Redeemer Presbyterian Church

Greetings Redeemer Family,

Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

This week marks the beginning of an exciting new season of ministry for our church.
After a few weeks delay, we are meeting to worship in two sites this Sunday: Forest at 9
and Lynchburg at 11. This is the next step in the church-planting vision that our church
has followed since the beginning of our ministry in Lynchburg. We pray that these
multiple worship sites will remove obstacles of distance and encourage community, and,
in this, enable our congregation to minister more effectively in the Lynchburg area. If
you have not already read it, please take a few minutes to read our Church Planting
Frequently Asked Questions to better understand the shape of this new season for our
church. And please continue to be in prayer that God would continue to bring His
Kingdom through the ministry of Redeemer.

Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.

This week we continue in our study of John 4. Following Jesus’ interaction with the
woman at the well, the disciples find him and notice that He hasn’t eaten. Jesus responds
to their concerns saying, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about. My food is to
do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Behind this answer are very
important questions. What are our real needs? Where do you go to get these needs met?

Our opening hymn, “Brethren We Have Met to Worship”, very intentionally points to
these same questions. Take another look at the first verse, which opened this e-mail.
George Atkins, the hymn’s writer, points towards the expectancy that should accompany
us to worship each week. It is an expectancy to join our voices with brothers and sisters
in worship, to hear the Truth spoken from God’s Word, to experience fellowship with the
Spirit. Like manna to the Hebrews in the wilderness, we are fed through these ordinary
means of Grace in our common pilgrim journey to the Kingdom of our God.

I believe in the love of God
It is an orphan’s wildest dream
It is a narrow little road
It is an ever-widening desert stream
It is portrayed in the bread and wine
Let it fortify my bones
It is more than just a sign
It is the fountain from that desert stone

I want to keep this edition of the Worship Notes short, as I hope that you will take some
time in intentional prayer to prepare your heart for gathered worship this week. Ask the
Spirit to reveal those other places you go for life and sustaining power that is outside of
His Word. Talk with your community of friends and family about what it would mean
for you to come expectant on Sunday morning. Ask that the Spirit would open your heart
and hands to receive what He has for you this week. Then come on Sunday and let’s
experience the joy of God’s good gifts together.

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness.
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
All Your purposes, for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail
Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises;
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, ’til Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory.

Eagerly anticipating Sunday,

Tim Sharpe
Worship Director
Redeemer Presbyterian Church; Lynchburg (and Forest!), VA