PRELUDE
“Partita on CWM RHONDDA” John Hughes; arr. Robert Powell
“Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (Solomon)” G. F. Handel
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Rev. Gregg Neel
This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
AN ACT OF PRAISE
INTROIT
“Over My Head” trad. African-American
*WESTMINSTER CHIMES
*INVITATION TO WORSHIP The Rev. Gregg Neel
Welcome this day to the house of our God.
We are greeted in peace and in love.
Welcome this day to the worship of our Creator.
We worship in hope and with grace.
Welcome this day to our community of faith,
Where we are kin in Christ.
Friends, let us worship God.
*HYMN #618
“O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High” DEO GRACIAS
O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
Beyond all thought and fantasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake
For us baptized, for us he bore
His holy fast and hungered sore;
For us temptations sharp he knew,
for us, the tempter overthrew.
For us by wickedness betrayed,
For us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death;
For us gave up his dying breath.
For us he rose from death again;
For us he went on high to reign;
For us he sent the Spirit here
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
All glory to our Lord and God,
For love so deep, so high, so broad:
The Trinity whom we adore
Forever and forever more.
*INVITATION TO CONFESSION The Rev. Lindsey Hubbard-Groves
All fall short of the glory of God. As we go about our lives, that glory is diminished but not absent. In making our confession, we remove the dull sheen of what is wrong, and allow the glory to shine through God’s grace. Let us pray, first in silence.
*SILENT PRAYER
*UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious and loving God, we come to you to confess.
We know that sometimes we are happily so proud of ourselves, our achievements and successes, and we bask in the world’s adulation.
In our self-centeredness, we do not heed the cries of the world.
We close our eyes to suffering and need and grief.
Forgive us for that.
Forgive us, and more than that,
turn us around to see all your children, with the truth of their lives,
that we would set aside our selfishness
and answer your call to go out, to heal, to help, to proclaim good news and joy.
Through Christ we pray. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, hear the Good News: God so loved the world that God sent Jesus to us, not to condemn the world but in order that we might be saved – healed and forgiven – through him. Thanks be to God!
Alleluia! Amen.
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
AN ACT OF PROCLAMATION
THE SCRIPTURE READING The Rev. Beth Neel
Philippians 2:1-11
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
MOMENTS WITH CHILDREN The Rev. Gregg Neel
ANTHEM
“Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal” Alice Parker
Hark I hear the harps eternal ringing on the farther shore
As I near those swollen waters with their deep and solemn roar.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, praise the lamb.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, glory to the great I am.
And my soul though stained with sorrow, fading as the light of day
Passes swiftly o’er those waters to the city far away.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, praise the lamb.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, glory to the great I am.
Souls have crossed before me saintly to that land of perfect rest.
And I hear them singing faintly in the mansions of the blest.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, praise the lamb.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, glory to the great I am.
SERMON The Rev. Beth Neel
“On Humility”
A MOMENT FOR SILENT REFLECTION
AN ACT OF RESPONSE
*HYMN #215
“What Wondrous Love Is This” WONDROUS LOVE
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing,
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb who is the great I AM,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme I will sing!
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
And from when death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity I’ll sing on.
SHARING JOYS & CONCERNS The 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 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.
MINUTE FOR MISSION Allison Higgins
Women’s Retreat
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
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OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“The Ground” Ola Gjeilo
Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory; Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.
Blessed are they; Hosanna in the highest!
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.
*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 #727
“Will You Let Me Be Your Servant” THE SERVANT SONG
(Because this hymn may be new to some, the choir will sing the first verse. Please join in as you feel comfortable on verses 2-6.)
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey; we’re together on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.
Will you let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.
*BENEDICTION The Rev. Beth Neel
*POSTLUDE
“Handel in the Strand” Percy Grainger