Ask God to transform those reflections into affections of relief and gratitude, lived out in your worship of Him this morning!

God is glorified not only by His glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it.... He that testifies his idea of God’s glory [does not] glorify God so much as he testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it. -- Jonathan Edwards

Lord, We praise You for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; including the freedom today to worship You, but above all, for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! -- Psalm 34:1-3

Amen

COVER IMAGE: The photograph of Marines raising the American flag at the summit of Mt. Suribachi during the battle for Iwo Jima has become an enduring image of bravery and heroism. We do well to remember the cost of freedom.

Come, people of the risen King, who delight to bring him praise. Come all, and tune your hearts to sing to the Morning Star of grace. From the shifting shadows of the earth we will lift our eyes to him, Where steady arms of mercy reach to gather children in. Rejoice! Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice! One heart, one voice; Oh, church of Christ, rejoice! -- Keith Getty & Stuart Townend

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

THE MORNING WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS VIDEO

THE CALL TO PRAISE

COME PEOPLE OF THE RISEN KING LEADER: Come, people of the risen King, who delight to bring him praise. Come all, and tune your hearts to sing to the Morning Star of grace. From the shifting shadows of the earth we will lift our eyes to him, Where steady arms of mercy reach to gather children in. CONGREGATION: Rejoice! Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice! One heart, one voice; oh, church of Christ, rejoice!

COME CHRISTIANS, JOIN TO SING MADRID

O WORSHIP THE KING Hymn Story

O WORSHIP THE KING LYONS

This hymn was written by Sir Robert Grant, a Scottish Anglican who, because of his father’s association with the East India Company, was born in India in 1779. Robert’s father, Charles Grant, supported Wilberforce, an early and effective opponent of slavery. Both father and son served as members of Parliament and directors of the East India Company. Robert wrote this hymn in 1833, a year before being appointed Governor of Bombay, a position that he held until his death. This hymn was inspired by a 16th century hymn by William Kethe –– a hymn that was, in turn, inspired by Psalm 104. If you read Psalm 104 alongside the words of this hymn, you will find several correspondences. For instance: –– The psalm (v. 2) speaks of God as “wrapped in light as with a garment,” and the hymn speaks of God “whose robe is the light.” –– The psalm (v. 2) says, “You stretch out the heavens like a tent,” and the hymn uses the phrase, “whose canopy space.” –– The psalm (v. 3) says, “You make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind.” The hymn says, “His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, and dark is his path on the wings of the storm.” The first two verses of the hymn celebrate God’s glory. The last two verses celebrate God’s love and providence. God’s greatness and God’s loving providence –– go together. God’s power makes it possible for him to provide for us “frail children of dust” (v. 4.).

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11

LEADER: Whom do we worship as our Lord and King?



CONGREGATION: We worship Jesus as our Lord and King, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so 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.”

PRAISE THE FATHER, PRAISE THE SON CHRIS TOMLIN

O Sovereign God, O matchless King The saints adore, the angels sing And fall before the throne of grace To You belongs the highest praise These sufferings, this passing tide Under Your wings I will abide And every enemy shall flee You are my hope and victory Praise the Father, Praise the Son Praise the Spirit, Three in One Clothed in power and in grace The name above all other names To the valley, for my soul Thy great descent has made me whole Your word my heart has welcomed home Now peace like water ever #ows Yours is the kingdom, Yours is the power, Yours is the glory Forever!