Gathering Hymn Sing

My Tribute ‐ Hymnal #99

What a Friend We Have in Jesus ‐ Hymnal #526

Welcoming Guests and Announcements – Pastor Ross

Prelude – The Gift of Love ‐ arr, Hopson

Meditation:

“God of steadfast love, we come offering praise; your power has delivered us. In all things, good or bad, we offer heartfelt gratitude knowing your love will deliver us according to the plan you have for us.” ~Based on Psalm 138

Call to Worship – Pastor Linda

Opening Hymn                – Maker in Whom We Live – Hymnal #88

Prayer Concerns – Pastor Linda

Prayer Song – Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus ‐ Hymnal #349

Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer, Lord’s Prayer

Special Music – Just Tell Them When You Saw Me ‐ Lakeview Quartet

Scripture Reading  – Psalm 138:1‐8 – Cheryl Carls

Offering – Pastor Ross

Preparation Hymn – The Fragrance of Christ – TFWS #2205

Message – A Song of Heartfelt Thanks

Closing Hymn – Great Is the Lord – TFWS #2022

Benediction & Response  

Postlude – Chaconne ‐ Couperin

Psalm 138: 1-8 – New Living Translation   

A Psalm of David

¹ I give you thanks, O LORD, with all my heart; I will sing your praises before the gods.

² I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

³ As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

⁴ Every king in all the earth will thank you, LORD, for all of them will hear your words.

⁵ Yes, they will sing about the LORD’s ways, for the glory of the LORD is very great.

⁶ Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.

⁷ Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.

⁸ The LORD will work out his plans for my life – for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

Psalm 138 is unique in that it is entirely about praising and offering heartfelt thankfulness to God. No blessings, no guidance, no solutions to life’s problems are offered up in this hymn to God— just unconditional thankfulness.

Heartfelt thankfulness entails a personal relationship with God, as we move through life from difficulty to difficulty, God is with us and we grow in our dependence upon Him. We learn that when we call out, God answers.

Step by step, we learn to trust God more fully to know what is right for us. Often, we reflection on the outcomes in our lives as what God has planned for us, rather than what we thought was right for us or for our loved ones. The result is a growing inner experience of peace and love. Our trust in God becomes such that it is easily shared through our own words and actions. We feel more clearly the call to follow Jesus in all that happens.

We are moved to live more easily in our witness of God’s grace and in living out the words and actions Christ would show to others regardless of our circumstances, – rich or poor, well or ill, agile or handicapped. God is with us caring for us. We are encouraged by our relationship with God to share peace and love with others as a living, breathing funnel of His intention for ourselves and our world. Our desire to serve grows exponentially, and we, like David, give heartfelt thanks.