Worship Celebration
Worship Celebration
September 8, 2019
Guiding Vision
“We are a diverse, Christ-centered people, learning together
and reaching out to serve the community in faith, hope, and love.
*Please stand as you are able
We Open Ourselves to God and Each Other
Prelude “Great is Thy Faithfulness” Edith Yokley, Violin
Welcome Rev. Hill
Choral Introit “Holy Ground”
*Call to Worship
One: The foolish say, ‘there is no God.’
All: We come, trusting in Jesus, the face, the voice,
the presence of the God who loves us.
One: The scoffers of our age ask, ‘why do you seek after God?’
All: We come, in this time,
because God’s grace has spilled over in our lives.
One: The hopeless around us think, ‘no one cares about me.’
All: We come, in this time, to this place,
because Jesus has found us and brought us home.
*Hymn “Be Thou My Vision” #451
Call to Reconciliation
One: Which of us has not hurt someone this week? Which of us has not spoken (or thought) ill of a sister or brother in Christ? Which of us has failed to do good when given the chance? Which of us? All of us and each of us! But Christ came to save people just like us, so I invite you to join me as we offer our prayers to God, saying,
Prayer of Confession (unison)
Although we believe we are experts at faithfulness, Holy God, we must confess we are unskilled workers at doing good for others. Too often, we turn a deaf ear to the cries of people we have judged to be fools. We easily scoff at those we believe have nothing to teach us or share with us.
How foolish, Searching God, how foolish we are! Forgive us, and restore us to your goodness. Then, send us forth to search for all who sit in the shadowed corners of our world, yearning for someone to come and find them, even as Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, came to find us.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
One: Our actions sometimes show we do not know God. Our words and lives show we do not understand God’s hopes for us. But with utmost patience, God sets aside our foolishness, and fills us with mercy.
All: Mingled with faith and love, grace is poured into our sin-parched souls, giving us new life, restoring us as God’s children. Thanks be to God. Amen.
*Passing the Peace
We invite the congregation to openly greet one another. Show a smile, shake a hand, give a hug. Let’s share God’s love with one another. During the singing of “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” please find your way back to your seat as we continue fellowship.
*Song of Response (sung on the way back to our seats)
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” 1 Verse # 557
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Moment as Children
We Listen Together for the Divine Word
Anthem “God Be in My Head” Hal Hopson
Prayer of Illumination
Faithful God,
our hearts yearn for hope.
Shine the light and glory of the coming Christ on our lives.
Show us how to be your servants of justice
and children of righteousness. Amen.
1st Scripture Reading Psalm 14, pew Bible p. 430
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
2nd Scripture Reading 1 Timothy 1: 12-17, pew Bible p. 963
One: Here ends the reading
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Under the Influence of Mercy” Rev. Hill
We Respond to God’s Call
Anthem “Mercy Said No” Jade Maze, Soloist
Invitation to the Offering
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Offertory “The Prayer” Grace Hodges & Michael Kirby
*Doxology
“Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow” # 95
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Sharing Joys and Concerns
You are invited to share requests for prayer.
After each the pastor will offer: “Come Holy Spirit!”
And the people respond: “Hear our prayer!”
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (unison)
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 sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever. Amen.
*Closing Hymn “God Be with You till We Meet Again” 1st verse # 672
Benediction Rev. Hill
Postlude
In Worship Today
Pastor: Rev. Charlene Hill
Director of Music – Organist: Joe Wilkinson
Liturgist: Ann Audrain
1st Scripture Reading, Psalm 14 (pew Bible p. 424)
To the leader. Of David.
1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is no one who does good.
2 The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
3 They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon the LORD?
5 There they shall be in great terror,
for God is with the company of the righteous.
6 You would confound the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is their refuge.
7 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
2nd Scripture Reading, 1 Timothy 1: 12-17 (pew Bible p. 963)
Gratitude for Mercy
12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[a] Amen.