Sunday | August 16
Call to Worship Psalm 102:1-22
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry come to you!
2 Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!
3 For my days pass away like smoke,
and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is struck down like grass and has withered;
I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning
my bones cling to my flesh.
6 I am like a desert owl of the wilderness,
like an owl of the waste places;
7 I lie awake;
I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.
8 All the day my enemies taunt me;
those who deride me use my name for a curse.
9 For I eat ashes like bread
and mingle tears with my drink,
10 because of your indignation and anger;
for you have taken me up and thrown me down.
11 My days are like an evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever;
you are remembered throughout all generations.
13 You will arise and have pity on Zion;
it is the time to favor her;
the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold her stones dear
and have pity on her dust.
15 Nations will fear the name of the LORD,
and all the kings of the earth will fear your glory.
16 For the LORD builds up Zion;
he appears in his glory;
17 he regards the prayer of the destitute
and does not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD:
19 that he looked down from his holy height;
from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die,
21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD,
and in Jerusalem his praise,
22 when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.
Prayer of Invocation (In Unison)
Almighty God,
Lord of heaven and earth,
you are enthroned forever.
Your kingdom is eternal.
You reign on high.
Our Father in heaven,
you have heard our cries,
the groans of prisoners in chains to sin and death.
You inclined your ear to us and answered.
Sending your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him, you have set us free!
We praise you, Our Father.
We worship you, Eternal Son.
We honor you, Holy Spirit.
Ever three in one.
We declare your name and your praises.
Eternal Triune God.
Forever blessed. Amen.
Hymn of Praise Lead On O King Eternal
Lead on, O King eternal, the day of march has come;
henceforth in fields of conquest thy tents shall be our home:
through days of preparation thy grace has made us strong,
and now, O King eternal, we lift our battle song.
Lead on, O King eternal, till sin's fierce war shall cease,
and holiness shall whisper the sweet amen of peace;
for not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums,
but deeds of love and mercy, the heav'nly kingdom comes.
Lead on, O King eternal, we follow, not with fears;
for gladness breaks like morning where'er thy face appears;
thy cross is lifted o'er us; we journey in its light:
the crown awaits the conquest; lead on, O God of might.
Prayer of Confession (In Unison)
Almighty and most merciful God; We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed; We have not loved You with all our heart and soul, with all our mind and strength; And we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. O God forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and of Your mercy direct what we shall be; So that we may walk in the way of Your commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in Your sight; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness Colossians 1:13-14
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
You were once in the domain of darkness; under the power of sin. But God delivered you through his Son. Through Jesus, you are in the light and have received redemption, the forgiveness of your sin.
Responding in Praise 735 Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. world without end. Amen, amen.
Affirmation of Faith (In Unison) The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, 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. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there He will 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.
Collection of Tithes and Gifts
With gladness, let us present the offerings of our life and labor to the Lord as a sign of our trust in Him.
You can give financially to the church in one of the following ways:
1) Mail a check to: Covenant Presbyterian Church, 4000 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Mississippi 39211.
2) text an amount to 601-202-4203;
3) Click here to give online by credit card or directly from your bank account; (Click here for tutorial on how to give online)
Children’s Catechism Question 115
Q. What does it mean to pray ‘Hallowed be thy name?'
A. We are asking God to help us and others to respect and honor him.
Musical Offering I’ve Got Religion by Mells
Carolyn Coleman, Soprano
New Testament Reading James 1:1-4
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Old Testament Reading Exodus 5:1-23
Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” 3 Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” 5 And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” 6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, 7 “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.”
10 So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw. 11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.’” 12 So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters were urgent, saying, “Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw.” 14 And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?”
15 Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your servants like this? 16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.” 17 But he said, “You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ 18 Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks.” 19 The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, “You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day.” 20 They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh; 21 and they said to them, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
22 Then Moses turned to the LORD and said, “O Lord, why have you done evil to this people? Why did you ever send me? 23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has done evil to this people, and you have not delivered your people at all.”
Sing the Doxology 731
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heav'ly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
The Word Preached “Let My People Go” Dr. Joshua M. Cole
Hymn 672 Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word, what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but his smile quickly drives it away;
not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear,
can abide while we trust and obey. (Refrain)
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief nor a loss, not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]
But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows, and the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we will walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do, where he sends we will go,
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]
Prayer of Intercession and the Lord’s Prayer
Pray that the Holy Spirit would move mightily around the world,
opening eyes to Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Church around the world.
For Christians in Spain, Portugal, France, and the United Kingdom.
Pray for the work of missionaries around the world.
For Henry and Krystin Flowers as they prepare for ministry in Peru.
For Chris and Debbie Gibson as they minister to missionaries who are struggling.
For the work of the Outreach Foundation.
Pray for Covenant.
For patience and peace in the absence of in person fellowship with one another.
A renewed appreciation of the spiritual communion of followers of Jesus.
For Covenant Preschool — staff, teachers, and students — as the new year begins.
Pray that the Lord would stop the spread of the virus here in Mississippi.
Pray for our national leaders.
For Senators Wicker and Hyde-Smith
Pray for our state.
For Governor Reeves and our legislators.
Pray for our city.
Pray for doctors, nurses, technicians, and hospital staff in Jackson and around our state.
Pray for the ill,
the lonely,
the depressed,
the anxious.
Pray through our high priest and mediator, Jesus Christ.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
When you have specific Prayer Request call the church (601-981-7236) or send your prayer request to the pastors here: www.covenantpresjackson.org/ministries/prayer-request/
Read God’s Blessing Numbers 6:24-26
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.