Welcome
Please use this link for the
Zoom Service March 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81188368778?p30wd=QzZNMlFNNWVRVFIyUXZieWtNWkV0UT09
March 16, 2025
Acton Community Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 177, 32142 Crown Valley Road, Acton, CA 93510
Message: 661-208-8032 w www.actonpc.org
1888 – 2024 Celebrating Heritage and Sharing Hope
“Jesus himself, as the gospel story goes on to its dramatic conclusion, lives out the same message of the Sermon on the Mount: he is the light of the world, he is the salt of the earth, he loves his enemies and gives his life for them, he is lifted up on a hill so that the world can see.” —N.T. Wright
WELCOME, ANNOUNCMENTS, GUESTS AND SPECIAL DAYS
"When Irish Eyes are Smiling" Choir
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
People: Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,
Leader: As the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress,
People: So our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy on us.
Leader: Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us.
People: The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Come, let us adore him!
OPENING HYMN – #204 - Rock of Ages (Brown Hymnal)
1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.
2 Not the labors of my hands Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; thou must save an Thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die!
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 9 Q & A 26
Q. What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”?
A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son. I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. God is able to do this because he is almighty God, and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord Jesus, you have made us through your gospel to be the salt of the earth, but often we seem to have lost our saltiness. We do not bring the healing, the preserving, and the flavoring to the world around us that it so desperately needs from us. Please forgive us, dear Lord; have mercy upon us and do not cast us aside. Renew us in your love. And make us salty once more, that the peoples of the earth, and the world itself, might taste and see the goodness and the healing mercies of our God. All for your name’s sake we ask these things. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION PRAYERS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE
Old Testament Reading – Psalm 104:27-35 (Pages 555 – 556)
These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit,[g] they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works— who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!
New Testament Reading – Romans 3:21-26 (Page 154)
But now, irrespective of law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.
SERMON : “God the Father”
CALL FOR OFFERING–Congregation sings Doxology - Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
HYMN #183 - Beneath the Cross of Jesus (Brown Hymnal)
1 Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand -
The shadow of a mighty Rock Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat, And the burden of the day.
2 Upon that cross of Jesus Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart with tears Two wonders I confess -
The wonders of redeeming love And my unworthiness.
3 I take, O cross, thy shadow For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by, To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame, My glory all the cross.
HOLY COMMUNION
CLOSING HYMN #66 - To God Be the Glory (Brown Hymnal)
1 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 all may go in.
Refrain:
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 thru Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory - great things He hath done!
2 O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood! To ev'ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. {Refrain]
3 Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing thru Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. [Refrain]
BENEDICTION – The Lord Be With You
Congregation sings
God be with you till we meet again, By his counsels guide, uphold you, With his sheep securely fold you God be with you till we meet again.
**Offerings 1. May be deposited in the Offering Box by the Narthex.
2. Processed through “E-Give” online at actonpc.org
3. Send a check to Acton Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 177 Acton, Ca. 93510
Bible Study
"What was Jesus Doing in His Last Week" led by Pastor Randy March 17, 24 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. in Hedgecock Hall
FOOD PANTRY
Don’t forget the Food Pantry - donations may be left in the basket located in the Church Narthex or in the Hall. Below is an example of items needed.
Canned tomatoes, Peanut Butter, Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Canned meat or beans
Canned soup, Canned fruit or vegetables, Cereal, Dried beans or rice, Pasta
Diapers, Deodorant, Shampoo and Bar Soap, Toothbrush and toothpaste
