Service for the Lord’s Day, February 8, 2009   10:30 a.m.

                                                   5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

                                                  GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

PRELUDE            Old-Time Religion with Swing Low, Sweet Chariot     spiritual/M. Hayes

                                                     Poor Wayfaring Stranger                         spiritual/M. Hayes

 

WELCOME, REGISTRATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CHORAL INTROIT

      LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP on Isaiah 40:21ff & Psalm 147                          from Call to Worship 42.1

 

            Have you heard?  God heals the broken and blesses the wounded.

                 Sing praise to God!

            Have you heard?  God forgives, and the past is over and done.

                 Sing praise to God!

            Have you heard?  God lifts up the downcast and gives peace to the troubled.

                 Sing praise to God!

            Have you heard?  God smoothes out rough paths and makes a way for us.

                 Sing praise to God!

            Have you heard?  God gives power to the weak and renews our strength.

            Sing praise to God.

                 We come to worship the Eternal God and to hear good news.

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 411                                               Arise, Your Light Is Come!

 

*CONFESSION OF WHO WE ARE                                            on 1 Corinthians 9:15-23/wrl

 

                        Paul writes:  “I have made no use of these rights.”

            Lord, we confess that we are quick to claim and to stand on our rights.

            By rights, we excuse mistakes, insist others toe the line, and exert our wills.

            Forgive our use of rights, and our neglect of obligations—

                 to the world you love, and call us to win with your love;

                 to human bonds we say we cherish

with family, congregation, neighbors and strangers;

                    to the gospel of Jesus, to whom we are bound and by whom we stand.

                                      (time for silent, personal confession)   Amen.

 

*ASSURANCE OF WHOSE WE ARE                                                 Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)

 

               The prophet Isaiah writes:

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

            they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

            they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

            Waiting upon God, waiting for the Lord’s forgiveness and strength,

We are partners with God in the giving of God’s forgiveness and strength.

                 We thank God for love and promise.

 

*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 peace)

 

                                                  PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

LESSON FROM THE GOSPEL                                                         Mark 1:29-39 (NRSV)

                                                                                               Pew Bible New Testament Pg. 33

 

ANTHEM                                  Casting Our Crowns Down                                  L. Shackley

 

MOMENT WITH THE YOUNG

 

LESSON FROM THE LETTER                                           1 Corinthians 9: 15-23 (NRSV)

                                                                                             Pew Bible New Testament Pg. 161

 

SERMON                                                                                                                 “Weakling”

 

                                                         RESPOND TO GOD

 

OFFERING ALL WE ARE AND ALL WE HAVE TO GOD

            Call to Respond

               OFFERTORY                         Give Me Jesus                                  spiritual/B. Harlan

            PROMISES & WELCOME OF MEMBER - John Rich

                HYMN # 438                                                                 Blest Be the Tie That Binds

 

PRAYERS ASKING & THANKING GOD, THE LORD’S PRAYER (traditional)

 

                                             GO IN GOD’S NAME TO SERVE

 

*HYMN # 372                                                                          Lord, I Want to Be a Christian

 

*CHARGE                                                                                        from 1 Corinthians 9: 19ff

             Though we are free with respect to all, as the apostle writes,

                   Let us together as a congregation and personally as Christ’s people,

                   make ourselves servant to all that we might win more of them to good news.

 

BLESSING & CHORAL RESPONSE # 587                                                                 Amen

 

POSTLUDE                                     Prologue on “Webb”                                        D. Paxton

                   (Note that some will be seated and others depart in joy and silence.)

 

                            WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

                                                       WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Moment with the Young

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Musical Leadership

Celebration Singers

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organ/Piano

Concerned Deacon

Lorie Ellett

Head Usher

Dick Dull

 
 
 
                                                 IN MEMORIAM
 
                                               Dr. George E. Bell
                                            December 6, 1923 ~ February 2, 2009
 
                                                “I am the resurrection and the life.
                                Those who believe in me, though they die, will live.”
                                                                 -John 11:25