SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY, August 28, 2005

 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME                                                                                 

 

CARILLON, WELCOME, REGISTRATION, ANNOUNCEMENTS                                            

 

PRELUDE                                     It Is Well With My Soul                                     Bliss/Berry

(Beethoven Sonata)

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                       Seasons of the Spirit Congregational Life

           

Leader 1:          Seek God; seek God’s presence continually.

Leader 2:          Come closer. Come closer.

Leader 1:          Turn aside here to seek God, to seek God’s presence.

Leader 2:          Look closer. Look and listen.

Leader 1:          Turn aside from the familiar path and say, “Here I am.”

Leader 2:          Come. Stand here. Stand in silent awe.

Leader 1:          Look. Listen.

Leader 2:          We stand on holy ground.                                                        

 

*HYMN # 525                                                                                                    Here I Am Lord                                                                                                

                       

*LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*UNISON PRAYER FOR GOD’S PRESENCE               Seasons of the Spirit Congregational Life

 

God of all earth and sky,

you shaped us from your own ground into being,

you breathed spirit in our souls

you breathed word into our ears.

You burn around us in unexpected places,

calling to turn aside and feel your presence,

to turn aside and hear your voice,

to turn aside and be grounded in you.

Here we are, Holy God: open, waiting, hoping to know you

more deeply, more fully, more wholly. Amen

(time for personal, silent confession) Amen.

 

*RESPONSE # 579                                                                                 Glory Be to the Father

 

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH/LESSON FROM THE LETTER

Romans 12: 9-21 (The Message)

 

                   Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life

from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply;

practice playing second fiddle.

       Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants

of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

       Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your

happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get

along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies;

don’t be the great somebody.

       Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you,

get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you

to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

       Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch; or if thirsty, get a drink. Your generosity will surprise your enemy with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil

by doing good.

  

*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

 

ANTHEM                                          Go And Tell John                                        L. Pfautsch                                                                     

 

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                                   Exodus 3: 1-15 (NRSV)                                

 

SERMON                                                                                                                      “Title ”                    

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERINGS OF OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES

            Call to Respond

            Offertory                               Blessed Be The Lord                               Purcell/Whitford                          

            *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 # 487                                                                           When Morning Guilds The Sky                                                               

 

*CHARGE and BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                         What A Friend We Have In Jesus                            Arr. J. Carter                              

*Congregation stands as able

Next Week’s Script. Readings:  Exod. 12: 1-14; Ps. 149; Rom. 13: 8-14; Matt. 18: 15-20

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

 

Sermon

Reverend William R. Leety