Bulletin - Sunday, September 7, 2008

Prelude Dr. Paul J. Satre, organ

“You Servants of God” (arr. Bernard Sanders); Andantino (Leon Lecocq)

Welcome and Ministry Opportunities Pastor Mark D. Pirrie

Ministry Focus New TMC Communities – Fusion and New Believers

Invocation Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer

Hymn 97 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”

Scripture Reading Philippians 3:7–14 (ESV) Larry McCarthy, Jr.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection,

and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Chorus “Jesus, Draw Me Close” (Rick Founds)

Chorus “Knowing You, Jesus” (Steve Fry)

Hymn 568 “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior”

Chorus 389 “Spirit of the Living God”

Pastoral Prayer Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer

Offertory Noelle Heber, violin

Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. post (Frédéric Chopin, arr. Nathan Milstein)

Hymn 815 “Doxology – A Word of Praise”

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below.

Praise Him, above – ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

No Looking Back

Luke 9:57–62

Pastor Bob Gunter

Chorus “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” (arr. Tim Stafford)

Statement of Faith

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried…

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,

whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, God's holy church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

(This statement of faith is adapted from The Apostles' Creed )

Communion

“There Is a Fountain” and “Jesus Paid it All” (Noelle Heber, violin)

Hymn 552 “I Am Thine, O Lord”

Fellowship Offering

Closing Prayer

Postlude “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” (arr. David N. Johnson)

This Evening at 5:00 pm, Room 107–108

Windows to Transcendence – A Series in Isaiah

A VIEW OF GOD'S HOLINESS

Isaiah 6:1–7

Pastor Eric Naus

Pastor to People

          Thanks, friends, for praying for our trustees as they give leadership to the renovations and retrofitting of our existing facilities! As I've mentioned, this is a much larger challenge than originally expected: virtually all of the plumbing and much of the electrical work in our 85-year-old building has to be replaced. And of course, our heating system is also being retrofitted. We are trusting God to bring in the needed funds for these projects.

Next week, I will continue our series The Invisible War with a message titled “The Helmet of Salvation.” Your prayers for me and the staff are deeply appreciated.

Blessings,

Pastor Lutzer