Worship Service Bulletin

A Service for the Lord’s Day

17th Sunday after Pentecost

(*Please stand in body or in spirit)

The Instrumental Prelude and Time for Meditation

Pastoral Greeting, Rev. Hana Elliott

*Call to Worship: (from Psalm 145)

Leader: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.

People: We will extol you, our God and king.

Leader: The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,

People: and we will declare your greatness.

Leader: Every day we will bless you,

People: and praise your name forever and ever.

*Hymn #42 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

*Call to Confession:

Because we do not always live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, we confess before God and one another our sins and shortcomings. In repentance, let us turn toward God’s grace in mercy, first in silence, and then aloud together.

*Prayer of Confession, In Unison

(Begin with individual silent prayer before joining in unison)

Gracious God, we have sought after things, but we have not sought after you. We have expected generosity, but we have not shown generosity. We have not been gracious or grateful. We have failed to remember all that you have done. Forgive us and fill our hearts with gratitude. Help us to share our gifts and strengthen our legs so that we can run after you, O God.

*Assurance of Forgiveness: (from Psalm 145)

God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Beloved people of God, believe the good news: through the grace of Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

*The Gloria #108, In Unison

  Glory be to the Father    And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost

As it was in the beginning,   Is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

*Passing of the Peace:

People of God, our sins are forgiven; we are reconciled to God. Let us therefore love one another with gratitude in our hearts and praise on our lips. May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

Prayer for Illumination:

Let us pray: Gracious God, your Word surprises, challenges, upsets, and overturns our way of seeing and thinking. Come and find us today wherever we are, however we are, until we see as you see, and thereby glimpse the kingdom you are bringing. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Children’s Time:

First Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:10-4:11 (pg. 910)

Second Scripture Reading: Matthew 20:1-16 (pg. 966)

Leader: This is the Word of the Lord

People: Let our thanks and praise be to God!

Sermon: “Turning the Tables”

*Hymn #335 “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”

*Affirmation of Faith, (from A Brief Statement of Faith)

We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still. Amen.

Call to Offering:

Whether we have much or only a little, we can share our daily bread so that all will be fed. As we have received, so now we give our tithes and offerings.

Offering of Our Volunteer Mission Hours

Monetary gifts may be placed in the offering plates by the door to the sanctuary or in the narthex. If you have completed any volunteer mission hours this week, fill out a slip of paper about them, and come forward to drop one piece of money (any size coin) in the birthday jar for each hour completed, and place your slip of paper in the offering plate.

The Birthday Song:

Happy birthday, happy birthday, your friends are all singing

  May the year that is coming bring gladness to you.

May it teach you to be helpful, kindhearted, and loving.

   Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.

*Doxology #109

  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.

*Prayer of Dedication

Let us Pray: God of the harvest, we are privileged to be counted among those whom you have called. Accept, we pray, our thanksgiving and offerings, and do what you choose with what already belongs to you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving & Intercession

….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.

Choral Response

  Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord,

Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen

*Hymn #403 “Open My Eyes that I May See”

*Charge & Blessing,

*Choral Response: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

  Mortals, join the happy chorus which the morning stars began;

Love divine is reigning o’er us joining all in heaven’s plan.

   Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,

     Joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.

*The Choral Amen,

  Amen,   Amen,   Amen.