Almighty Father,
As we come before you this morning we recognize that we are sinners. And we know that we deserve to be stripped of all that we have and thrown into hell. Yet you have seen fit to give us life and breath. Moreover you have lavished upon us good things.
And we confess that we have mishandled these things and corrupted ourselves. We have loved the blessing and not the Blesser. We have coveted earthly goods and sought to attain them through wicked means. We have lusted and lied, cheated stolen. Neither have we looked out for the good of our neighbor. Instead we have wronged them and hurt them as we have grasped after temporal things.
You would be perfectly just if you would cut us off from the face of the earth and condemn us for all eternity. And this is why we seek you out. We come to you knowing that nothing we would offer you would satisfy you. Indeed we come naked and barren, putting our hope in nothing but the righteousness of your Son. We humbly ask that you would forgive us for our sins.
And we beseech you to cleanse us from our idolatrous heart. Lord, we ask that you would purge from us those unrighteous lusts & cravings. Give us a spirit of moderation and a heart that does not lurch after goods. Indeed we pray that we would be people who acknowledge the source of our life and diligently adhere to the righteous means of receiving our sustenance. We ask that you would temper our desires so that we might be content with what you give us, liberal in our giving, and hospitable towards others.
For this we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Directions to Worship
CRF will temporarily be meeting in the basement of Armstrong Accounting, which is located at 1236 Claremont Ave and is beside the National City Bank. (Click here for a map and driving directions.)
Parking is provided behind the building and you may enter through the basement door located to the left of the main double doors. Please note that there is no access through the main double doors. Also be aware that the basement entrance is somewhat hidden. A quick glance might overlook it.
Parking is provided behind the building and you may enter through the basement door located to the left of the main double doors. Please note that there is no access through the main double doors. Also be aware that the basement entrance is somewhat hidden. A quick glance might overlook it.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Where Thou Goest, I will Go
Due to unforeseen and sudden circumstances CRF is looking for a new meeting place. Please email CRF or call (419-289-2552) to find the arrangements for this week.
Evening Prayer
O merciful God, light eternal shining in the darkness, Thou dispellest the night of our sins and the blindness of our hearts. Since Thou didst ordain that man should rest in the night and labor during the day, we pray Thee that our bodies may rest in peace and quiet, in order that they may be enabled to sustain the labors to which we shall again be called. Control our sleep and rule our hearts while we slumber in order that we may not be defiled in either body or soul but may glorify Thee even in our nightly rest.
Enlighten once more, we beseech Thee, the eyes of our mind, lest we enter upon the sleep of death. Grant that we may ever cherish the expectation of our redemption from the misery of the life that now is. Defend us against all assaults of the devil and take us in Thy holy protection.
We confess that we have not spent this day without grievously sinning against Thee. We pray Thee to cover our sins in Thy mercy, even as Thou dost shroud all the things of earth in the darkness of the night, lest we be cast away from Thy face.
Be pleased to bestow comfort and rest upon all that are sick, bowed down with grief, or afflicted with distress of soul, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
--taken from the Psalter Hymnal, CRC
Enlighten once more, we beseech Thee, the eyes of our mind, lest we enter upon the sleep of death. Grant that we may ever cherish the expectation of our redemption from the misery of the life that now is. Defend us against all assaults of the devil and take us in Thy holy protection.
We confess that we have not spent this day without grievously sinning against Thee. We pray Thee to cover our sins in Thy mercy, even as Thou dost shroud all the things of earth in the darkness of the night, lest we be cast away from Thy face.
Be pleased to bestow comfort and rest upon all that are sick, bowed down with grief, or afflicted with distress of soul, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
--taken from the Psalter Hymnal, CRC
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Easter Hope
Gracious and Redeeming God,
We who are poor sinners, come to you this morning with thankful hearts. Because of Christ’s victory over sin and death we are drawn into your presence. We acknowledge that there is no hope for us in this world save Christ. All is lost without him.
For this reason we wish you lay our souls at your feet. We ask that the conquest of his cross would be ours. We desire that his empty tomb would be our life.
We know that we have erred and greatly sinned against you. We have lived in accordance with our father Adam, and we have betrayed you like Eve, our mother. Despite our better judgment, we have run off into sin. Indeed our sin is so frequent that our consciences often fail to feel the sting of sin’s guilt.
But yet in our hearts we hear our condemnation. And we bow before our judge to ask for mercy and pardon. We know that those who come to you will by no means be cast out. So we come to you with full assurance of your pardoning grace.
Moreover we are so bold to ask that you might cleanse us from sin. Just as Christ left his grave clothes in the tomb, we pray that we would leave our lives of sin. We pray that you would put to death the misdeeds of the body and create within us new obedience and new life.
Let us not glory in that which is wretched, but let us cling to what is good and pure. Give us hearts to seek your will and the zeal to perform it.
In all things we pray that the world might know that we serve a living Savior and a glorified king. We ask that your work might be accomplished in us for the glory of your name.
For it is in the name of the resurrected Christ that we do pray. Amen.
We who are poor sinners, come to you this morning with thankful hearts. Because of Christ’s victory over sin and death we are drawn into your presence. We acknowledge that there is no hope for us in this world save Christ. All is lost without him.
For this reason we wish you lay our souls at your feet. We ask that the conquest of his cross would be ours. We desire that his empty tomb would be our life.
We know that we have erred and greatly sinned against you. We have lived in accordance with our father Adam, and we have betrayed you like Eve, our mother. Despite our better judgment, we have run off into sin. Indeed our sin is so frequent that our consciences often fail to feel the sting of sin’s guilt.
But yet in our hearts we hear our condemnation. And we bow before our judge to ask for mercy and pardon. We know that those who come to you will by no means be cast out. So we come to you with full assurance of your pardoning grace.
Moreover we are so bold to ask that you might cleanse us from sin. Just as Christ left his grave clothes in the tomb, we pray that we would leave our lives of sin. We pray that you would put to death the misdeeds of the body and create within us new obedience and new life.
Let us not glory in that which is wretched, but let us cling to what is good and pure. Give us hearts to seek your will and the zeal to perform it.
In all things we pray that the world might know that we serve a living Savior and a glorified king. We ask that your work might be accomplished in us for the glory of your name.
For it is in the name of the resurrected Christ that we do pray. Amen.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Sinners Indeed
Almighty and Merciful God,
As we come before you this morning we wish to acknowledge ourselves for who we are. We are sinners, utterly unable to submit to your will in any way without you.
We confess that we are evil and inclined toward every sort of wickedness. And the sole reason we do not fly headlong into the grossest of evils is because your hand is there to restrain us.
Indeed you have protected us from many evils already. We know that we have life and breathe today only because you have not treated us as our sins deserve. Lord, we thank you for your mercy, and we thank you for your long suffering. Moreover we thank you for turning our hearts toward you. For we know that we would never have even a sense of our sin without you.
And it is because we have this sense of sin that we turn to you this morning. You are good, and worthy of all honor and praise, but we have not given you’re the homage you deserve. Therefore we bow ourselves before you with contrite hearts. And we wish to ask you to pardon us for our transgressions.
Forgive us for not seeking the things of Christ. Forgive us for rebelling against your dominion and rule. Like the Israelites of old you pledged yourself to us. In kindness you brought us into your covenant, and promised to protect us and be our guide. But we have not submitted to your government or listened to your word. Forgive us Lord for our childish behavior, and be not angry with us.
But instead subdue our hearts. Conquer us with your mighty power, and make us to love your reign. Make us to find delight in your law and help us to take pleasure in what pleases you.
We pray that you might also bind that wretched Satan. We ask that you might restrain him and keep him from tempting us. We do not pardon ourselves by blaming the devil, but we do acknowledge his role in leading us astray. Our souls are so weak that we cannot resist him in and of ourselves. So we pray that you might keep him far from us and far from our children.
In all things we pray that you might order our lives so that you might receive all glory and honor. For this we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen
As we come before you this morning we wish to acknowledge ourselves for who we are. We are sinners, utterly unable to submit to your will in any way without you.
We confess that we are evil and inclined toward every sort of wickedness. And the sole reason we do not fly headlong into the grossest of evils is because your hand is there to restrain us.
Indeed you have protected us from many evils already. We know that we have life and breathe today only because you have not treated us as our sins deserve. Lord, we thank you for your mercy, and we thank you for your long suffering. Moreover we thank you for turning our hearts toward you. For we know that we would never have even a sense of our sin without you.
And it is because we have this sense of sin that we turn to you this morning. You are good, and worthy of all honor and praise, but we have not given you’re the homage you deserve. Therefore we bow ourselves before you with contrite hearts. And we wish to ask you to pardon us for our transgressions.
Forgive us for not seeking the things of Christ. Forgive us for rebelling against your dominion and rule. Like the Israelites of old you pledged yourself to us. In kindness you brought us into your covenant, and promised to protect us and be our guide. But we have not submitted to your government or listened to your word. Forgive us Lord for our childish behavior, and be not angry with us.
But instead subdue our hearts. Conquer us with your mighty power, and make us to love your reign. Make us to find delight in your law and help us to take pleasure in what pleases you.
We pray that you might also bind that wretched Satan. We ask that you might restrain him and keep him from tempting us. We do not pardon ourselves by blaming the devil, but we do acknowledge his role in leading us astray. Our souls are so weak that we cannot resist him in and of ourselves. So we pray that you might keep him far from us and far from our children.
In all things we pray that you might order our lives so that you might receive all glory and honor. For this we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen
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