Members of Hope Reformed Church:
The Good Lord willing, this Sunday, April 6, 2025, we will celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. In order to prepare our hearts to receive this Holy Supper in a God-glorifying manner and for our spiritual benefit, please take time to read the form below and meditate upon the Scripture references listed, and examine your heart regarding this matter as to whether you truly believe God’s precious promise of forgiveness and righteousness in Jesus Christ.
A true examination of ourselves consists in these three parts:
1. Let everyone consider by himself his sins and accursedness apart from Jesus Christ, so that he may be displeased with himself and humble himself in the presence of God.
2. Let everyone examine his heart as to whether he truly believes this certain promise of God that all his sins are forgiven only for the sake of Jesus Christ.
3. Let everyone search his conscience whether he is determined to show his gratitude to God the Lord all the days of his life by walking uprightly before Him.
THE LORD'S SUPPER
Beloved in the Lord Jesus: Listen to the words of the institution of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. “The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.”
The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Until His coming again it is to be observed as a continuing remembrance of the sacrifice of Himself in His death. The physical elements of bread and wine, representing the broken body and the shed blood of the Savior, are received by true believers as signs and seals of all the benefits of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. They signify and seal the remission of sins and nourishment and growth in Christ, and are a bond and pledge of the communion of believers with Him and with each other as members of His spiritual body, the Church. As signs and seals of the covenant of grace they not only declare that God is faithful and true to fulfill the promise of the covenant, but they also summon us to all the duties of the children of God, and call us to renewed consecration in gratitude for His salvation.
In order that we may celebrate the Lord’s Supper to our comfort, it is first necessary that we properly examine ourselves. A true examination of ourselves consists in these three parts: First, let everyone consider by himself his sins and accursedness apart from Jesus Christ, so that he may be displeased with himself and humble himself in the presence of God. Second, let everyone examine his heart as to whether he truly believes this certain promise of God that all his sins are forgiven only for the sake of Jesus Christ. Third, let everyone search his conscience whether he is determined to show his gratitude to God the Lord all the days of his life by walking uprightly before Him.
It is the solemn duty of the Minister of the Word to warn the uninstructed, the profane, the scandalous, and those who secretly and unrepentantly live in any sin, not to approach the holy table, where they would partake unworthily, not discerning the Lord’s body, and so eat and drink judgment to themselves. Nevertheless, this warning is not designed to keep the humble and contrite from the table of the Lord, as if the supper were for those who might be free from sin. On the contrary, we who are invited to the supper, come as guilty and polluted sinners who are without hope of eternal life apart from the grace of God in Christ. We confess our dependence for pardon and cleansing upon the perfect sacrifice of Christ; we base our hope of eternal life upon His perfect obedience and righteousness; and we humbly resolve to deny ourselves, crucify our old nature, and follow Christ as becomes those who bear His name.
—The RCUS Directory of Worship, pg. 33-35
Take time to read the following texts: Luke 22:14-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor S. Henry
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LEONA RATH FUNERAL
Sutton resident Leona Rath, 94, passed away peacefully at Legacy Square in Henderson, Nebraska, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
A Funeral Service for Leona will be held on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Hope Reformed Church in Sutton, Nebraska, with Pastor Scott Henry presiding.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, Nebraska, from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with the family greeting the public from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Private Family Graveside Services will be held at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton, Nebraska.
In Lieu of Flowers – Memorials are to be directed to the Sutton Christian School.
Leona's Funeral Service will be live-streamed on Sutton Memorial's Facebook page on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
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PATIENT IN TRIBULATION
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer…”
—Romans 12:12
IN Q&A 27 OF the Heidelberg Catechism, we read the following words, “What do you understand by the providence of God? The almighty, everywhere-present power of God, whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures, and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.”
THIS BIBLICAL TEACHING gives us a God-centered and God-glorifying perspective on life. It teaches us that the world is not out of control or operating by fate, luck, or chance, but that God is directing and controlling every event in this world –the good events as well as the evil. Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, “Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other.” The word translated “adversity” is the Hebrew word “Rah”, which can also be translated: bad, evil, affliction, calamity, or distress.
THEREFORE, WHATEVER WE see happening in this world we have to say, “This is the work of the Lord.” This is a truth we must understand, believe, and apply every day. And according to our text, it’s only when we are patient in adversity that we can truly say we have understood and applied this truth in our life. It's easy to say, “I believe in the providence of God,” but it’s quite another to live patiently when you’re experiencing adversity or suffering. For this reason, our text admonishes believers to “be patient in tribulation.” The word translated “tribulation” means “pressure”, and it refers to anguish, persecution, tribulation, affliction, or trouble. In other words, tribulation is a pressure which comes against us. It’s like being under the weight of a heavy object –that's why tribulation is so painful.
THERE ARE MANY forms of tribulation, but the ones we think of most often are sickness, disease, cancer, and death because these things threaten our lives, the lives of our loved ones, and they exert great pressure upon us which makes us hurt. But there are many other types of tribulation: family problems, marriage problems, money problems, difficulties at school, at church, or with a neighbor, and these troubles put a lot of pressure upon us –and none of us is free from trouble. Job 14:1, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Life is filled with tribulation. Job 5:7, “Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” Just as sparks fly up from a fire so man will have trouble in life –one right after another. Nevertheless, every believer is called to “be patient in tribulation.”
HOW ARE YOU doing with patience amidst your trials? Do you become irritable, anxious, or angry at God, or do you rest assured that you are in God’s hand, and He is bringing you through this difficulty for His glory and your own good? Take time today to meditate upon our text and pray that the Holy Spirit strengthens you to endure tribulation with patience for God’s glory and the good of His church.
Tuesday Encouragement: April 1, 2025
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
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A CHRISTIAN'S SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER
My Father and My God,
Thank You, Father, for saving me from death, Hell, and Your coming wrath! Thank You, Lord Jesus, for living and dying in my place that I might be granted life everlasting. Thank You for fulfilling all the righteous demands of the Law of God in my place. Thank You for dying on the cross to satisfy the justice of God against my multitude of sins. Thank You for turning away God's wrath from me by absorbing it all in your body and soul on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). As the hymn writer wrote, "Wonderful grace of Jesus, Reaching the most defiled, By its transforming power, Making him God’s dear child, Purchasing peace and heaven, For all eternity— And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!"
Thank You, heavenly Father, for Your forgiveness! Thank You that when I daily confess my sins to You that You are faithful and just to forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Thank You for Your kindness, mercy, grace, love, and compassion to such a sinful, weak, feeble, frail, fragile one such as I! Father, I love You! You have implanted Your love in my heart (Rom. 5:5). I love You because You first loved me (1 John 4:19). My love for You and for others is not what it ought to be. I realize and confess this sin to You. I know that I have not loved You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! Nor have I loved my neighbor as myself. I am ashamed of my lack of love for You and my neighbor! I am ashamed of my sinful struggles in breaking Your Commandments. I fail daily to love You with my whole heart. I fail miserably! I have sinful thoughts, words, and actions, and even my best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin! As the Apostle Paul wrote, "For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do" (Rom. 7:15).
But praise Jesus that He never failed to love You, Father, with His whole heart, soul, mind, and strength on behalf of His people. Even while Jesus suffered the inexpressible anguish, pains, and terrors of the cross, He loved you perfectly, O Father, on behalf of His sheep. Praise Jesus that He perfectly loved His neighbor as Himself in my place and on my behalf. What Amazing grace of Jesus that saved a wretch like me! For I once was lost but now I'm found, I was blind but now I see! I am a debtor to Your grace and mercy! As the hymn writer wrote, "A debtor to mercy alone, Of covenant mercy I sing, Nor fear, with God’s righteousness on, My person and off’rings to bring. The terrors of law and of God, With me can have nothing to do; My Savior’s obedience and blood Hide all my transgressions from view."
O LORD, I need Your constant forgiveness as I have not reflected Your glory as I ought. I need Your continual abiding presence and Your face shining upon me lest I slip into despair, discouragement, or depression! I need You every hour! Holy Spirit, fill me with Your power and presence so that I might live solely for Christ! Revive me again to serve You with zeal and vigor! All too often I find myself as frustrated as the Apostle Paul in that I often know the right thing to do, which is to abstain from a particular sin, but quickly fall right back into that sin. Yet because of Your grace, I am determined by the strength of the Holy Spirit to fight sin and overcome temptation. I "feel" the words of the hymn writer reverberating in my soul, "O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above."
Bless me, O my great Jehovah, keep me in the palm of Your hand. Keep me from sinning against You! Keep me from drifting away from You, Heavenly Father! Keep me, O Father, keep me I pray, for I am Your slave!
I ask all these things in Jesus' name!
Amen!
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