August 11, 2024
Prelude: Just As I Am
Bradbury/Baker, arr. Wood
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Psalm 34]
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with us, and let us exalt his name together.
We sought the Lord, and he answered us, and delivered us from all our fears.
Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
Let us worship the LORD!
The God of Abram Praise (Hymn 488)
Hebrew melody/Daniel ben Judah
The God of Abram praise, who reigns enthroned above;
The Ancient of Eternal Days, the God of love!
The Lord, the great I AM, by earth and heaven confessed,
We bow before your holy name, forever blest.
Your spirit still flows free, high surging where it will;
In prophet’s word you spoke of old and you speak still.
Established is your law, and changeless it shall stand,
Deep writ upon the human heart by your strong hand.
You have eternal life implanted in the soul;
Your love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll,
We praise you, living God! We praise your holy name;
The first, the last, beyond all thought, and still the same!
Confession
Jesus, you came to bring good news, to restore sight to the blind and free the oppressed. We know that your work continues, but we live in the in-between time before the fulfillment of your kingdom. In our waiting, forgive us when we doubt your commitment to us. Forgive us when we are blind to the ways we can share your love with the world around us. Increase our faith, and help us come alongside each other as we use our gifts in your service. Amen.
Silence
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (Hymn 466)
Wesley/Gläser
O for a thousand tongues to sing my dear Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of God’s grace!
Jesus, the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease,
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ‘tis life, and health, and peace.
Christ breaks the power of reigning sin, and sets the prisoner free;
Christ’s blood can make the sinful clean, Christ’s blood availed for me.
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Gloria Patri (Hymn 579)
Greatorex
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,
Word without end. Amen, Amen.
Children’s Message
Solo: O Carpenter, Why Leave the Bench
Leach/Billings
Eliana Starbuck
O carpenter, why leave the bench where wood yields to your art,
And take instead, to try your skill, the stony human heart?
O carpenter, why leave the tools to carry out your plans,
And go instead to do God’s work with empty, open hands?
O carpenter, why leave the world of table, bed, and house,
To face the empire’s carpentry, to lift a Roman cross?
O carpenter, why leave repairs with wood and clamp and glue,
And rise from death to seek instead to make the whole world new?
O carpenter, who else could do the work that you have done?
What can we do but sing your praise, O Savior, Mary’s son!
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Steve Blewett
Old Testament: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
New Testament: Luke 4:16-21
Sermon: The Apostles’ Creed, Week 5: “It Ain’t Over Til…”
Rev. John Owen
Focus: While the life and ministry of Jesus happened in a particular moment in human history, Jesus’ work continues, guiding us toward a future that is leading us toward the fulfillment of God’s Kingdom on earth.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
Response: Live Into Hope (Hymn 332)
Williams/Huber
Live into hope of captives freed, of sight regained, the end of greed.
The oppressed shall be the first to see the year of God’s own jubilee!
Live into hope the blind shall see with insight and with clarity,
Removing shades of pride and fear – a vision of our God brought near.
Live into hope of liberty, the right to speak, the right to be,
The right to have one’s daily bread, to hear God’s word and thus be fed.
Live into hope of captives freed from chains of fear or want or greed.
God now proclaims our full release to faith and hope and joy and peace.
Pastoral Prayer & 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, and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Call to Stewardship
Betsy Hammond
Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
-Isaiah 1:17
Offering: Andante
Zachow
Doxology
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.
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: Christ, the Life of All the Living
Zachow
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