WEEKLY BULLETIN

PIPESTONE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH

P.O. Box 428

Pipestone, MN 56164

February 2, 2025

We wish to welcome all of you as we have gathered to worship the LORD together. May we bring praise to our heavenly Father, bow before the name of Jesus, and be united together through the bond of the Holy Spirit! In this order of worship that follows, please note that the words printed in bold are ones that the congregation is asked to respond with. Also, when an asterisk (*) appears, the congregation is asked to stand, if they are able.

THE LORD GATHERS US . . .

Welcome

Call to Worship: Psalm 124:8

*God’s Blessing

*Mutual Greetings

*Opening Hymn: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” PH #253

*Responsive Reading (From Ps. 46:7-11)

The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

*Song of Response: “BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE” – LYRIC VIDEO

Music by Charitie Lees Bancroft and Vikki Cook

1.) Before the throne of God above

I have a strong, a perfect plea,

A great High Priest whose name is “Love,”

Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands,

My name is written on His heart;

I know that while in heav’n He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart,

No tongue can bid me thence depart.

2.) When Satan tempts me to despair,

and tells me of the guilt within,

upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,

My sinful soul is counted free;

For God, the Just, is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me,

To look on Him and pardon me.

3.) Behold Him there! The risen Lamb,

My perfect, spotless Righteousness,

The great unchangeable I AM,

The King of glory and of grace!

One with Himself I cannot die,

My soul is purchased by His blood;

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ, my Savior and my God,

With Christ my Savior and my God.

TO BOW ON OUR KNEES BEFORE HIM . . .

Reading of God’s Law: Romans 13:7-14

Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Pardon: Micah 7:18-20

TO LIFT OUR EYES TO HIM . . .

Pastoral Prayer

Offering for Missionary Support (place offering in bags in narthex)

*Preparatory Hymn: “Only Trust Him”

By John Hart Stockton

1. Come ev'ry soul by sin oppressed

There's mercy with the Lord

And He will surely give you rest

By trusting in His Word

Refrain:

Only trust Him, only trust Him, only trust Him now;

He will save you, He will save you, He will save you now.

2. For Jesus shed His precious blood

Rich blessings to bestow

Plunge now into the crimson flood

That washes white as snow

Refrain

3. Yes Jesus is the Truth, the Way

That leads you into rest

Believe in Him without delay

And you are fully blest

Refrain

TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO HIS WORD

Scripture: Mark 5:1-20

Pastor: This is the Word of God for the People of God

Response: Thanks be To God

Prayer for Illumination

Sermon: A Shocking Reversal

1. Jesus confronts the demons (1-10)

2. Jesus conquers the demons (11-15)

3. The response to Jesus (16-20)

*Closing Hymn: “Near The Cross”

By Fanny Jane Crosby | William Howard Doane

1. Jesus keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain

Free to all a healing stream Flows from Calv'ry's mountain

Refrain:

In the cross in the cross

Be my glory ever

Till my raptured soul shall find

Rest beyond the river

2. Near the cross a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me

There the Bright and Morning Star Sheds its beams around me

Refrain:

3. Near the cross, O Lamb of God Bring its scenes before me

Help me walk from day to day With its shadows o'er me

Refrain:

4. Near the cross I'll watch and wait, Hoping trusting ever

Till I reach the golden strand Just beyond the river

Refrain:

...AND TO DEPART WITH HIS BLESSING!

*God's Parting Blessing

*Doxology: “Now Blessed Be The Lord Our God” PH #630

*Postlude

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR February 2, 2025

TODAY 9:00 AM MORNING WORSHIP

4:30 PM Plan to join us tonight in the Fireside room for evening worship. We will be looking at the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25. Have you ever heard the phrase, "Once saved, always saved?" Is that a valid way to consider our Christian assurance? We will consider that tonight.

FEBRUARY 12 Wednesday 7:00 PM COUNCIL – notice change of date

Congregational Announcements

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the faithful.” Psalm 149:1. We wish to welcome all, as we unitedly assemble to praise and worship the living God.

Offering today: Missionary Support

Offering next Sunday: Classical Missionary Share

Serving coffee today: Grace

Next Sunday: Gloria

Missionaries

Cornerstone Prison Ministries – Rev. Scott Van Voorst

Megan DeRuyter (Youth with a Mission) Boulder Creek, CA.

Sosthene and Kara Maletoungou in Africa

Last week’s trivia question: Which book of the New Testament was the first to be written? James

Today’s trivia question: Isaiah 48:22 promises no peace for whom?

Memory Verse

Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord

has done for you and how he has had mercy on you.

Mark 5:19

Missionaries

Cornerstone Prison Ministries – Rev. Scott Van Voorst

Megan DeRuyter (Youth with a Mission) Boulder Creek, CA.

Sosthene and Kara Maletoungou in Africa

Last week’s trivia question: How many wives did Herod who massacred Bethlehem babies have? Ten

Today’s trivia question: Which book of the New Testament was the first to be written?

Memory Verse

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts;

And though all its parts are many, they form one body;

So it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12

Community Announcements

Parents of prospective Kindergarteners and their child are invited to Southwest MN Christian School’s Kindergarten Round Up on Monday, February 10, at 6:30 PM for an evening of exploration into all the great aspects of Kindergarten at SWC! Sibling care will be made available upon request - please contact the school. A scavenger hunt will take place along with an opportunity to visit the Kindergarten room.

An informational meeting will also be held for the parents, led by Mr. Top, Principal. Your prospective Kindergartener needs to be 5 years old by September 1, 2025, to attend Kindergarten.

Join us for an opportunity to learn what SWC can offer you and your family as we explore and discover God’s world! Please call the SWC elementary campus at 507.442.6181 or email the office at elementary@swcschools.org for more information!

ATLAS for Life will be conducting a mentoring workshop on Thursday, February 13 at the ATLAS Community Room (101 2nd St. NE – Pipestone) from 1:15-4:30pm. This workshop helps equip you to assist a friend or family member who is dealing with hard choices or circumstances. Attendees will learn how to encourage, pray with, and bolster those we seek to help. To sign up for the workshop or for more information, call ATLAS for Life at 562-5777.