Please use this link for the
Zoom Service February 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81188368778?p30wd=QzZNMlFNNWVRVFIyUXZieWtNWkV0UT09
February 16, 2025
Acton Community Presbyterian Church
P.O. Box 177, 32142 Crown Valley Road, Acton, CA 93510
Message: 661-208-8032 w www.actonpc.org
1888 – 2024 Celebrating Heritage and Sharing Hope
“It’s not so much that God has a mission for the church, but rather that he has a church for his mission.” —Christopher Wright
WELCOME, ANNOUNCMENTS, GUESTS AND SPECIAL DAYS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
People: My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD.
Leader: My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God!
People: Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
Leader: For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
People: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Leader: For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor.
People: O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
OPENING HYMN – #482 - Praise Ye Lord the Almighty
1 Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration!
2 Praise ye the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
3 Praise ye the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: Heidelberg Catechism, Questions 12-15
Q. According to God’s righteous judgment we deserve punishment both now and in eternity: how then can we escape this punishment and return to God’s favor?
A. God requires that his justice be satisfied. Therefore, the claims of this justice must be paid in full, either by ourselves or by another.
Q. Can we make this payment ourselves?
A. Certainly not. Actually, we increase our debt every day.
Q. Can another creature—any at all—pay this debt for us?
A. No. To begin with, God will not punish any other creature for what a human is guilty of. Furthermore, no mere creature can bear the weight of God’s eternal wrath against sin and deliver others from it.
Q. What kind of mediator and deliverer should we look for then?A. One who is a true and righteous human, yet more powerful than all creatures, that is, one who is also true God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you and the church that you have purchased with your blood. While we love Jesus, we often neglect, ignore, or even spurn his bride. Instead of living connected with one another, we live as church-consumers. Forgive us, Lord. Renew our hearts to see how much you love your church. Teach us to be a people built up together in the Lord. Do this, we pray, for the honor of your Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and for the sake of a world looking for authentic communities of faith. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION PRAYERS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE
Old Testament Reading - Psalm 51:1-17
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgement. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right[b] spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt-offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
New Testament Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
SERMON : “A Holy God Who Is Merciful”
CALL FOR OFFERING–Congregation sings Doxology - Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
HYMN #466 - O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
1 O for a thousand tongues to sing My dear Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of God's grace!
2 Jesus, the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’Tis life, and health, and peace.
3 Christ breaks the power of reigning sin, And sets the prisoner free;
Christ's blood can make the sinful clean, Christ's blood availed for me.
4 My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad The honors of Thy name.
HOLY COMMUNION
CLOSING HYMN #420 - God of Grace and God of Glory
1.God Of Grace And God Of Glory On Your People Pour Your Power;
Crown Your Ancient Church’s Story, Bring Its Bud To Glorious Flower.
Grant Us Wisdom, Grant Us Courage,
For The Facing Of This Hour, For The Facing Of This Hour.
2.Lo! The Hosts Of Evil Round Us Scorn The Christ, Assail His Ways!
From The Fears That Long Have Bound Us Free Our Hearts To Faith And Praise.
Grant Us Wisdom, Grant Us Courage,
For The Living Of These Days, For The Living Of These Days.
3.Cure Your Children’s Warring Madness; Bend Our Pride To Your Control;
Shame Our Wanton, Selfish Gladness, Rich In Things And Poor In Soul.
Grant Us Wisdom, Grant Us Courage,
Lest We Miss Your Kingdom’s Goal, Lest We Miss Your Kingdom’s Goal.
4.Set our feet on lofty places; Gird our lives that they my be;
Amored with all Christ like graces; Pledge to set all captives free;
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage;
That we fail not them or thee; That we fail not them or thee;
BENEDICTION – The Lord Be With You
Congregation sings
God be with you till we meet again, By his counsels guide, uphold you, With his sheep securely fold you God be with you till we meet again.
**Offerings 1. May be deposited in the Offering Box by the Narthex.
2. Processed through “E-Give” online at actonpc.org
3. Send a check to Acton Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 177 Acton, Ca. 93510
FOOD PANTRY
Acton Community Presbyterian Church (ACPC) has been acknowledged many times by news outlets and the community for our involvement of being a host site for Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry (SCVFP) and providing additional food items to participants.
Dedicated church volunteers have helped to make this an important mission of the church and successful program for SCVFP for decades. Janet Grant recently reactivated the Food Pantry donations basket located in the Church Narthex with a request for your help. Just one box or can of non-perishable, unexpired, unopened food makes a big impact. We have had a red barrel for the last 11 years at the New Acton Market where shoppers can buy non-perishable items and drop them in the barrel on their way out. Currently Pat Girton, and Betsey Jones assisting, pick up the food, check the expiration dates, place on the metal rack at the back of the Hall. In 2023, Pat Girton with help from Linda Girton, graciously accepted the torch of duties from Clay Jones who preceded previous facilitators; Sandy Reed, Virginia McGuire, John and Lourdes Domingues. That is as far back as I know. Pat Girton opens Hedgecock Hall doors on the 2nd Thursday of the month for participants to come in from the cold, grab a bag of food from the rack and socialize until the SCVFP truck arrives with the main food delivery. Many Acton families struggle financially and depend on SCVFP and donations from the community and our congregation. Thank you to everyone for your generous food donation, praises to the Food Pantry for their diligent work and prayers for those in need. SCVFP: ‘No child in the Santa Clarita Valley should go to bed hungry’ Distribution is on the 2nd Thursday of each month, 9 am to 11 am. If you know of anyone in need, please encourage them to apply for assistance through the SCVFP Food Pantry. For information call 661-255-5001. Website: www.scvfoodpantry.org. By: Sandy Reed
FOOD ITEMS NON-FOOD ITEMS
Canned tomatoes Diapers
Peanut Butter Shampoo and Bar Soap
Mac ‘n’ Cheese Toothbrush and toothpaste
Canned meat or beans Deodorant
Canned soup
Canned fruit or vegetables
Cereal
Dried beans or rice
Pasta