Service for the Lord’s Day, September 7, 2008

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time   10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

 

PRELUDE                                     Prelude in D Minor                                     J. Pachelbel

 

WELCOME, REGISTRATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

           

CARILLON & LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE          

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                  from Psalm 149:1-4 (NRSV)

               Praise the lord!

            Sing to the Lord a new song, God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful.

                 Let God’s people be glad in its Maker;

                        Let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

            Let them praise God’s name with dancing,

                 Making melody to God with tambourine and lyre.

            For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; adorning the humble with victory.

                 Let the faithful exult in glory; sing for joy on their couches.

*HYMN # 455 (Stanzas 1-4)                                        All Creatures of Our God and King

Stanza 5 read by the Liturgist as a Call to Confession

 

*CONFESSION OF WHO WE ARE                                              on Matthew 13:10-17/wrl

            Lord Jesus:  in seeing we don’t see; in hearing we don’t hear.

            You give, but we fail to “get it.”  You teach, and we neither learn nor change.

            Forgive, be patient, take us back in class,

            but first open the soil of our lives to the seeds of your kingdom.

            Let us trust that in us,

you plant for a harvest of right living and right relationships

in our church, our city, our nation and throughout the earth.

(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 on God.

            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                                                         Isaiah 6: 9-13 (NRSV)

 

ANTHEM                                  Fount of Every Blessing                                     L. Larson

 

WORD WITH THE WISE

 

GOSPEL LESSON                                                                   Matthew 13: 10-17 (NRSV)

 

SERMON                                                                                    “’A Hard Thing to Teach’”

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OUR GENEROSITY TO GOD’S GENEROSITY

            Call to Respond

               OFFERTORY         Bound for the Promised Land                                 L. Larson

 

            COMMISSIONING SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

                  Litany for teaching

                     People’s Response: Teach me, O Lord, your ways.

 

                 Prayers of Dedication & Declaration of Commissioning

 

             RESPONSE # 392 (Stanza 1)                          Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord

 

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

 

 

GO IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 426                                                            Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak 

 

*CHARGE & CHORAL BENEDICTION            Go In Peace                     A. Lovelace

 

POSTLUDE                                    Fugue in D Minor                                     J. Pachelbel

 

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgist

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Wise

Hope Boring

Musical Leadership

Chancel Choir

Dan Laciano, Trumpet

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organ/Piano