Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Prayer will be held at the Burkes.

On Sunday, Paul will be preaching from the prophesy of Malachi as we conclude our time in Ezra and prepare for Nehemiah. Malachi speaks in the time frame of Ezra and Nehemiah and we would like to understand his prophesy in the context.  Paul writes,

In the book of Ezra, we met two of the three post-exilic prophets, Haggai and Zechariah.    This week we will look at the last of these prophets, Malachi.  Likely a contemporary of Nehemiah, the people are now back in their land, the temple rebuilt and the walls restored, but something has gone terribly wrong.  

Just two generations from the completion of the temple, the “burden” of Malachi reveals that despite God’s incessant love and calls for repentance, the people’s heart was dead cold.  Unlike those who said, “Yes Lord” in Ezra, these people remain unyielding and contentious in their rebellion, instead calling God to account.  But in the midst of terrible decline, we meet a tiny remnant who feared God, loved His ways and encouraged one another.  Overall the day seems dark, but Malachi looks to the dawning of a new day, the coming of the Messiah, the “great King”, and the opening of the way of life to the Gentiles.  Indeed, His name “shall be great among the nations.”

We will be singing these songs

• To God Be the Glory
• Trust and Obey
• Reformation Hymn
• Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul
• Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus

To God Be the Glory

To God be the glory – great things He hath done!

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin 

And opened the life-gate that we may go in

   Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord! 

   Let the earth hear His voice!  

   Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord! 

   Let the people rejoice!

   O come to the Father thro’ Jesus, the Son

   And give Him the glory – great things He hath done

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood

To every believer, the promise of God

The vilest offender who truly believes

That moment from Jesus a pardon receives

Great things He hath taught us; great things He hath done

And great our rejoicing thro’ Jesus, the Son

But purer and higher and greater will be

Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see

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

   Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

   To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey

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 nor a cross

But is blest if we trust and obey

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

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet

Or we’ll 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

Reformation Hymn

We will trust God’s Word alone,

Where His perfect will is known;

Our traditions shift like sand

While His Truth forever stands.

We will live by faith alone,

Clothed in merit not our own;

All we claim is Jesus Christ

And His finished sacrifice.

   Glory be, glory be to God alone

   Through the church He redeemed and made His own.

   He has freed us, He will keep us till we’re safely home

   Glory be, glory be to God alone!

We are saved by grace alone –

Undeserved, yet freely shown;

No accomplishment on earth

Can achieve the second birth.

We will stand on Christ alone,

The unyielding Cornerstone;

Nations rage and devils roar,

Still he reigns forevermore!

   Glory be, glory be to God alone

   Through the church He redeemed and made His own.

   He has freed us, He will keep us till we’re safely home

   Glory be, glory be to God alone!

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Dear refuge of my weary soul, on Thee, when sorrows rise,

On Thee, when waves of trouble roll, my fainting hope relies.

To Thee I tell each rising grief, for Thou alone canst heal;

Thy Word can bring a sweet relief for every pain I feel.

But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail, I fear to call Thee mine;

The springs of comfort seem to fail, and all my hopes decline.

Yet gracious God, where shall I flee? Thou art my only trust;

And still my soul would cleave to Thee, though prostrate in the dust.

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face, and shall I seek in vain?

And can the ear of sov’reign grace be deaf when I complain?

No, still the ear of sov’reign grace attends the mourner’s prayer;

O may I ever find access to breathe my sorrows there.

Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat;

With humble hope attend Thy will, and wait beneath Thy feet.

Thy mercy seat is open still, here let my soul retreat;

With humble hope attend Thy will, and wait beneath Thy feet.

Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus

(tune: Jesus What a Friend for Sinners)

Hail, Thou once despised Jesus,

Hail, Thou Galilean King!

Thou didst suffer to release us:

Thou didst free salvation bring.

Hail, thou agonizing Saviour,

Bearer of our sin and shame!

By Thy merits we find favor;

Life is given through Thy name.

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed,

All our sins were on Thee laid;

By almighty love anointed,

Thou hast full atonement made:

All Thy people are forgiven

Through the virtue of Thy blood;

Opened is the gate of heaven,

Peace is made ‘twixt man and God.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory,

There for ever to abide;

All the heav’nly hosts adore Thee,

Seated at Thy Father’s side:

There for sinners Thou art pleading;

There Thou dost our place prepare;

Ever for us interceding,

Till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, pow’r, and blessing

Thou art worthy to receive:

Loudest praises without ceasing,

Meet it is for us to give.

Help, ye bright angelic spirits,

Bring your sweetest, noblest lays;

Help to sing our Saviour’s merits,

Help to chant Immanuel’s praise.