Today, as Summer Staff and almost 100 students depart for Summer Camp at NorthBay, in North East, Maryland, we have the opportunity both to pray for them and to further our investment in Fourth’s youth ministry through the Annual Summer Staff Offering.

“If I had a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ with them all.” So said Peter Böhler to Charles Wesley, inspiring the first line of the classic hymn, “Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer’s praise”…

This morning, I share an excerpt of a prayer for the Lord’s Day from “The Valley of Vision,” a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions.

Before this morning’s sermon, we will have the privilege of singing the contemporary hymn “Speak O Lord”. Its lyrics captures the humble but eager posture of heart we want as we prepare to listen to the preached word.

As we prepare to gather on the Lord’s Day, we can all pray as David did: O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;

Reminder: starting today, the 8:00 a.m. service is face masks optional, open seating, no RSVPs required. The 11:00 a.m. is the only Sunday service where RSVPs, masks, and physical distancing apply.

“May the Mind of Christ, My Savior,” our closing hymn* this morning, provides us with fitting ways to pray as we prepare to gather on the Lord’s Day.

Today we will sing the contemporary hymn, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”, by Stuart Townend. His lyric expresses the wonder of Christ’s propitiating work on the cross like few other songs I know.

Heads up, everyone, as our patterns will be a bit different today. Services times are unchanged, but all services will be held indoors with the 9:30 in the Sanctuary and the 11:00 in The Upper Room.