Welcome! This morning we will be celebrating the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. If you have not professed faith in Christ or if you are hearing the gospel for the first time, though you will not be partaking of the sacrament, it is our privilege to welcome you here. Perhaps what you experience will raise questions for you. After the service, we will be eager to talk with you further about the joy of our life in Christ and the significance of this celebration in our life together. If you have professed faith in Jesus Christ, we are honored to be worshipping with you this morning!

Hearing devices are available in the Narthex. Please sign the attendance register located at the end of each pew.

GATHERING

GATHERING SONG Let Us Go! Psalm 100:2, 4; 122:1 Walt Harrah

*CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Beau Sullivan

Pastor: Sing to the Lord a new song;

People: Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Pastor: Sing to the Lord, praise his name;

All: Proclaim his salvation day after day.

*Come Christians, Join to Sing

Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen!

Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen!

Let all, with heart and voice, before His throne rejoice;

Praise is His gracious choice. Alleluia! Amen!

Come, lift your hearts on high, Alleluia! Amen!

Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!

He is our Guide and Friend; to us He'll condescend;

His love shall never end. Alleluia! Amen!

Praise yet our Christ again, Alleluia! Amen!

Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!

On heaven's blissful shore, His goodness we'll adore,

Singing forevermore, "Alleluia! Amen!"

*This Is Amazing Grace

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness whose love is mighty and so much stronger

The King of Glory the King above all kings who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder

Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder the King of Glory the King above all kings

This is amazing grace This is unfailing love

That You would take my place That You would bear my cross

You laid down Your life That I would be set free

Oh Jesus I sing for all that You've done for me

Who brings our chaos back into order who makes the orphan a son and daughter

The King of Glory the King of Glory who rules the nations with truth and justice

Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance the King of Glory the King above all kings

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Worthy is the King who conquered the grave

Worthy worthy worthy

This Is Amazing Grace by Jeremy Riddle, Josh Farro, and Phil Wickham © 2012 Phil Wickham Music. used by Permission CCLI License # 11081661

Longview Evangelical Presbyterian Church Longview EPC is a faith family walking together to know Christ and to

make him known by engaging in dynamic worship, pursuing spiritual

wisdom, investing in deep relationships, and affecting social renewal.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2016

* PRAYER OF ADORATION Rev. Shelley Kral

SONG OF INVOCATION *Speak O Lord

Speak O Lord as we come to You to receive the food of Your holy word

Take Your truth plant it deep in us shape and fashion us in Your likeness

That the light of Christ might be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith

Speak O Lord and fulfill in us all Your purposes for Your glory

Teach us Lord full obedience holy reverence true humility

Test our thoughts and our attitudes in the radiance of Your purity

Cause our faith to rise cause our eyes to see Your majestic love and authority

Words of power that can never fail let their truth prevail over unbelief Speak O Lord © 2005 Thankyou Music Keith Getty | Stuart Townend CCLI License No. 11081661

SERMON LESSON Malachi 1:6-14 Rev. Doug Ashley

SERMON “Identity Check: Dynamic Worship—Truth for Life”

THE LORD’S SUPPER

Invitation

Those who have placed their trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior are invited to participate in the Lord’s

Supper. If you have not yet done so, this time is still for you. Rather than coming forward to take the

elements, please remain seated and contemplate taking Christ himself. The prayers that follow are

supplied for your meditation.**

Prayer for Those Searching for Truth. Lord Jesus, you claim to be the way, the truth

and the life. Grant that I might be undaunted by the cost of following you as I consider the

reasons for doing so. If what you claim is true, please guide me, teach me, and open me to

the reality of who you are. Give me an understanding of you that is coherent, convincing

and that leads to the life you promise. Amen.

Prayer of Belief. Lord Jesus Christ, I admit that I am weaker and more sinful than I ever

dared admit, but through you I am more loved and accepted than I ever dared hope. I thank

you for paying my debt on the cross, taking what I deserved in order to offer me complete

forgiveness. Knowing that you have been raised from the dead, I turn from my sins and re-

ceive you as my Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayer of Commitment. Lord Jesus, you have called us to follow you in baptism and in

a life of committed discipleship through membership in your church. Grant that I may take

the necessary steps to be one with your people, and live in the fullness of your Spir-

it. Amen. **Prayers from Redeemer Presbyterian Church of New York City

Prayer of Confession

Heavenly Father, in your holy goodness you “defend the weak” and “uphold the

cause of the poor.” You even sent Jesus to “proclaim good news to the poor.” Yet in

our unholy carelessness, we let the poor struggle on their own. Whether they are

spiritually poor or materially poor, we leave them alone: not candidly seeing them,

not deeply caring for them, seldom asking about them. Holy One, convict us and

correct us. Forgive us and restore us. Make us more than we are. Make us like

you. In Jesus' compassionate name we pray. Amen.

Foundation of Sunday Morning Worship. Every person worships; meaning every person ascribes ultimate value to something. Every person has someone or something that deeply affects their emotions, that radically orients their thoughts, that primarily controls their decisions. The difference between people is not whether they worship, but what they worship. Depending on what you worship, you are living in eternal reality or temporal illusion. Depending on what you worship, life is experienced as fractured or as whole. Depending on what you worship, you are headed down a path of destruction or a path of healing. Thus a central theme of the Bible is that all creation should worship the one, true, God. As worship theologian Zac Hicks writes: “That God should be worshiped is His Divine command to all creation, and it is thus the goal and end of all existence. Therefore worship involves all of life; nothing said, thought or done is out of the realm of the worship of God. Worship, for believers, is then not only an act engaged in on Sunday mornings. It is a way of life.”

With that said, corporate worship is a

gift from God. It a consistent call to re-

orient a people prone to distorted,

destructive worship back to distinct,

constructive worship. As Exodus

repeatedly makes clear, God’s people

are redeemed in order to gather in

worship of him (e.g. Ex 5:1, 10:7-

11). Jesus underscores this purpose

in John 4 and the New Testament

authors tell us in various ways to “not

neglect meeting together” (Heb 10:25,

1 Pe 2:9-10). Likewise Scripture

teaches that while expressions of

salvation in Christ, such as affecting

social renewal through word and

mercy ministries, will one day cease -

worship will remain forever (e.g. Rev

21:1ff, 22:3)!

PROCLAIMING

Words of Institution

Distribution of Elements

Music for The Lord’s Supper Carried to the Table Leeland Mooring, Marc Byrd,

Steve Hindalong

Prayer of Thanksgiving and The Lord’s Prayer Rev. Shelley Kral

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.

*Passing of the Peace

The Peace of the Earth Guatemalan folk tune arr. John Bell

The peace of the earth be with you, the peace of the heavens too;

The peace of the rivers be with you, the peace of the oceans too,

Deep peace falling over you. God’s peace growing in you. Iona Community Text: Translated by Christine Carson; Christine Carson and Wild Goose Resource Group, GIA Publications OneLicense.net A-723019

THE LORD AT WORK THROUGH LONGVIEW EPC Rev. Beau Sullivan

*Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee:

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessing all mine, with ten thousands beside!

FAITHFULNESS, Words, Thomas Chisholm, 1923, Music, William Runyan, 1923. Copyright 1923, 1951 Hope Publishing. Used by permission CCLI #11081661

*BENEDICTION Rev. Doug Ashley

*POSTLUDE Let Us Go! (Reprise)

*Please stand as able

SENDING

Lead Pastor Rev. Doug Ashley

Associate Pastor Rev. Shelley Kral

Assistant Pastor Rev. Beau Sullivan

Director of Children’s Ministry Emily Holloway

Director of Music Ministry Tim Konvalin

Director of Youth Ministry Jason Hubbard

Administrator Suzi White

Longview Evangelical Presbyterian Church

info@epclongview.org

longviewepc.org

Phone: 903-234-0032

Guest Wi-Fi:

username: EPCL2

password: Guestttt

Worship 9:30

Sunday School 10:45 3800 Judson Road

Longview, TX 75605

TODAY: Worship with the Lord’s Supper; potluck lunch

immediately following worship. Please stay—all are wel-

come! There is always plenty of food.

MEALS ON WHEELS DRIVERS NEEDED: The sec-

ond Friday of the month at 9:30 a.m. is now available as well

as the fourth Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Please contact Terrye

Hudson at tmhud5@yahoo.com or 903-720-5325 if you can

fill this urgent need. Substitute drivers are needed too.

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS: Sunday, September 4—Infants: Daniel & Jenny Bond;

Toddlers: Mariana Sullivan & Jenny Hubbard

Sunday, September 11—Infants: Liz & Chad Johnson;

Toddlers: Cindy Brelsford & Glenda Bays

In Essentials, Unity In Non-Essentials, Liberty

In All Things, Charity

NEW TO LONGVIEW EPC?

Tithes and Offerings are received through the wooden box-

es found at each entrance to the sanctuary, or checks

mailed to the office, and electronically via the website.

The website also offers a credit/debit card option.

Prayer Ministry: Confidential prayer requests may be made

by emailing prayerteam@epclongview.org or by using the

cards located in the attendance registers. September prayer

calendars are available in the narthex.

Sermons and bulletins: available on the website:

longviewepc.org posted weekly on Monday.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY INFO: All Children’s Ministry Volunteer Training

Any one working with our kids this fall, and those of you

who are interested in learning more about our Children’s

program, please join us Wednesday, September 7th, from

6:00-7:00 p.m. We will share general policy info and tips

on working with kids, along with specific training for

Sunday School teachers and Pioneer Clubs leaders.

Sunday’S Cool!

It is Cool to teach Sunday School! EPC Kids are still

looking for a few teachers this year. We need 3 leaders to

commit to teaching 2 Sundays each month for our 1st/2nd

grade and our 4th /5th grade classes. Thank you for pray-

ing about and considering this call.

HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR ALL: Sunday morning parking is always available on the Summit

Club parking lot in addition to handicapped, visitor, and reg-

ular parking on our own lot.

Church directories were mailed on July 31 to each household

in our faith family. If you have not yet received your copy,

please contact the church office.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Monday, Sept. 5, Labor Day, church office closed

Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 6 pm - 7 pm

All Children’s Ministry Volunteer Training

Next Sunday, September 11, Sunday School begins

Wednesday, September 14—Children’s Choir, Pioneer

Clubs, Youth Bible studies, and Confirmation Class

all begin

Saturday, September 24—Walk to End Alzheimer’s;

2 church members have teams—”Band Together for

Byron” (Byron Horne) and “Team Char-

lotte” (Charlotte Poole)