Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The center of Christian worship is the cross of Jesus Christ. On Sunday, through the shadow lenses of Ezra 3:1-7, we will see how a people moved into a town to establish worship that changes lives and is consistent with the patterns God required. This is wonderful picture of how the people of God are useful in a community… They establish biblically ordered worship. And what was the first step of that worship? It was to renew blood sacrifice and rejoicing in God’s grace. This is one element of faithful church life – Gather in unity to repent of sins and trust in the shed blood of Christ. This is the essence of Christian community.

Prayer will be held at the Brown’s Barn

The Songs we will be singing are these:

O Come All Ye Faithful

Jesus, Where’er Thy People Meet

Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

I Love Thy Kingdom Lord

And Can It Be

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem!

Come and behold Him – born the King of angels

   O come let us adore Him

   O come let us adore Him

   O come let us adore Him – Christ the Lord

Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation

O sing, all ye bright hosts of heav’n above

Glory to God, all glory in the highest

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n

Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing

Jesus, Where’er Thy People Meet

http://opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=394

Jesus, where’er thy people meet,

There they behold thy mercy-seat;

Where’er they seek thee, thou art found,

And ev’ry place is hallowed ground.

For thou, within no walls confined,

Inhabitest the humble mind;

Such ever bring thee where they come,

And going, take thee to their home.

Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few,

Thy former mercies here renew;

Here to our waiting hearts proclaim

The sweetness of thy saving Name.

Here may we prove the pow’r of prayer

To strengthen faith and sweeten care,

To teach our faint desires to rise,

And bring all heav’n before our eyes.

Lord, we are few, but thou art near;

Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;

O rend the heav’ns, come quickly down,

And make a thousand hearts thine own.

Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

(tune: Angels from the Realms of Glory)

Christ is made the sure foundation,

Christ the head and cornerstone,

Chosen of the Lord and precious,

Binding all the church in one;

Holy Zion’s help forever,

And her confidence alone.

All that dedicated city,

Dearly loved of God on high,

In exultant jubilation

Pours perpetual melody;

God the One in Three adoring

In glad hymns eternally.

To this temple, where we call Thee,

Come, O Lord of hosts, today;

With Thy wonted lovingkindness

Hear Thy people as they pray;

And Thy fullest benediction

Shed within its walls alway.

Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants

What they ask of Thee to gain,

What they gain from Thee forever

With the blessed to retain,

And hereafter in Thy glory

Evermore with Thee to reign.

Laud and honor to the Father,

Laud and honor to the Son,

Laud and honor to the Spirit,

Ever Three and ever One,

One in might, and One in glory,

While unending ages run.

I Love Thy Kingdom Lord

I love Thy kingdom, Lord,

The house of Thine abode,

The church our blessed Redeemer saved

With His own precious blood.

I love Thy church, O God.

Her walls before Thee stand,

Dear as the apple of Thine eye,

And written on Thy hand.

If e’er to bless Thy sons

My voice or hands deny,

These hands let useful skills forsake,

This voice in silence die.

Should I with scoffers join

Her altars to abuse?

No! Better far my tongue were dumb,

My hand its skill should lose.

For her my tears shall fall

For her my prayers ascend,

To her my cares and toils be given

Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my highest joy

I prize her heavenly ways,

Her sweet communion, solemn vows,

Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, Thou Friend divine,

Our Savior and our King,

Thy hand from every snare and foe

Shall great deliverance bring.

Sure as Thy truth shall last,

To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield

And brighter bliss of Heaven.

And Can It Be

And can it be that I should gain

An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain;

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

He left His Father’s throne above,

So free, so infinite His grace,

Humbled Himself because of love

And bled for all His chosen race.

‘Tis mercy all, immense and free

For, O my God, it found out me.

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;

Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray –

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light.

My chains fell off; my heart was free.

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.

No condemnation now I dread

Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine

Bold I approach th’eternal throne

And claim the crown, thro’ Christ my own.

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me.