Greetings Redeemer family,

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him

and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Many are the woes of the wicked,

but the LORD’s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;

sing, all you who are upright in heart!

These beautiful words of assurance open our service this week. From Psalm 32, this passage reminds us of the freedom we have in Christ to rejoice in the unfailing love and grace of God.

Take a moment and read them again. These words of the Psalmist hold a special promse for each of us as we end the week. Maybe you’re tired from hard work, and its been too long since you’ve known real rest. You can know freedom from obligation. Maybe you’re burdened by guilt, reminders of things that you wish you’d done differently, but cannot change. Your past can be covered. Maybe you feel alone and forgotten. You can be surrounded in the love of the Lord.

The end of all of these blessings is the opportunity to respond; to bring glory and honor, praise and worship to our gracious God, who is good to His people.

Come, Christians, join to sing
Alleluia! Amen!
Loud praise to Christ our King;
Alleluia! Amen!
Let all, with heart and voice,
Before His throne rejoice;
Praise is His gracious choice.
Alleluia! Amen!

Early in the morning

I will celebrate the light

When I stumble in the darkenss

I will call Your name by night

Everyone needs compassion, a love that’s never failing

Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Savior

The hope of nations

Last week, Mike taught how God calls us to Himself – that we are saved because of the sovereign grace of a loving God. This week, we return to John 13, and the scene of Jesus’ last supper with His disciples. Jesus has just identified Judas, the one who would betray Him for the paltry sum of 30 pieces of silver. As we read the story today, this kind of action seems unthinkable. Yet each of us, every day, choose to rebel against the righteous rule of our good King Jesus for far less tangible reasons. There’s a traitor living in each of our hearts.

Out of the depths I cry to You,
Lord, hear my voice of pleading;
Bend down Your gracious ear, I pray,
Your humble servant heeding.
If You remember each misdeed,
And of each thought and word take heed,
Who can remain before You?
Only by grace, by grace alone.

It is by grace that we are welcomed to the table of the Lord this Sunday, to celebrate together Holy Communion. As we come forward to receive the bread and wine, we will sing songs of the pardoning grace of God, who calls us out of darkness and rebellion and into His eternal Kingdom of light.

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come; Jesus I come.
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my wanting and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

This the power of the cross

Christ became sin for us

Took the blame, bore the wrath

We stand forgiven at the cross

My prayer is, as we close the service, that you will go out this week with your heart singing of the victorious mercy of Christ. May that melody ring in your ears as a reminder of His love. May the cadence of His grace be the rhythm for your steps. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to Him, our rock and our redeemer.

Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song,
The joy of my heart. and the boast of my tongue;
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last,
Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

Relying on the grace of God,

Tim Sharpe

Worship Director