Call to Worship/Scripture Reading & Pastor's Prayer for May 3, 2026

Call to Worship

Psalm 95:1–7 ESV

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,

O Yahweh, the Creator of the World, we come this day to worship You in our singing, in our giving. May we make a joyful noise unto You this day, and may our worship be pleasing in Your sight, O Yahweh, our Maker and Creator.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture Reading

Psalm 59 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For behold, they lie in wait for my life; fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips— for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” But you, O Lord, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. Kill them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by your power and bring them down, O Lord, our shield! For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, consume them in wrath; consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city. They wander about for food and growl if they do not get their fill. But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

Pastor’s Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

May we, like David find our strength and shelter in You. Your steadfast love abounds to us, but help us to recognize it and not just take it for granted.

Father, I want to remember Ben Brewer who is serving You at the English Language Institute in China. Be with him in his ministry. Protect him as he is in a place where the gospel is not well received, perhaps even illegal. Prosper his ministry I pray, dear Lord.

Lord, we want to remember those who are sick and hurting. We think of Kristen Davis, of Lloyd Mox, of Jodi Redinger, of Glenna Kenney. May you hand be upon each of them.

Father, we think of those who are out of town. I think of Doug who is gone to a men’s retreat — be with him and give him safety in his travel home. I think of Gail and Luke who will be making the long drive from Texas back home this week. Protect them Lord I pray.

Lord, I pray for this body of believers, that we would stand strong in the power of Your might, that we would put on the full amor of God so that we can stand against the wiles of the devil. May we recognize that we do not struggle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness.

Father, I pray that You help us to hear Your voice this day, and obey Your voice. I pray for any with us today who are not yet believers in Jesus Christ — I pray that they would respond to Your call to repent and believe the gospel.

I pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.