SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY, August 21, 2005

 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, 10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME                                                                                 

 

CARILLON, WELCOME, REGISTRATION, ANNOUNCEMENTS                                            

 

PRELUDE                               Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee           Beethoven/Arr. C. Berry

                                                       (Handel – Prelude in G)                                           

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                         from “Touch Holiness”

 

Leader:  Sing praises to God, you faithful,

              give thanks to God’s holy name!

People: Weeping may linger for a night,

              but joy comes in the morning.

Leader:  You turn our weeping to dancing, God;

              you remove the garments of mourning

              and clothe us in gladness.

Unison: May we praise you and not be silent!

              We will give thanks to you, O God, forever!                                                                                            

 

*HYMN # 464                                                                            Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee                                                                                                 

                       

*LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CONFESSION OF WHO WE ARE (Unison)

           

In the beginning, O God, you created laughter, you called it good, and we

laughed as little children laugh. But in the long days of life, laughter vanishes. We turn inward on ourselves. We suffer. We blame. We are angry. We cut ourselves off from you. Laughter is no more. Rescue us from our folly. Make

            us glad again in your presence. Restore to us the joy of your salvation.

(time for personal, silent confession) Amen.

 

*RESPONSE # 572                                                                         Lord Have Mercy Upon Us

 

*ASSURANCE OF WHOSE WE ARE                          on Romans 11: 29-32 (NRSV)/wrl 

 

Leader: Once disobedient to God, you have now received mercy.

              By the mercy shown you, let others now receive mercy!

People: Amen. God help us be merciful!

 

*RESPONSE # 368  (Verse 1)                                                    I’ve Got Peace Like a River

 

*THE PEACE

Leader:  The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

People:  Peace be with you.

(worshipers share words and gestures of God’s peace)

 

 

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

LESSON FROM THE LETTER                                           I Corinthians 1: 20-25 (NRSV)                               

 

ANTHEM                                        Prayer for the Earth                         Russian/H. Hopson                                                                       

 

WORD WITH CHILDREN

Concluding as children say, “God be with you here.”

And congregation responds, “God be with you there.”          

 

LESSON FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT                      Genesis 18: 9-15 (The Message)

 

SERMON                                                                                                   “A Time to Laugh”                    

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERINGS OF OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES

            Call to Respond

            Offertory                                      Go Forth!                                               D. Rathman                        

            *Response # 592                                     Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow                                   

*Prayer of Dedication

 

PRAYERS OF THANKS AND FOR OTHERS, THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

DEPART IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 302                                                                                     I Danced in the Morning                                                               

 

*CHARGE and BLESSING

 

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE # 368 (Verse 2)             I’ve Got Joy Like a Fountain

 

POSTLUDE                         Praise to the Lord, The Almighty                      Arr. C. Tornquist                              

*Congregation stands as able

Next Week’s Script. Readings:  Exod. 3: 1-15; Ps. 105: 1-6; Rom. 12: 9-21; Matt. 16: 21-28

 

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

 

Sermon and Word with Children

Reverend Jonathan C. Siehl