THE MORNING DIVINE SERVICE
The Lord’s Day ~ May 12, 2013 ~ 9:30am
Rev. Michael Brown, preaching and leading worship
* Indicates standing if you are able
CALL TO WORSHIP
*INVOCATION
* GOD’S GREETING
* SONG OF PRAISE
(#321) “O Day of Rest and Gladness”
READING OF THE LAW
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
DECLARATION OF PARDON
DOXOLOGY
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Apostles’ Creed
PASTORAL PRAYER
OFFERING
*SONG OF PREPARATION
(#222) Psalm 111: “O Give the Lord, Whole-hearted Praise”
*PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 13.10–17
SERMON
“You are Freed”
PRAYER OF APPLICATION
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
* SONG OF RESPONSE
(TH #455) “And Can It Be That I Should Gain”
* GOD’S BENEDICTION
THE EVENING DIVINE SERVICE
The Nineteenth Lord’s Day of 2013 ~ 6:00pm
Rev. Michael Brown, leading worship and preaching
Mr. Jordan Huff, leading prayer
CALL TO WORSHIP
* INVOCATION
* GOD’S SALUTATION
* GLORIA PATRI
* SONG OF PRAISE
(#187) Psalm 96: “Sing to the Lord, Sing His Praise”
* CONFESSION OF FAITH
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 19
EVENING PRAYER
OFFERING
* SONG OF PREPARATION
(#135) Psalm 72: “Christ Shall Have Dominion”
*PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READING
Joshua 6
SERMON
“He Shall Come to Judge the Living and the Dead”
PRAYER OF APPLICATION
* SONG OF RESPONSE
“When Peace, Like a River”
* GOD’S BENEDICTION
Dear Vasil,
I’m encouraged to hear that the term is used in Macedonia. May God equip you to help others understand the proper interpretation. As you said, it is a different way of understanding the worship service.
Every blessing to you in 2013!
Mike
Mr. Brown,
thank you for the answer! In Macedonia, we also use the same wording (like the original “Gottesdienst”) but it’s often interpreted as “we come to serve God” and not in a way that “God serves us.” It’s a whole new way of understanding… and thanks be to God for His service!
May God bless you even more tonight!
Vasil
Hi Christine,
The term “Divine Service” is much older than CURC. It was used frequently in the Protestant Reformation during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to emphasize that God is the primary actor in worship, serving his people with Word and sacrament. The main reason God calls us to worship (and thus the main reason we go) is not for us to serve but to be served by God. The same Lord who once laid aside his outer garments and stooped down to wash the feet of his disciples is the same Lord who condescends to us every Lord’s Day to serve us and feed our souls with the nourishment of the Gospel. Our worship of God is the response to his serving us every week. Thus, it is a *Divine* service, and not *our* service.
Why do you name your church services Divine? This sounds odd and somewhat mystical. Please explain.
Thanks so much