PROVIDENCE CHURCH
August 8, 2021

Welcome

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ.
The peace of Christ be with you! And also with you!

Moment for Missions

Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Call to Worship: Isaiah 40:1-5

Leader: Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
People: Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is
accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned:
Leader: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins.
People: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Leader: Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
People: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Leader: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together:
ALL: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.!

Songs of Praise:
Come, Let Us Worship (Fernando Ortega, 2006 CCLI Song #4854735)
Come, let us worship and bow down, and kneel before the Lord, our Maker;
Come, let us worship and bow down, and kneel before the Lord, our Maker. (2X)
He is our God, He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.
He is our God, He is our God, and we are the sheep of his hand.

Come, let us worship and bow down, and kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
Come, let us worship and bow down, and kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
He is our God, He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.
He is our God, He is our God, and we are the sheep of his hand.
Worship the Lord in holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe.
He will come to judge the world in righteousness and truth…
He is our God, He is our God, and we are the people of his pasture.
He is our God, He is our God, and we are the sheep of his hand. (2X)
Come, let us worship and bow down, and kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
Waiting Here for You (Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Martin Smith, 2011 CCLI #5925663)
If faith can move the mountains, let the mountains move.
We come with expectation, waiting here for you. (2X)
Chorus: Waiting here for you, with our hands lifted high in praise.
And it’s you, we adore, singing Al-le-lu-ia.
You’re the Lord of all Creation, and still you know my heart.
You’re the Author of salvation, you’ve loved us from the start. (Chorus)
You are everything you’ve promised, your faithfulness is true.
We’re desperate for your presence; all we need is you. (Chorus X2)
All for Jesus (Mary James, 1889; tune John Stainer, 1887)
1.All for Jesus! All for Jesus! All my being’s ransomed powers,
All my thoughts and words and doings, all my days and all my hours.
2.Let my hands perform his bidding, let my feet run in his ways;
Let my eyes see Jesus only, let my lips speak forth his praise.
3.Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus, I’ve lost sight of all beside;
So enchained my spirit’s vision, looking at the Crucified.
4.O what wonder! How amazing! Jesus, glorious King of kings,
Deigns to call me his beloved, lets me rest beneath his wings.
Confession/Assurance
Respond in Praise:

Wonderful, Merciful Savior (Eric Wyse & Dawn Rodgers, 1989 CCLI #106879)
Wonderful, merciful Savior, precious Redeemer and Friend,
Who would have thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men?
Oh you rescue the souls of men.
Counselor, Comforter, Keeper, Spirit we long to embrace,
You offer hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost our way,
Oh, we’ve hopelessly lost the way.
Chorus: You are the One that we praise,
You are the One we adore,
You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for,
Oh, our hearts always hunger for.
3.Almighty, Infinite Father, faithfully loving your own,
Here in our weakness you find us, falling before your Throne,
Oh we’re falling before your Throne. (Chorus 2X)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:1-19
Messengers from John the Baptist
11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to
teach and preach in their cities.
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his
disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive
their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are
raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is
not offended by me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you
go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out
to see? A man[b] dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in
kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than
a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than
John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered
violence,[d] and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law
prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15
He who has ears to hear,let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the
marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son
of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a
friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God!
Sermon: “Jesus Friend of Sinners”
Hymn of Dedication
You Will Keep in Perfect Peace (Renee Allsbrook)
You will keep in perfect peace
Those who trust in You;
All whose minds are fixed on You,
You fill with hope and truth.
Peeling off old habits dim:
Deceit and pride and greed,
We stand forgiven, shining bright
In Christ’s humility.
Chorus:
We will fix our minds on You,
Tie our hearts to things above,
As the life of Christ comes flooding into
The way we live and love.
Words of blessing fill our mouths
As manna we consume;
Peace replaces fearfulness

Where thankful flowers bloom.
Anchor ‘neath the raging sea,
Solid rock ‘neath mud:
Our God is working everything
Together for our good. (Chorus)
Every joy and sorrow here,
Each sunrise, every storm
Is seen through eyes forever changed
By gazing at the Lord. (Chorus 2X)

Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be 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.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil:
for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Amen
Hymn of Thanksgiving
Blessed Assurance (Fanny Crosby, 1873; tune Phoebe Knapp, 1873)
1.Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Chorus:
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
2.Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Chorus)
3.Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Chorus 2X)

Benediction

KNOW
Welcome to Providence Church! We are glad that you are here, joining us in person or via Zoom!.
Sunday School: Adult and Youth Sunday School is at 11:15. Paula is doing a study in Acts. Will/Christina are
leading a study of The Risen Lord for couples/singles. Bill/Jerry are leading the Youth SS in a classic book by CS
Lewis.
Fellowship Time: Between the end of our worship service and before SS, please enjoy coffee and snacks and
conversation in the Fellowship Hall.
Children of all ages are invited to participate in the entire service of worship. We will have
childcare for children up to 6 years of age, in our downstairs Christian Ed wing (on the left) at the end of the
hallway.
Tithes and Gifts: An offering plate is not passed during the service. Plates for your tithes and
offerings are located at the back of the sanctuary. If you are joining us via Zoom, your tithes and gifts can be mailed
to P.O. Box 65, Clyde. We thank you for your prayerful financial support for
our church.
GROW
Pastor Bible Study – PLEASE NOTE NO STUDY THIS TUESDAY(8-10)
UPCOMING NEW WED. NIGHT BIBLE STUDY!!! Beginning Sept 8, we will begin a new Wednesday night Bible
Study at 6:30pm until 8pm for both men and women. The study will be on the book of Philippians. Our desire for
Providence is to have a line-by-line Scripture based study. We will have a potluck at 5:30 for the first study on Sept.
8. If you are interested in joining us for this time of learning and fellowship, please let Glenda Brouwer know at
glendajbrouwer@gmail.com or 828-713-6115. Childcare will be provided if needed.
Would you like to grow in the joy and work of prayer? Join our women on Tuesday mornings at 10:15am or our
men on Thursday mornings at 6:45am. These seasons of weekly prayer are rich in fellowship and in prayers. Want
to know more about Women's Prayer? Contact Linda Roberts. Want to know more about Men’s Prayer? Contact
Sam Mitchell.
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GO
Open Door Soup Kitchen: This is an ongoing commitment of Providence Church to the least, the last, the lost and
the lonely of our community. While Open Door is no longer able to serve meals, we are still volunteering to cook
the meals on the first Friday of each month. If you can serve in this way, please let Linda Wilson know at 901-230-
7178. Thanks for your faithfulness.
Bible in our Public Schools: we have the privilege to be involved with a Bible Club program in our local schools. We don't
know if clubs will be allowed to start yet this Fall, but pray that this opportunity may continue on in God's perfect timing.
Prayer Requests: Healing: Melanie (Mike and Rhonda’s daughter), Jill Lear, Lisa Rhodarmer; Judd and
Susanne Harriot, Robbie Hargrove, Chuck & Carole Torpy; Glenn & Laura Glad; Thom Morgan’s mother;
Lisa Rhodarmer’s brother Michael – cancer; Sarah Altman’s brother-in-law Dan