Sunday Worship – September 17, 2017

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN PENTECOST

Part 1  

  • The Ringing of the Bell
  • Words of Welcome – Rev. Joel Weible, Pastor
  • Prelude:  “Voluntary No. 1” – John Stanley

Part 2  

  • Call to Worship  – Ashia Huelsenbeck & congregation
    • Leader:   In autumn beauty, we prepare for the harvest.
    • People:   Harvest is a time of rejoicing in God’s natural bounty and the gathering in of our lives.
    • Leader:   Seasons turn, but God’s love is changeless.
    • People:   We praise God for all we have received.
    • ALL:      MAY THE RESTLESS WINDS OF THE SPIRIT RUSH THROUGH OUR LIVES AS WE WORSHIP GOD TOGETHER!
  • Hymn 276:  “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – FAITHFULLNESS
  • Call to Confession and Prayer  (unison)                                        
    • Gracious God, as difficult as it is, we confess that our hearts are too often closed tight against your love and mercy.  We hold onto love for ourselves, resentment against those for whom we care, anger at our helplessness, and complicity in the structures of our society.  We have protected ourselves emotionally, socially, and spiritually; and our selfishness has nourished the pain of the world rather than its hope.  Open, loosen, and unbind us.  Enable our frozen hearts to love all, our clenched hands to help all, and our stifled spirits to breathe and pray.  In Christ’s name, hear our silent prayers of return …
  • Assurance of Pardon – Ashia Huelsenbeck and congregation
    • Leader:   With God, there is no chasm that cannot be bridged, no loss that cannot be recovered, no mistake that cannot be forgiven, and no life that cannot be redeemed.
    • People:   By the grace of God in Christ Jesus, our sins are forgiven and the ability to begin again is ours.
    • Leader:   Glory be to God who makes all things new!
    • People:   Amen.
  • Response 322:  “Spirit of the Living God” – LIVING GOD

Part 3  

  • Time for Young Disciples – Connie Vice

Part 4  

  • Anthem:  “Ubi Caritas” – Victor C. Johnson – The Chancel Choir
    • Ubi caritas et amor,  (Where there is charity and love,)
      Deus ibi est.  (God is there.)
      Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.  (The love of Christ has gathered us together.)
      Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur.  (Let us rejoice and be glad in it.)
      Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.  (And from a sincere heart let us love one another.)

Part 5  

  • Scripture:  Exodus 14:19-31
  • Sermon:  WHY DO YOU BELEIVE? – Reverend Joel Weible, Pastor
  • Download the sermon to play on your own audio device:  091717 sermon jw

Part 6 

  • Hymn 277     O God, Our Faithful God         O GOTT, DU FROMMER GOTT
  • Affirmation of Faith  – Ashia Huelsenbeck and congregation
    • We believe that God hopes and works for a world where all shall be included in the feast of life and that in Christ we see how costly it is to bring that world about.
    • We believe that God of all the earth is at work beyond the churches as well as within them, working for justice so that all may have a say in what happens to them.
    • We long for the time when all who hunger and thirst for justice shall be satisfied and we believe that despite the persistence of evil, now is always the time when more good can be done and we can make a difference.  Amen.

Part 7 

  • Time of Giving Thanks – Rev. Joel Weible, Pastor
  • Announcements
  • Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

Part 8 

  • Offertory:  “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” –  arranged by Richard Elliott
  • Doxology 592:  “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
  • Prayer of Dedication (unison)
    • One and Eternal God of time and space, we respond to you with joy as we lift up our tithes and offerings.  The opportunity to share is a blessing for which we are very thankful.  Your generous provision for our needs prompts us to be generous in return. Accomplish your purposes, we pray, through these gifts and in our lives.  Amen.

Part 9 

  • Hymn 343:  “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” – BEECHER
    • Verse 4 as mentioned by Pastor Joel:  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.
  • Charge and Benediction – Rev. Joel Weible, Pastor  

Part 10 

  • The Ringing of the Bell
  • Postlude:  “Come Sing, O Church, in Joy!” – DARWALL’S 148TH  arranged by Jason D. Payne

 

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