We are to worship God as much as we are to petition God.

Most of our "praying time" deals with what we want God to do for us personally. I am no different from anyone else. To pray for the expess purpose of worshipping God and praising him usually rates a low second in my semi-prayer life. Tonight I will deal with the prayer of praise instead of the prayer of asking. I am not certain whether the prayer of thanksgiving can be included in this since it leans on the personal if one really thanks God for what He has done in a person's life.



Versicle: Call to prayer "Open our lips and our mouths shall proclaim your praise."



Venite (Psalm of Invitation)



Come, let us raise a joyful song,

a shout of triumph to the rock of our salvation.

Let us come into your presence with thanksgiving, singing songs of triumph.

For You are a great God, a great king over all gods,

The depths of the earth and the mountains belong to you.

The sea is yours, for you made it

and the dry land! Your hands fashioned,

Let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the One who made us,

For you are our God and we are the flock that you shepherd.

We will know your power and presence this day,

if we will but listen to your voice.



The Collect (Corporate --for the body--not personal prayer)



We pray for your strength to sustain us on our journey; we thank you for the love which you continue to show us and for the mercy you bestow upon us. Lead, guide, and direct us as we live out our pilgrimage and give us the voice to sing your praises.



Hymn of Praise:



Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon his throne,

Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns All music but its own!

Awake my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee;

And hail Him as thy Matchless King Thru all eternity!



(This is objective hymn, not a subjective hymn). These objective hymns praise God for who He is, rather that what he has done for me.



READING OF THE SCRIPTURE: Observing the Lord's Day



Texts: "God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it because on it God rested from all his work which he had done in creation." Gen. 2:3

Other pertinent scriptures: Exodus 16:23, Psalm 119:24, Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:27, Hebrews 4:4

Isaiah 58:13-14



Daddy had four main points for this sermon:



I. It was taught in the Old Testament.

II. It was taught in the New Testament

III. It was endorsed y Jesus

IV. Helps us spiritually, mentally, physically.



Daddy Cooper believed in the sacredness of the Sabbath. He insisted that his children attend church and that was understood. He also insisted that they not fill Sundays with things that could be done some other time. The McCutchen Theatre had a film on Sundays and Mondays and although the film was the same, we were not allowed to go on Sunday. Sunday, to my parents, was a time devoted to the things that were Godly. They went to church, ate lunch, rested for awhile, then went out visiting the sick of "the flock" and went back to church for a second service.