SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 10, 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.

 

PRELUDE                      Phantasy on the Hymn, “Holy, Holy, Holy”                            P. Post                                      

 

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                           on Isaiah 50:5—9 (from The Message)

               

God has given us well-taught tongues

   so we know how to encourage tired people.

God wakes us up in the morning, wakens us, opens our ears

   to listen as people ready to take orders.

The Master, God, opened our ears

   and we didn’t go back to sleep,

didn’t pull the covers back over our heads.

            Our Master God and Servant Christ stay right here and help us.

               We take our stand as God’s gathered people!  Who dares call us guilty!

 

*HYMN  #371                                                                                                Lift High the Cross            

             *LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE                                              

 

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                           Mark 8: 27-38 (NRSV)

 

ANTHEM                          Come, All Christians, Be Committed

                                              with “Take My Life and Let It Be”                            arr. L. Larson                                 

 

REAFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM & COMMISSIONING TEACHERS,

CONGREGATION, & CHILDREN TO TEACH AND LEARN

 

(See insert for the  following)

Invitation to Reaffirm Baptism

 Litany of Remembrance and Commitment

Reaffirmation of Promises Made in Baptism

Prayer of Thanksgiving Over the Waters

Call to Discipleship and Commissioning Teachers and Learners

 

*THE PEACE

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

   Peace be with you.

(worshipers greet each other with words and gestures of Christ’s peace as newly

commissioned teachers and children take stones and return to places)

 

SERMON                                                                                         Between a Rock and a Cross                                                    

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S AUTHORITY

Call to Respond

Offertory                                  Hymn of Promise                           N. Sleeth/J. Ferguson

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

*Prayer of Dedication

 

PRAYERS OF THANKS AND INTERCESSION

      THE LORD’S PRAYER  (Traditional)                                                            Hymnal P. 16

 

DEPART IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 344                                                                                     Christ of the Upward Way                

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

(Worshipers may come forward to the baptismal font to take a river stone,

reminder that baptism waters and promises continue to shape and remake and refresh

 our cross-shaped discipleship and promise)

 

POSTLUDE                                       Lift High the Cross                        S. Nicholson/L. Smith                 

*Congregation stands as able   

Next Week’s Scriptures: Prov. 1: 20-33; Ps.19; James 3: 1-12; Mark 8: 27-38

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

 

Liturgist 

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl, Deb Bowsher, Betsy Maurath

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Musical Leadership

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organist