God Comes to Meet with Us
(Service #5)

PREPARING/THINKING ABOUT IT:

Read Compass article #5: "God's House"
Read poem/meditation "God's Dwelling", an overview of the Biblical pictures of 'God with us'
Read "The Drafting Table" (#5)

OPENING:
We come longing to meet with our God and to see him seated in beauty on his throne.

"One Thing Have I Desired" by Stuart Scott (©1984,1986 Maranatha! Music) [based onPsalm 27:4]
"Holy Ground" by Christopher Beatty (©1982, 1986 Birdwing Music/Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co.) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 1:29
"Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty "( Psalm 65:1-3 )

Call(s) to Worship:
"The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (Ps 46:7)

    and/or

Ps 48:1-3
And now by his great love we may come into his house (Ps 5:7)

The great God, enthroned above the highest heavens, has come to meet with us us. The Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before him! (Habakkuk 2:20)

(Time of silent meditation and prayer, leading into. . . )

"God Himself is With Us "
"Let Our Praise to You Be As Incense" by Brent Chambers (©1979 Scripture in Song, Adm by Maranatha! Music)
"To Him Who Sits on the Throne" by Kirk Dearman (©1984 Integrity's Hosanna! Music) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 1:84

Confession & Repentance:
We have often run from God's presence. We have discovered our nakedness and shame and hidden from him.(Gen.3:10) We have wandered away like sheep, seeking our own ways(Isa.53:6), not even asking "Where is the Lord?" (Jer.2:8)

And if left to ourselves this is where we would stay. But God calls us back. And he he promises to dwell with those who are broken and contrite. ( Isaiah 57:15) (Because he calls and promises to hear us, we may call out together:

"Restore Us, O Lord" (based on Psalm 80).

Celebration : But God has done much more than this. He has pursued us! The Holy One, enthroned above the heavens, has come to has, has stooped into the dust, has "tented" with us, to show us his glory and grace. John 1:14

"Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" (or another "Advent" hymn--about God's coming to be with us)
"God With Us" by Graham Kendrick(©1988 Make Way Music) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 5:392

Our God comes to be with us forever, so that we might see his glory and enjoy his presence, as he takes delight in us!

"The Lord Thy God in the Midst of Thee" by Blane Morris (©1986 Integrity's Hosanna! Music) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 2:179

"Shouts of Joy" by Michael G. Merritt (based on Zeph 3:17)(©1990 Integrity's Hosanna! Music) Integrity Hosanna! Bk 5:431

Prayers (Intercession) [add specifics!]

"Jesus, Where'er Your People Meet "

Wherever we may be, the Lord is near to all who call on him. . . and he hears their cry. Psalm 145:18-19

• (The Great God: a Puritan prayer)
• By your mercy we bow down before your throne
• We give you thanks for gracious presence: the blessings of this life--provision, guidance.
• Teach us not to run from you, but to long to know your presence in our lives and in our midst.
• be with those in the depths, in dark valleys.... who do not sense your presence; with the broken and contrite who fear you have forsaken them. May they know that there is no place they can flee from your presence. (Psalm 139:7-9)
• May you dwell among your people, may your light shine in Zion, until the whole world says "surely god is here!" and falls down to worship you.
• (Book of Common Prayer, Proper 8)

Reading:  The Blessings of God's Presence   Psalm 65     or

vv.1-4 as "call to worship"
vv.5-8 to introduce "celebration
vv.9-13 to lead into "Offering"

Offering:

"Let none appear before me emptyhanded." (Ex 23:15 )
(Prayer:   Psalm 75:1)

Sermon:  The Lofty One Whose Name Is Holy (Isaiah 57:14-21)   (John Piper)

Communion: In the breaking of the bread, our Lord comes to us. He says "I have eagerly desired to eat this meal with you" and in it he gives us a taste and promise of the feast we will share with him before his throne. (Lk 22:15-16)

" God and Man at Table Are Sat Down "by Robert Stamps (©1972 Dawn Treader Music, Div. Jubilee Communications)

Closing: Our Hope--God's Presence:
God has promised to be with his children. In the darkest valley, through wind and fire and storm, we need not fear, for he has promised to be with us and never to forsake us. (Deut.31:8).

"The Lord's My Shepherd"

This is what he has promised--to those who wait for him: Revelation 22:1-3 .

Benediction/Blessing:

May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion. (Ps 134:3)
The Lord be with you all, now and forever. .