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Prelude “Partita on Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” Johann Pachelbel
“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” J. S. Bach
Greetings and Announcements Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
An Act of Praise
Introit “Come, All You People” Zimbabwean gathering song
*Westminster Chimes
*Invitation to Worship Rev. Gregg Neel
Called to be light,
we will carry God’s hope
into the shadows of the world.
Called to be salt,
we will enhance the lives
of those around us.
Called to live in God’s reality,
we will welcome everyone
as siblings in faith. Let us worship God.
*Hymn #761 “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” beecher
(vv. 1-3)
Called as partners in Christ’s service, called to ministries of grace,
we respond with deep commitment fresh new lines of faith to trace.
May we learn the art of sharing, side by side and friend with friend,
equal partners in our caring to fulfill God’s chosen end.
Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, Christ’s dear call to work and worth,
let us follow, never faltering, reconciling folk on earth.
Men and women, richer, poorer, all God’s people, young and old,
blending human skills together gracious gifts from God unfold.
Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission, in a small or global sense,
help us bear each other’s burdens, breaking down each wall or fence.
Words of comfort, words of vision, words of challenge, said with care,
bring new power and strength for action, make us colleagues, free and fair.
*Invitation to Confession Rev. Eileen Parfrey
As God’s beloved children, we are invited to come to our God with the fullness of our lives, to admit our love and our hate, to admit our faith and our fear. Trusting in God’s mercy, let us make our confession, first in silent prayer.
*Silent Prayer
*Unison Prayer of Confession
Holy and gracious God, at times we feel so frail and fragile, getting blown about by the latest crisis, by bad news, by our own short tempers and failings. You call us to hold fast to what is good, but so often we flounder, unable to find that solid thing that will center us again. Help us, we pray. Help us to see you as our center, and to cling to the good that you create in the world. Help us to set aside all our jealousies and prejudices, all of our betrayals and lies, all that adds to the world’s hurt. Help us to grow even more into Christ’s likeness, that we will bear his love and truth to the world. We pray in his name. Amen.
*Assurance of Forgiveness (Hymn #761 v. 4) To Be Sung!
So God grant us for tomorrow ways to order human life that surround each person’s sorrow with a calm that conquers strife. Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase, messengers of faith, thus giving hope and confidence and peace.
*The Passing of the Peace
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
An Act of Proclamation
The Scripture Reading Matthew 5: 13-20 (p. 4) Rev. Gregg Neel
‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Moments with Children Rev. Eileen Parfrey
Anthem “Caritas et Amor” Z. Randall Stroope
Where charity and love are, God is there.
Alleluia, God is there. Joy that is immense!
Sermon “Enhancing and Revealing with Faith” Rev. Gregg Neel
A Moment for Silent Reflection
An Act of Response
*Hymn #726 “Will You Come and Follow Me” kelvingrove
“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown; will you let my name be known;
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”
“Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?”
“Will you let the blind see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?”
“Will you love the ‘you’ you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?”
Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Sharing Joys & Concerns Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
(At the conclusion of spoken joys, let us pray together, “Thanks be to you, O God.”
For concerns, let us make them our own by praying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Pastoral Prayer 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.
Community Moment Operation Nightwatch Steve Wilkinson
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts
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Offertory Anthem “Sing Unto God” Georg Frideric Handel
from Judas Maccabeus
Sing unto God and high affections raise,
to crown this conquest with unmeasured praise.
*Doxology – Hymn #606
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.
-OR-
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Hymn #772 “Live into Hope” truro
Live into hope of captives freed, of sight regained, the end of greed. The oppressed shall be the first to see the year of God’s own jubilee!
Live into hope! The blind shall see with insight and with clarity, removing shades of pride and fear, a vision of our God brought near.
Live into hope of liberty, the right to speak, the right to be, the right to have one’s daily bread, to hear God’s words and thus be fed.
Live into hope of captives freed from chains of fear or want or greed. God now proclaims our full release to faith and hope and joy and peace.
*Benediction Rev. Gregg Neel
*Postlude “No La Oss Takke Gud” Egil Hovland
(You may be seated for the postlude or you may depart.)