SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

August 13, 2006, 10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

The Prelude begins worship—a time to prepare to meet with other believers, and with God.

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

PRELUDE                            Vivace from Sonata, Opus 1, No. 3                       G. F. Handel

                                                    Finale from Concerto No. 5                              G. F. Handel                                        

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                   Touch Holiness

Let us rejoice, for morning has dawned. A new day has been born,

and we are newly alive to enjoy it.

 

We know the beauty of God's creation and the wonder of the human family. We remember those whose love has shaped our lives and those whose struggle for justice has been unsleeping.

 

We gather in our church to worship God, to share prayers and gifts, to pledge ourselves to God's work in the world.

 

May God bless us, so that what we do in this time together may be honest, sacred and filled with hope.

 

*LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE                                                                                                                                                       

* HYMN # 464                                                                                                    Joyful, Joyful             

 

*WE SPEAK AND SING OUR CONFESSION                               based on Isaiah 24: 4-5

 

         The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens

         languish together with the earth. The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for

         we have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.

(Time for silent, personal confession) Amen.

 

 Hymn #301                                                                              Lord Jesus, Think on Me

(Stanzas 1, 2 & 4 are sung – Stanza 3 is spoken)

 

 

*THE PEACE

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

               Peace be with you.

(worshipers greet one another with words and gestures of the peace of Christ)

 

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

ANTHEM                                           Jesus, My Lord                                               E. Butler                        

 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON                                                                    Psalm 19 (NRSV)

 

WORD WITH CHILDREN & DISMISSAL TO JOYTIME

 

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON                                                  Colossians 1: 15-20 (NRSV)

 

SERMON                                                                                                            “First - Born”

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                             A Brief Statement of Faith, The Book of Confessions

    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.

        With believers in every time and place,         

                we rejoice that nothing in life or in death

                can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES

Call to Respond

            Offertory                                      All My Trials                           Folk Song/M. Hayes

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

*Prayer of Dedication

 

PRAYERS OF THANKS AND INTERCESSION, THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

DEPART IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 346                                                                             Christ, You are the Fullness                 

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                                                  March                                             G. F. Handel                            

*Congregation stands as able   

Next Week’s Scriptures: 1 Kings 2: 10-12, 3: 3-14; Ps. 111; Eph. 5: 15-20; John 6: 51-58

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgist 

Deb Bowsher, John Deeth

Sermon/Word with Children

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Musical Leadership

                           Summer Choir, Sarah Shaffer, Nancy Deeth