Welcome

Introit | The Lord’s My Shepherd arr by E. Rogers

Call to Worship (Nehemiah 9:1, 32-33)
Leader: You are the Lord, and you alone.
People: You have made the heavens with all the starry host, the earth and all that is in it.
Leader: You are our God—the great, the mighty,
People: who keeps covenant and steadfast love.
Leader: You are righteous and faithful in all that you do,
All: Therefore we live firm in your covenant.

Hymn | “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

Prayer of Confession (unison)
You are the Lord, and you alone. You have made the heavens with all the starry host, the earth and all that is in it. You have claimed us as your own, guided us into your promises, and made known to us your commands.

Yet we, like our ancestors, are arrogant and stiff-necked. We have not obeyed your commands. We refuse to listen, and fail to remember the miracles you have performed among us. In our rebellion, we wander blindly back toward slavery to sin.

Therefore, our God—great, mighty, and awesome—remember your steadfast love. Let not our hardships seem small in your eyes, but restore us to your covenant. Amen.

Silent Prayer

Assurance of Pardon (Nehemiah 9:17b)
Leader: You are a God ready to forgive.
People: You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Leader: Therefore you have never forsaken us. By the mercies of God, we are forgiven!
All: Thanks be to God.

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.

Scripture | Nehemiah 9, selected verses

Sermon | “Rebuild to Last” - Rev.Dr. Barnabas Sprinkle

Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by 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.

Anthem | “O Rest in the Lord” by Felix Mendelssohn

Offering

Ministry Focus

Affirmation of Faith (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter VII)
The distance between God and [us] is so great, that we could never have any part of God, but by some voluntary condescension on God’s part, which he has been pleased to express by way of covenant. The first covenant made with humanity was a covenant of works, in which life was promised to Adam, and to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience. Humanity, by its Fall, having made itself incapable of life by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, commonly called the covenant of grace: in which he freely offered to sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved, and promising to give to all those that are ordained to life, his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believe.

Hymn | “A Charge to Keep I Have”

Benediction

Postlude | “Postludium” by E. Dearle