September 15, 2026
Order of Worship
Metro Atlanta Presbytery
“What if the good life doesn’t come from having the ability to do what we want but from having the ability to do what we were made for? What if true freedom comes from choosing the right limitations, not avoiding all limitations?”
— Justin Whitaker Earley, The Common Rule
Call to Worship
Leader
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
All
Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
Leader
Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
All
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!
Songs of Praise
Crown Him with Many Crowns
Verse 1
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon the 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 through all eternity.
Verse 2
Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave
And rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died and rose on high;
Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Verse 3
Crown him the Lord of love, behold his hands and side.
Rich wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified.
No angels in the sky can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Verse 4
Crown him the Lord of heaven, enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the King, to whom is given the wondrous name of Love.
Crown him with many crowns, as thrones before him fall.
Crown him, you kings, with many crowns, for he is King of all.
Holy Forever
Intro
Verse 1
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who’ve gone before us
And all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
Pre-chorus
(Jesus) Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All pow’rs and positions
Your name stands above them all
Chorus 1
And the angels cry Holy
All creation cries Holy
You are lifted high Holy
Holy forever
Verse 2
If you’ve been forgiven and if you’ve been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We’ll sing the song forever and amen
Chorus 1
Chorus 2
Hear Your people sing Holy
To the King of Kings Holy
You will always be Holy
Holy forever
Pre-chorus x2
Chorus 1
Chorus 2
Tag
You will always be Holy
Holy forever
Prayer of Confession
All
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Song of Mercy
Holy God (Trisagion)
Intro
Verse
Ho–ly God,
Holy and might–y,
Ho–ly Immortal One,
have mercy; have mercy on us.
Repeat verse
Verse (Modulation)
Ho–ly God,
Holy and might–y,
Ho–ly Immortal One,
have mercy; have mercy on us.
Words of Encouragement
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Confessing What We Believe
Leader
What is your only comfort in life and in death?
All
That I am not my own, but belong — body and soul, in life and in death — to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Passing the Peace
Leader
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All
And also with you.
Song of Illumination
Speak O Lord
Verse 1
Speak O Lord as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy word
Take Your truth plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak O Lord and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory
Verse 2
Teach us Lord full obedience
Holy reverence true humility
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority
Words of power that can never fail
Let their truth prevail over unbelief
Verse 3
Speak O Lord and renew our minds
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises
And by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us
Speak O Lord till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory
Sermon
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! 2 O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! 3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
The Lord’s Supper is for baptized members of a Christian church. If that’s you, we welcome you to the table. If you’re still exploring the faith, please let the elements pass and use this time for quiet reflection — speak with one of our pastors after the service or stop by the Welcome Desk. Bread is gluten-free; trays offer white grape juice or red wine. Please come forward using the inner aisles and return to your seats using the outer aisles; we will hold the elements until all are served and partake them together.
Song of Communion
Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me
Intro / Turnaround
Verse 1
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his
Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Verse 2
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior he will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need his power is displayed
To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley he will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Verse 3
No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
The future sure the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And he was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Verse 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For he has said that he will bring me home
And day by day I know he will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Tag
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Communion Acclamation
Leader
Let us proclaim the mystery of the faith:
All
Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
Leader
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us,
All
Therefore, let us keep the feast.
Leader
These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Feed on them in your hearts, by faith and with thanksgiving.
Song of Thanks
Doxology (Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Benediction
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Welcome, Metro Atlanta Presbytery
We’re glad to have you here today, brothers and sisters from across the Metro Atlanta Presbytery. It’s a joy to worship alongside you this morning.
A Few Notes for Today
- We share this building with a school, so we’ll stay up here on the second floor for the day, except when we head up to the third floor for lunch. Please use the entrance by the church office. If you come across a locked door anywhere, there’s no need to go through it — everything you need is on this level.
- Restrooms — Main restrooms are across the lobby. There’s another set further down the hall, past the Welcome Center.
- Lunch — Served on the third floor.
- Wifi — Network is “Intown,” no password needed.
- Need anything? Stop by the Welcome Desk or the church office, look for staff wearing a green lanyard, or reach our executive director, Kelly Bell, directly at kelly@intown.org.
- Coffee & snacks — Available all day in the Welcome Center.
- While you’re in the lobby — take a look at our current art exhibit, Common Grounds, featuring artwork from members of the Intown community.
2059 Lavista Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
Email askintown@intown.org · Web intown.org · Social @intowncommunitychurch
Intown Community Church is a Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America.