Hopewell
Herald – September 2, 2023
By God’s help we hope to hear from Matthew 1:18–25 about the way God brought His only-begotten Son into the world. The family by which Christ came was vital to His mission in this world.
Then, as I sat down to write the weekly letter, we received the blessed
news of another covenant child brought into the world. The Lord chose for him a
family where he would worship the Lord day by day in the home and week by week
in the assembly. A household that is part of Christ’s church, so that already he
bears the title “saint.” A household where, his whole childhood long (not just
until he professes faith), he will be called to repentance and faith in
dependence upon the Spirit Who gives repentance and faith.
What a God-appointed blessing is a holy household! Its members are marked off by the sign of Christ’s heaven-and-earth authority to give life and godliness in Himself by His Spirit. And its weeks are marked off by a day that is a “holy convocation” (a consecrated calling together) in which we gather to the God of grace in worship that He has comprised of the means of His grace.
Whether yours is a household of one or a household of twenty, I pray that your household is such a household. And that your day tomorrow will be such a day.
Truly, worship is due to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Who is such a God as has given us such a salvation!
Looking forward to gathering to Him together,
Pastor
Audio lessons
to help you prepare for the Lord’s Day:
▪Theology Simply Explained — WSC102, The Kingdom of Grace and Glory
▪Psalm 100, “Praising Our Own God with Joy”
▪Isaiah 19–20, “God Humbles & Heals Even Egyptians”
▪Titus 1:8–9, “Teaching-Sanctified Teachers of the Word”
▪Matthew 1:18–25, “God With Us to Save Us”
▪Leviticus 8, “Filling the Priest's Hand”
LORD'S DAY – September 3, 2023
9:50
a.m. Breakfast Line Opens
10
a.m. Sabbath School
This week, we will
continue our study in the Biblical Theology of the Diaconate, the
church in the post-apostolic age.
11
a.m. Public Worship
▫Children’s Catechism for September 3
Q56. What is it to repent? To be sorry for sin, and to hate and forsake it
because it is displeasing to God.
▫Shorter Catechism for September 3
Q102. What do we pray for in the second petition? In the second
petition, which is, Thy kingdom come, we pray that Satan’s kingdom may be
destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others
brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
[WSC 102 Simply Explained: “The Kingdom of Grace and Glory”]
Songs for September 3 morning
service:
▫TPH100B “All People
That on Earth Do Dwell” [mp3]
▫ARP94B “Who for Me Withstands the Wicked” [mp3]
▫ARP24 “The Earth and the Riches” [mp3]
Scripture
Text for first portion of worship service
Psalm 100
Scripture
Readings and basis for confession of sin and petition for help
Isaiah
19–20
Titus
1:8–9
Sermon
Scripture text and topic
We
will be hearing a sermon from Matthew 1:18–25 on “God With Us to Save Us”
Lord’s Supper! (Please see the section at the end of the Worship Booklet on how rightly to prepare for and take it).
1 p.m. Coffee Fellowship and Catechism Class
1:30
p.m. Fellowship Lunch
▫Memory
Verse for September 3, Matthew
1:21, “And
she will bring forth a Son, and you shall His Name Jesus, for He will save His
people from their sins.”
3:00
p.m Evening Praise and Preaching
We
will be hearing a sermon from Leviticus 8
on “Gratitude for the Keeping Open of the Way to God”
Hopewell this Month
Hopewell’s Presbytery Prayer Focus for September
Bethel ARP in Oak Hill, AL
September Psalm of the Month
ARP94B Who for Me Withstands
the Wicked
• Wednesday, September 6, Midweek
Prayer Meeting. 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We will hear a sermon from
Romans 8:19–22 then pray until just before 8 p.m.
• Saturday, September 23, Leadership (men’s and boys’) breakfast, 6:30a
in the Fellowship Hall
• Thursday, September 28, Session Meeting, 6p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Congregational
Prayer Requests (new/updates in bold)
▪
Lord’s
Day worship/study, Daily worship/discipleship/evangelism in homes and community
▪ Repentance of the Church and Nations (especially our own) for rejection
of the Kingship of Christ
▪ For an
end to PP in Nashville and repentance of everyone involved.
▪ KR’s
Bible Study at the Pregnancy Center, especially Shelly and Claire (both needing
motivation to come), Alonya (difficult repentance decision to make), and Sofia
(expecting on 1st of October)—that all would hunger and thirst for
Christ and His Word
▪ Early Rain Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church (Pastor
Wang Yi in prison), Christians in Nigeria, and other persecuted churches like
them
▪ R&C
H for new Bible translating work
▪ AM and his
ministry at Ft. Campbell
▪ JB and his ministry at Ft. Detrick
▪ KC’s acquaintance Linda and friend Nancy, who need
Christ; for her dear friend to join a sound church and walk healthily with the
Lord
▪ J&M C for
recovery and thriving of mom, baby Liam, and the whole family; PRAISE
for his healthy birth Sep 2
▪ Pray with J&T B for her, her mother, and
sisters Selena and Loretta, and their entire family in the recent losses of her
father and her nephew Jared; and for his new walking
tours venture; and for Jonathan’s recovery, effectiveness of treatment
▪ Pray
with S&D B for Andrew to keep improving
▪ Pray with S&D B and D&D R for Doug and Dianne’s
oldest son Dave
▪ Pray with D&V F for transplant rejection to
stay low; for recovery from recent foot pain
▪ Pray
with D&M G for her father’s recovery from stroke and severe COPD, and her 82yo
mother’s aneurism; for Drew and Sarah w/baby #3 due that she would make it to mid-September;
and for Jordan and Atlanta w/baby #8 due in March
▪ Pray
with C&P G for wisdom, humility, and boldness during interactions with not
yet believers and extended family. Growth and evidence of the fruit of the
Spirit in parenting and marriage, and that vestibular therapy would be
beneficial for vertigo issues (P). For friends, the Mueller family, as they
grieve the loss of Dave.
▪ Pray
with J&H H for his father’s cancer; for sweetness in his parents’ remaining
time together; for his youngest brother’s salvation, and that brother’s son and
daughter; for Juan and Mosheh
▪ Pray
with R&M J for Claire’s continued thriving; for her father’s liver cancer, especially
for clearing targets to move to top of transplant list, for her mother’s
comfort and peace through it, even as she recovers from recent fall, and for
M’s physical and spiritual endurance and wellness through it all
▪ Pray with O&A L for her unbelieving mother w/heart
condition and breast cancer, and her family’s grieving over her brother; for
A’s persistently severe headaches; for their many family in Cali who need to be
walking by faith in Christ; for O (and A, O, E, and R, and his entire extended
family) in the loss of his father, but especially for his mom who still
misses him so dearly
▪ Pray
with M&S M, and the whole family, for their adjustment to life with baby
Eloise; and for
recovery of her sister Savannah from C-section and adjustment to being a mother;
and for their and their Dr’s ability to treat her mold toxicity
▪ Pray
with C&L M for his brother Lee; and for his dad’s heart
blockage removal; and for her recovery from ankle injury
▪ Pray
with SM for the Lord’s strengthening her under her illness, healing her from it
however He wills, sanctifying it to her, and making it useful to His glory and
others’ good
▪ Pray
with C&T P for him to find favor with new employer and to serve the Lord
faithfully at work and home
▪ Pray
with J&D P for her sister Frankie
▪ Pray
with H&K P for her various health issues, especially her feet
▪ Pray
with JuR for God-glorifying employment; for friend Jace, that perfect love
would cast out fear
▪ Pray
with D&K R for their family’s growth in godliness, especially dying to
self, godly speech, and Lord’s Day keeping; and for Micah and Rachel and family
in the loss of twin girls at 31 weeks
▪ Pray
with JeR for coworker Josh, electrocuted and lost both legs, married 29yo
▪ Pray
with J&S R For her family, especially mom, to find their hope in Christ;
for Chloe’s family to hold Christ as preeminent; for coworker Cyndy and husband
Dave (he needs lungs, both need the Lord); for spreading Christ’s love to
neighbors; for friend Rachel and her mother-in-law Mary Lou, as they continue
to grieve the loss of their husbands, and for Rachel’s brother Aaron in alcohol
rehab; for boss Scott’s family’s salvation; for LDS coworker Trent; with IR as
he battles against remaining sin; for S and baby due mid-Feb
▪ Pray
with B&E R for their callings in the home; for employment for Ben with a
courageously Christian company; for newly converted friend Ashlee, her
unbelieving husband Adam, and Bayhaven OPC’s ministry to them; for conversion
of family (his dad; his brothers Joshua, Zachary, Kaleb); for reformation of
family and neighbors Elijah and Heather; for neighbors Bereket and Beka who are
expecting (especially for Bereket’s spiritual leadership)
▪ SU’s
biblical wisdom and courage; for Emma’s wellbeing and her believing roommate
Tasha’s desire to be reunited with sister Penny
▪ Pray
with P&D W for niece Emilyn to have much-needed spiritual metabolic
changes; and for both of their health, especially his many health challenges
▪ Please pray
with the Oak Hill ARP church in Oak Hill, AL, throughout September
▪ Please pray for all ARP presbyteries, churches, and agencies
▪ Please pray for our
nation, state, community and all the officials thereof
Prayer,
with thanksgiving, being one special part of religious worship, is by God required
of all men: and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of the
Son, by the help of his Spirit, according to his will, with understanding,
reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and, if vocal, in
a known tongue. (WCF 21.3)
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