Order of Worship August 28

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

Holy God, you alone are worthy of honor and praise. Open our eyes to see the world as you see it. Give us the wisdom to witness your presence in all people. Transform us in love, grow us in our faith, call us to love with a full heart and to share your promises with all people. Amen.

PRELUDE (Sunday Worship) Abide With Me arr by Lawrence Grant 

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

God calls us to service,

rather than honor.

God calls us to love the unknown,

rather than the familiar.

We come to this time of worship,

trusting in the grace of Jesus Christ,

who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

† HYMN “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” HYMN #610

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Merciful God, forgive us for we exalt ourselves and mock the humble. We choose to believe we are self-sufficient rather than trust in your strength. Open us to your Spirit, that we might serve all people without regard to the outcome, devoting ourselves to your honor alone. We continue to pray in Jesus’ name. (Silent Confession)

 

 

ASSURANCE OF GRACE 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. 

†GLORY TO GOD Hymnal #582 

TIME WITH CHILDREN (Sunday Worship) (Children 5th grade and younger may leave to attend Sunday School) 

SCRIPTURE Luke 14;1, 7-14 

SERMON “Cheap Seats” Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. 

OFFERING To God Be the Glory arr by Karen Kuehmann 

† THE DOXOLOGY Hymnal #606 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 

† HYMN “Rejoice, the Lord is King” Hymnal #363 

† CHARGE AND BLESSING 

† BENEDICTION (Sunday Worship) “May the God of Hope Go with Us” Hymnal #765 

POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship) When the Lord redeems the Very Least arr by Evelyn Simpson-Cureton 

† You are invited to stand, as you are able 

 

 

Scripture for August 27 and 28

 Luke 14:1, 7-14

Jesus at a Pharisee’s House

14 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Photo by Marc Babin on Unsplash

Daily Prayer August 26

 

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

Daily Readings for Friday, August 26, 2022

• Morning Psalms 88; 148
• First Reading Job 9:1-15, 32-35
• Second Reading Acts 10:34-48
• Gospel Reading John 7:37-52
• Evening Psalms 6; 20

O God, you are the well-spring of life. Pour into our hearts the living water of your grace that we may be refreshed to live this day in joy, confident of your presence and empowered by your peace. Protect your people, O God, and keep us safe until the coming of your new dawn and the establishment of your righteous rule. By your Holy Spirit, stir up within us a longing for the light of your new day, and guide us by the radiance of Jesus Christ your Son, our risen Lord. Almighty God, guide the nations of the world into ways of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Compassionate God, your Son gives rest to those weary with heavy burdens. Heal the sick in body, mind, and spirit. Lift up the depressed. Befriend those who grieve. Comfort the anxious. Fill all people with your Holy Spirit that they may bear each other's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, remain with you always.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Order of Worship August 21

 The overarching theme of today’s sermon is “Whom Shall I Send”; however, reflections of the experiences of those on the adult and youth mission teams will be interspersed throughout the worship service.

CENTERING PRAYER

Holy One, we bless you with all that is within us as we remember your benefits to us. Open our hearts to helping those most in need, that our community and nation may be rebuilt and restored. Amen. 

PRELUDE (Sunday Worship) Pastorale J. S. Bach

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP  

The Lord will guide us always 

and satisfy our needs when we are thirsty;  

we will be like a watered garden, whose spring never fails.  

With thanksgiving and praise, let us worship God. 

MISSION TESTIMONY – Ellen Hynes 

† HYMN “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty” HYMN #35 

MISSION TESTIMONY – Meghan Rouff, Jonathan Neal 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION  

God of justice and love, we confess to you and to each other that we have not offered food to the hungry or satisfied the needs of your children. We have said evil things about others and pointed fingers in blame. We have turned away from you and our community, and instead have worked toward our own self-interests. Thirsty for mercy, we cry out for your help. Forgive us, God, and teach us your ways, that we might be renewed like a garden freshly watered. Amen.  

ASSURANCE OF GRACE 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. 

†GLORY TO GOD Hymnal #582 

TIME WITH CHILDREN (Sunday Worship) (Children 5th grade and younger may leave to attend Sunday School) 

BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS AND PRESENTATION OF BIBLES 

SCRIPTURE Isaiah 58:9-14 

MISSION TESTIMONY – Don York, Dale Shepherd, Bertha Larez, Sally Shepherd

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter Catechism Question One 

Q. What is our chief end? A. Our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever. 

OFFERING Be Thou My Vision Arr. By Katrina Burnette 

Ethan Forte - cello 

MISSION TESTIMONY – Declan Phipps 

† THE DOXOLOGY Hymnal #606 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 

MISSION TESTIMONY – Glenn Knopf 

† HYMN “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” Hymnal #69

 † CHARGE AND BLESSING 

† BENEDICTION (Sunday Worship) “May the God of Hope Go with Us” Hymnal #765 

POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship) Postludio Maestoso Ellen Jane Lorenz 

† You are invited to stand, as you are able 

Scripture for Aug. 20 and 21

Isaiah 58:9-14

New International Version

9

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
    and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
    Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13 “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
    and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
    and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
    and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the Lord,
    and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
    and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.