First Orthodox Presbyterian Church
--PERKASIE, PENNSYLVANIA--

"Amazing grace,

how sweet the sound,

that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found,

was blind, but now I see."

--John Newton.

 

Join Us for Great Fellowship and Joyful Worship

 

Our morning worship service is a traditional, reformed worship service. We worship the one God who eternally exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This one God knows us fully and completely, and has sovereignly called us into his presence for worship each Lord's day. Our focus is on the transcendent glory of our infinitely personal Creator and Redeemer, whom we approach through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit.

 

Our worship is a revelation of the God of grace, who does not treat us as our sins deserve, but freely receives all who repent of their sins and trust in his word. His amazing grace is seen in the gift of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, who in humility took on our humanity, and in that humanity he bled and died for the sins of his people. His sacrificial death fully atoned for all of their sin, eliminating the need for any further sacrifices or offerings for sin. What is more, his perfect righteousness has been credited to all who believe on him, so that they may enter the presence of the Father boldly in worship, knowing that in Christ they are now made perfect, even as their Father in heaven is perfect. We now live in hope of the glory of God, and await eagerly the revelation of his Son from heaven.

 

Our worship is spiritual and true, as we worship in the simplicity and purity of God's word and Spirit. The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament reveal the mind and will of God for us, showing us how to be saved from the wrath of God and restored to his good favor. These Scriptures always focus on Jesus Christ in his work as our Prophet, Priest, and King. They provide the foundation for renewing us in Christ's image, making us mature and complete in him. They will transform our families, our church, and our world, until the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord "as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).

 

We value a traditional Reformed Liturgy that reminds us of our connections with the saints of the past, and points to our fellowship in heavenly places. We recite the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed to show our union with the historic Christian church and the faith that has been passed down for generations. We include the Lord's Prayer in our prayers as a part of worship so that we may learn how to pray more fully in private. We sing of God's glory and his work of redemption using psalms and hymns approved by our session and enjoyed by our congregation. They express a mature faith in Jesus Christ, and provide rich vocal and instrumental harmonies for our worship. We bring our offerings before the Lord for his blessing, so that his kingdom would advance in our community and throughout the earth.

 

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Sunday Worship Service

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February 16, 2025

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Prelude 

Silent Prayer

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*Call to Worship:                                                                      1 Peter 1:3

“Come, let us bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Who, according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, to an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us.”

 

*Invocation and Salutation:                                                       2 Peter 1:2

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

 

*Hymn of the Month:         “Our God Is Mighty, Worthy of All Praising,” #454

*Confession of Faith:                                                                      Psalm 46

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.  The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.  The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

 

*Gloria Patri:                                                                                               p. 735

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.”

 

Responsive Reading of Scripture:                                      Psalm 56, p. 805

Confession of Sin and Promise of Forgiveness:                             Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

 

Homily:                                                   “No Merits, All Grace,” WCF 16.5

“We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins, but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants: and because, as they are good, they proceed from his Spirit; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s judgment.” 

 

Intercessory Prayer  

The Lord’s Prayer

“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”  

 

*Hymn:                               “Stand Up, My Soul, Shake Off Your Fears,” #577

"Stand up, my soul; shake off thy fears,

And gird the gospel armor on;

March to the gates of endless joy,

Where thy great Captain Saviour's gone.

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Hell and thy sins resist thy course;

But hell and sin are vanquished foes:

Thy Jesus nailed them to the cross,

And sung the triumph when he rose.

 

Then let my soul march boldly on,

Press forward to the heav'nly gate;

There peace and joy eternal reign,

And glitt'ring robes for conqu'rors wait.

 

There shall I wear a starry crown,

And triumph in almighty grace;

While all the armies of the skies

Join in my glorious Leader's praise. Amen.

 

Sermon Text:                                                                                  Mark 14:66-72

Prayer for Spiritual Illumination

Sermon:                                                                  “Fear Before Failure”

Pastoral Prayer for Spiritual Fruitfulness

Offerings

*Doxology

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavn’ly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

 

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication

*Final Hymn:                                         “Jesus Is All the World to Me,” #653

Jesus is all the world to me,

My life, my joy, my all;

He is my strength from day to day,

Without him I would fall.

When I am sad, to him I go,

No other one can cheer me so;

When I am sad he makes me glad,

He's my Friend.

 

Jesus is all the world to me,

My friend in trials sore;

I go to him for blessings, and

He gives them o'er and o'er.

He sends the sunshine and the rain,

He sends the harvest's golden grain,

Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,

He's my Friend.

 

Jesus is all the world to me,

And true to him I'll be;

Oh, how could I this Friend deny,

When he's so true to me?

Following him I know I'm right,

He watches o'er me day and night;

Following him, by day and night,

He's my Friend.

 

Jesus is all the world to me,

I want no better friend;

I trust him now, I'll trust him when

Life's fleeting days shall end.

Beautiful life with such a Friend;

Beautiful life that has no end;

Eternal life, eternal joy,

He's my Friend. Amen.

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*Benediction:                                                                2 Corinthians 13:14

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”

 

*Closing Anthem:                                    “Only Trust Him,” #675 (verse 4)

“Come then, and join this holy band,

And on to glory go,

To dwell in that celestial land,

Where joys immortal flow.

Only trust him, only trust him, Only trust him now;

He will save you, he will save you,
He will save you now.”

 

Postlude

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(*Congregation Standing)

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Welcome

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Welcome to the gospel ministry of First Orthodox Presbyterian Church! Our congregation is unique in the Pennridge community as a church that seeks to glorify the Lord and serve the community by providing a confessionally Reformed faith, life, witness, and worship. 

 

We would like to extend a warm welcome to you this morning and look forward to getting acquainted.  Please join us after the service for some light refreshments downstairs and a great time of fellowship.  

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Announcements

 

Today:

• Worship Service at 9:30 AM. Today’s service is being broadcast on our YouTube Channel. Please consider subscribing to our channel @FirstChurchOPC and sharing it with others.

• Refreshments and Fellowship at 10:45 AM.

• Sunday School at 11:15 AM. Our ruling elder Rev. Richard Shaw will lead a discussion on a video by Derek Thomas downstairs in the fellowship hall.

Wednesday:

• The Reformed Bible Fellowship will meet online at 10 AM. We are studying a book by Dr. Robert Letham on THE HOLY SPIRIT. You can watch the study on our YouTube Channel @FirstChurchOPC starting at 10:15 AM.

 

Saturday:

• The Men’s Reformed Fellowship will meet online at 9 AM. We are studying Dr. Peter Lillback’s book, WALL OF MISCONCEPTION, on the influence of the Christian faith on American history. You can watch the study on our YouTube Channel @FirstChurchOPC starting at 9:15 AM.

 

Winterlight Youth Retreat:

• All young people grades 8th-12th are invited to attend Winterlight Youth Retreat on Feb. 21-22 at Covenant OPC in Sinking Spring, PA. This retreat will be a wonderful time of fellowship with other youth, along with excellent teaching from Rev. Filipe Schulz. Register online at Philadelphia.opc.org/Winterlight for $20.

 

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