ORDER OF WORSHIP
(This Online Worship will be updated each Sunday by the afternoon)
June 4, 2023
CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION
HYMN OF PRAISE Holy, Holy, Holy - Audrey Assad
THE WISDOM KEEPING by Deacon Tanya Norwood
THE RESPONSIVE READING * The Heidelberg Catechism (Questions 69-71)
(A Summary of Biblical Teachings in a Question and Answer Format… scripture verses are provided for further study)
Leader: How does holy baptism signify and seal to you that the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross benefits you?
People: In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing1 and with it gave the promise that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly His blood and Spirit wash away the impurity of my soul, that is, all my sins.2
1 Mt 28:19. 2 Mt 3:11; Mk 16:16; Jn 1:33; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3, 4; 1 Pet 3:21.
Leader: What does it mean to be washed with Christ's blood and Spirit?
People: To be washed with Christ's blood means to receive forgiveness of sins from God, through grace, because of Christ's blood, poured out for us in His sacrifice on the cross.1 To be washed with His Spirit means to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and sanctified to be members of Christ, so that more and more we become dead to sin and lead a holy and blameless life.2
1 Ezek 36:25; Zech 13:1; Eph 1:7; Heb 12:24; 1 Pet 1:2; Rev 1:5; 7:14. 2 Jn 3:5-8; Rom 6:4; 1 Cor 6:11; Col 2:11, 12.
Leader; Where has Christ promised that He will wash us with His blood and Spirit as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?
People: In the institution of baptism, where He says: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16). This promise is repeated where Scripture calls baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins (Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16).
PRAYER ( Modified from “Vocation” and used with permission from https://banneroftruth.org/us/devotional/vocation/ )
HEAVENLY FATHER, Thou hast placed me in the church which thy Son purchased by his own blood. Add grace to grace that I may live worthy of my vocation. I am a voyager across life’s ocean; Safe in heaven’s ark, may I pass through a troubled world into the harbor of eternal rest. I am a tree of the vineyard thou hast planted. Grant me not to be barren, with worthless leaves and wild grapes; Prune me of useless branches; Water me with dews of blessing. I am part of the Lamb’s bride, the church. Help me to be true, faithful, chaste, loving, pure, devoted; Let no strong affection wantonly dally with the world. May I live high above a love of things temporal, sanctified, cleansed, unblemished, hallowed by grace, thy love my fullness, thy glory my joy, thy precepts my pathway, thy cross my resting place.My heart is not always a flame of adoring love, But, resting in thy Son’s redemption, I look forward to the days of heaven, where no languor shall oppress, no iniquities chill, no mists of unbelief dim the eye, no zeal ever tires. Father, these thoughts are the stay, prop, and comfort of my soul. In Christ, I pray. Amen.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC God of Grace and God of Glory
THE SERMON The Rev. Pastor J. R. Norwood, PhD “Summoning Sinners”
Sermon Focal Text - Matthew 9:9–13 (ESV); 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Additional Scriptures Cited: Mark 2:13; Hosea 6:6; Matthew 10:1–4; Luke 5:28; 1 Corinthians 6:9–11
THE CALL TO REPENT AND BELIEVE [CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE]
THE RENDERING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS [CLICK HERE TO DONATE]
CLOSING BLESSING (2 Thessalonians. 3:16) “Now may the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”
Be Thou My Vision
This Week's Devotional Scripture Readings
June’s Theme: “God’s Saving Word - Spiritual Renewal”
Sunday: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Monday: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11
Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24
Thursday: 2 Corinthians 2:1-17
Friday: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18
Saturday: 2 Corinthians 4:1-15
Next Sunday’s Children’s Bible Memory Verse
Romans 5:8
30th Church Anniversary Video - Founder’s Day 2022
Visit Us on FaceBook - www.facebook.com/ujima.church.1
Follow Us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ujimachurch
ANNOUNCEMENTS
UJIMA VILLAGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Sunday “In-Person” Worship - 10:30AM
Sunday Online Worship Posted by 3:30PM at UjimaChurch.org
Sunday Time for Truth Classes at 12:30PM
Adult Class in the Fellowship Hall & Conference Call
Youth and Children’s Classes in 1st Floor Classroom & Lighthouse
Wednesday Prayer and Study is at 6:30PM via Conference Call
Dial-in number: (425) 436-6399 Access code: 189219#
New Members / Inquirers Class Scheduled Upon Request
Children’s Special Catechism Classes as scheduled
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR JUNE 4, 2023
FAITHFULLY PREPARING FOR YOUR FUTURE AND YOUR LEGACY a presentation on faithful financial planning on Sunday, June 11th, at 12:30PM.
WOMEN’S NIGHT OF CARING AND SHARING on June 16th at 6:30PM.
FATHER’S DAY is on June 18. There will be a special observance during the morning worship. Time for Truth Class is canceled for that day.
GRADUATES CELEBRATION on Sunday, June 25, immediately after morning worship. Please let us know your child’s school status so they can be celebrated. See 1st Lady Tanya Norwood for details.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED! VBS will be held August 2-4 beginning at 6:30PM nightly. See First Lady Norwood for information and to volunteer.
BABY BOTTLE FUNDRAISER in support of “Options for Women” pregnancy support ministry. Get a bottle, fill it with money (coins, bills, checks) and return. This will be an ongoing fundraiser sponsored by the Brotherhood of Mighty Men.
THE MIGHTY MEN’S CHOIR will rehearse after study on the 1st and 3rd Sundays.
UJIMA’S MIGHTY MEN MEET IN-PERSON & BY CONFERENCE CALL for fellowship on the first Sundays at 9:30AM in the Lighthouse Café. This is an Outreach Opportunity!
PASTOR NORWOOD’S RECENT SERMONS can be downloaded or streamed online at www.UjimaChurch.org or at www.facebook.com/RevNorwood
Upcoming Events:
Faithful Families-Thriving Communities Classes - Sundays, 7/2 - 8/2 after morning worship (free lunch and learn about nutrition and health)
Vacation Bible School - 8/2-4 at 6:30PM each evening
Upcoming Spring and Summer Workshops Being Planned
“Christian Courtship and Holy Matrimony” - Biblical Roles and Responsibilities
“The Blessing of Wise Counsel” - The Relationship Between Spiritual, Emotional, & Mental Health
“Why So Many? Which Is Best?” An Overview of Bible Translations
“The Ministry of Reconciliation” - Christian Dispute Resolution
“A Different Jesus” - The False Gospel of Cults
Upcoming 2023 Holy Days and Special Observances: Father’s Day 6/18; Blessing of the Animals 10/8; Reformation Day 10/31; All Saints Day 11/5; Advent begins 12/3; Christmas 12/25; Watchnight 12/31
A Call to Action from the Council of Trustees
During the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic the Trustees of Ujima Village Christian Church ask that you put your faith and trust in the Lord into action. The Trustees are asking all members to fulfill all of the acts of worship. Take the opportunity to respond in gratitude to the grace, love, and mercy of God.
As part of our online worship service that our Pastor has worked diligently to provide for our congregation, we remind our members to respond in gratitude and give your tithes and offering to God each Sunday. This act of worship through tithing is just like the confessing of the Apostles Creed, singing of hymns, hearing the sermon, and engaging in prayer.
Below is a list of a few Bible verses that will help you fully understand biblical stewardship. Just like in our physical Sunday worship services at Ujima we remind you of what the Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV); 6 …whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Psalm 56:12 “I must perform my vows to You, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.”
Proverbs 11:24 “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.”
Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Luke 16:11 “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth (money), who will entrust to you the true riches?”
Luke 21:1-4 “Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, ‘Truly I t tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.’”