August 2 Worship
Download the Worship Bulletin Here
We Gather
CENTERING WORDS
In our darkest hours, God’s light continues to shine.
In our weariest moments, God’s strength is enough.
In our times of greatest isolation, God’s presence is always near.
GATHERING MUSIC
WELCOME and CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: There is one body and one Spirit!
People: There is one hope, one calling!
Leader: There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism!
People: There is one God and Lord of all!
All: Let us worship God!
OPENING HYMN #634
To God Be the Glory
Because the singing of hymns is discouraged during this period of pandemic, you are invited to meditate on verses 1 & 3 below.
To God be the glory, great things He hath done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life our redemption to win,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory; great things He hath done.
CALL TO PRAYERS
Come to Christ with the confidence of children, for Christ will carry our burdens, renew our souls, and give us rest, through his mercy and grace.
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION & INTERCESSION
O Loving God,
to turn away from you is to fall,
to turn toward you is to rise,
and to stand before you is to abide forever.
Grant us, dear God,
in all our duties your help;
in all our uncertainties your guidance;
in all our dangers your protection;
and in all our sorrows your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In humility, let us lift our silent prayers to God for the brokenness of this world and for the needs of our community and our hearts.
Please refer to the deacon’s prayer list in your bulletin.
Silence
ASSURANCE OF GOD WITH US
As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him. Friends, if God is for us, then who is against us? Thanks be to God!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
And also with you.
We Reflect
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Loving God, the chaos of the world encircles and frightens us. We worry about tomorrow, even though you tell us not to be anxious. Send your Spirit to quiet our distractions and draw us to you so that we might know the peace of your close presence. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSON
Romans 9:1-5
SERMON
The Good News: Don’t Give Up
Rev. Dr. Nina Reeder
We Respond
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Invitation
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Let us gather as God’s people.
We come open to God’s grace.
We lift our lives, our hearts, our strength;
we lift ourselves to God.
We offer our thanks to God;
it is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Words of Institution
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.
The Communion
Musical Meditation
Prayer following Communion
We bless you, O God, for these gifts of bread and cup, and for sustaining us in hope every day of our lives. We pray for your strength to prepare us now for your service as we offer to you lives of witness and worship in the world you have made. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
OUR GIFTS OF SACRIFICE and THANKSGIVING
Invitation
We know we are powerfully blessed. We know that of the things the world has to offer, we have so much. We know that all good things come from God. Come now, dear friends, with the confidence of the children of God, and kneel before the throne of grace, giving back to God all that you are and all that you have been given.
Thank you for sending your offerings. They make a great difference to our church’s work in the world.
First Sunday loose plate offering benefits the Deacons Fund.
Musical Meditation
Prayer of Dedication
Receive these gifts we bring, God of gifts, and bless them to be gifts for your world. Through our giving, renew others, that they too may know the comfort and rest of living in the arms of your compassion and your love. Amen.
We Are Sent
CLOSING HYMN #260
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!
You are invited to meditate on verses 1 & 4 below.
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
his the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! his the triumph,
his the victory alone!
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of every nation
has redeemed us by his blood."
Alleluia! King eternal,
Lord omnipotent we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary,
earth your footstool, heaven your throne.
As within the veil you entered,
robed in flesh, our great high priest;
here on earth both priest and victim
in the eucharistic feast.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All songs not in the public domain are used by permission of CCLI #1124594.