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UPCOMING WORSHIP:
View a PDF of the Worship bulletin here.
View a PDF of the Covenant for Faithful Living in Divided Times here.
October 27, 2024
Twenty-Third Sunday After Pentecost
We Come Together as God’s People
Prelude Allegro and Adagio (from Concerto in A minor, BWV 593) Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Dr. John Allegar, organ transcribed J.S. Bach (1685-1750)
Welcome Rev. Christopher A. Henry
Choral Call to Worship In Thy Temple Luigi Zaninelli
Sanctuary Choir; Dr. Michelle Louer, conductor (b. 1932)
In Thy temple, Lord awaiting,
Low our hearts and minds we bow.
Creatures all of Thy creating,
Worship we with holy vow.
Come, O Lord, unto this place,
Fill it with Thy light and grace.
* Call to Worship Rev. Madison M. VanVeelen
One: Gather us in, O God;
All: Your people are here to worship!
One: Hold us in faith, O God;
All: We are here to serve.
One: Send us in hope, O God;
All: We are here to follow.
One: Make us your people, O God, as we worship, serve, and follow.
* Prayer of Adoration
* Processional Hymn #430 Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! DARWALL’S 148TH
Invitation to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God,
It is not only our sin which we need to confess,
but also our fatigue.
It is not only our self-interest that controls us,
but also our fear.
It is not only our skepticism that challenges us,
but also our pain.
Take the whole of us, O God,
and from the varied pieces of our lives,
remake us to be wholly devoted to you.
We ask it in the name of Christ, who risked all for the sake of love. (Silent Prayer)
Assurance of God’s Grace
* Response of Praise LASST UNS ERFREUEN
* Passing the Peace of Christ
* Hymn #274 O God of Earth and Space LEONI (Hebrew Melody)
We Experience God’s Word
The Word with Children
First Grade Bible Milestone
Prayer for Illumination Cameron Ratliff
First Scripture Lesson Psalm 97:1-9 (p. 540)
Anthem Seek the Lord Justine Koontz
Seek the Lord, and in his ways persevere:
O faint not, but as eagles fly,
For his steep hill is high,
Then striving gain the top and triumph ever.
When with glory there thy brows are crowned,
New joys so shall abound in thee,
Such sights thy soul shall see,
That worldly thoughts shall by their beams be drowned.
Text: Thomas Campion (1567-1620)
Second Scripture Lesson 1 Samuel 8: Selected Verses (p. 248)
Sermon Rev. Christopher A. Henry
A Time for Courage
“But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel;
they said, ‘No! but we are determined to have a king over us...’”
(1 Samuel 8:19)
Moment of Silent Meditation
We Give Thanks to God
* Affirmation of Faith (from the Iona Abbey Community) Rev. Michael M. Samson
With the whole church,
we affirm that we are made in God’s image,
befriended by Christ,
and empowered by the Spirit.
With people everywhere,
we affirm God’s goodness at the heart of humanity,
planted more deeply than all that is wrong.
With all creation,
we celebrate the miracle and wonder of life,
the unfolding purposes of God,
forever at work in ourselves and the world. Amen.
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.
Invitation to Discipleship and Generosity
Offertory Joshua Fit da Battle Spiritual
Will Upham, tenor arr. Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)
Refrain: Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho.
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down.
You may talk about the men of Gideon; you may talk about the men of Saul;
there’s none like good old Joshua, at the battle of Jericho. (Refrain)
Up to the walls of Jericho he marched with sword in hand.
“Go blow those ram’s horns,” Joshua cried, “cause the battle is in my hand.”
Then the lam’-ram-sheep horns began to blow, trumpets began to sound,
Joshua commanded the children to shout, and the walls come tumbling down. (Refrain)
* Doxology OLD HUNDREDTH
* Prayer of Dedication
We Go Forth to Serve
* Closing Hymn #369 I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me Spiritual
arr. Wendell Whalum (1932-1987)
* Charge and Benediction
* Choral Benediction May the Lord, Mighty God WEN-TI (Chinese Folk Tune)
May the Lord, mighty God, bless and keep you forever;
Grant you peace, perfect peace,
Courage in every endeavor.
Text: Numbers 6:24-26 (adapted)
Postlude Autumn: Allegro (from “The Four Seasons”) Antonio Vivaldi