Service for the Lord’s Day, November 9, 2008

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time   10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

 

PRELUDE                                      Baroque Trumpet                                          G. Young

                                           Prelude and Fugue VIII (The Little)                          J. S. Bach

 

WELCOME, REGISTRATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

            Spotlight on Mission

 

CARILLON & CHORAL INTROIT

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP & PRAYER FOR GOD’S PRESENCE       from Chalice Worship

           The God of love comes to take hold of us in this act of worship.

                 So we pray that God not let us go until we have been blessed

                       by a vision of love infinitely generous, gentle and forgiving;

                       simple, wholesome, mysterious, profound;

            in which we all are accepted and no one rejected; love that never ends.

                 Loving God, Love itself, live in our hearts now and forever.  Amen.

 

               LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 477                 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim

 

*CONFESSION OF WHO WE ARE

 

          God with us, God on the way, God on the move:

          Often we’re unconscious of your presence, or distracted by other things.

          Wrapped up in moments we consider our own, we miss eternity in the midst.

          Forgive and waken us to our days and years,

                       and prepare us for your day,

                       which you promise to share with us in Jesus.

(time for silent, personal confession)   Amen.

 

*ASSURANCE OF WHOSE WE ARE & THE PEACE                    from Romans 10: 5-15

 

       God is generous to all who call.

       The word is near to us, on our lips and in our hearts.

       Everyone who calls on the name of the Holy God shall be saved.

               Thank God!

 

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

               Peace be with you.

(worshipers exchange signs and words of the peace of Christ)

 

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON                                          Joshua 24: 1-3a, 14-25 (NRSV)

 

ANTHEM                                     Peace in the Valley                      T. Dorsey/L. Shackley

 

WORD WITH THE WISE

 

GOSPEL LESSON                                                                     Matthew 25: 1-13 (NRSV)

 

SERMON                                                                                  “What are we witnesses to?”

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OUR GENEROSITY TO GOD’S GENEROSITY

            Call to Respond

               OFFERTORY                 I Shall Not Be Moved                                 arr. A. Parker

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

           *PRAYER DEDICATING OURSELVES TO GOD

 

PRAYERS OF THANKS AND ASKING, THE LORD’S PRAYER         Hymnal p. 16

 

GO IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 447                                                                              Lead On, O King Eternal

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING                 

 

POSTLUDE                        Bachiana on an Ancient Chorale                             G. Young

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Sermon

Rev. David Bartley

Word with Wise

Hope Boring

Musical Leadership

Celebration Singers

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organ/Piano

Concerned Deacon

Lorie Ellett

 

The Reverend David Bartley, Moderator of the Synod of the Covenant, received the sacrament of baptism at the font here in the sanctuary of Overbrook, and today returns to where his parents and this congregation promised to tell him the stories of the faith, and to love and nurture him with God’s love.

Before he started kindergarten his family moved to Urbana.  He graduated from Urbana High, Muskingum College and McCormick Theological Seminary.  He accepted a call to Freeport and Nottingham Churches in Muskingum Valley Presbytery, just east of our Presbytery of Scioto Valley.  In 1983 he accepted a call to Bellaire Presbyterian Church in Bellaire, Ohio.  Then in 1989 he moved to Eastminster in Toledo. 

He and Kathy married in 1974, and have three married sons.

He serves as Moderator of the Synod.  In his Presbytery, Maumee Valley, he chairs Camps & Conferences Ministry (and directs summer camps at Kirkmont Center), serves on Budget and Finance Committee, and moderates its Permanent Judicial Commission.