July 7, 2024
Prelude: Praise be to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ
Prelude and Fughette
Bach/Buttstedt
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Psalm 85]
Let us hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss.
Faithfulness will spring up from the ground and righteousness will look down from the sky.
Let us worship the LORD!
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Hymn 260)
Luther
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he,
Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo! His doom is sure, one little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still, his kingdom is forever.
Confession
God of reconciliation, in Christ we have seen our salvation, which you give freely to all. We have been waiting, hoping, and working for good news, but so much is beyond our control. Forgive us for so quickly becoming discouraged and losing sight of our hope in you. Ground us in the love and teaching of Jesus, and draw us into your abundant mercy, that we might share your love with our neighbors and reach out to the lonely and weary in our midst. Amen.
Silence
Be Thou My Vision (Hymn 339)
Ancient Irish poem/Irish ballad
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
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
Once In Royal David’s City (Hymn 49)
Gauntlett/Alexander
He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all,
And his shelter was a stable, and his cradle was a stall.
With the poor, oppressed, and lowly, lived on earth our Savior holy.
Jesus is our childhood’s pattern, day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak and helpless, tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feels for all our sadness, and He shares in all our gladness.
And our eyes at last shall see him, through his own redeeming love,
For that Child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above;
And he leads his children on to the place where he is gone.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Doug Hammond
Hebrews 2:14-18
Luke 2:22-40
Homily: The Apostles’ Creed, Week 2
John Owen
Focus: What makes us distinctively Christian is what we believe about Jesus of Nazareth.
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.
Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
Communion Music:
There Is A Redeemer/Blessing, Honour and Glory
Green/Bullock and Reidy
Carollen Ryan
Communion Prayer
Call to Stewardship
Ruth Seignemartin
You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
-Exodus 22:21
Offering: There Is A Redeemer
Green
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: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Luther, arr. A.K. Organ
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CCLI# 283345
