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16th Sunday after Pentecost
9/17/23
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CENTERING MUSIC In This Very Room Ron & Carol Harris
Arr. Fred Bock
MOMENT OF HOPE
CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We are the community of faith that has been created by the love of God.
People: We are the people who have been set free by the word of grace in Jesus Christ.
One: We have come not to parade our own goodness but to celebrate the wonder of God.
People: We have come not to boast of what we have done but to proclaim the redeeming work of Jesus Christ.
All: With all our being, we will praise you, O God, and tell of all your kindness towards us. Amen.
HYMN #637 O Sing to the Lord
O Sing to the Lord; O sing God a new song. O sing to the Lord; O sing God a new song.
O sing to the Lord; O sing God a new song.
O sing to our God; O sing to our God.
For God is the Lord, and God has done wonders. For God is the Lord, and God has done wonders.
For God is the Lord, and God has done wonders.
O sing to our God, O sing to our God.
So Dance for our God, and blow all the trumpets…
O shout to our God, who gave us the Spirit…
For Jesus is Lord! Amen! Alleluia!
PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
O God, Source of all that makes life possible, Giver of all that makes life good, we gather to give you our thanks. Yet, we sometimes do not live our thankfulness: what we have we take for granted, and we grumble about what we lack. We squander your bounty with little thought for those who will come after us. We are more troubled by the few who have more than we than by the many who have less. Help us to change our vision, God. And in this hour of worship, accept our thanksgiving, and teach us to make gratitude and sharing our way of life: through the grace of Christ, we pray. Amen.
SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL #469 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
Lord, listen to your children praying. Lord, send your Spirit in this place.
Lord, listen to your children praying. Send us love; send us power, send us grace.
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
Hear the Good News: God is not done with any of us yet. We can always move into fuller joy, fuller grace, fuller generosity and fuller love. Thanks be to God! Amen.
ANTHEM “A Call to Silence” by Craig Courtney
BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY
This Little Light of Mine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
Today’s Story “The Story of Joseph”
Curt Fujii & Kathleen Krentz
Leader: And as we continue our worship…
Congregation: May God be with you there.
Children: May God be with you here.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER
As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:
Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Acts 9:1-6
Revelation 5:11-14
John 21:1-19
RESPONSE
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
All: Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON The Call to Worship
MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION
HYMN #689 When the Morning Stars Together
When the morning stars together their Creator’s glory sand,
and the angel host all shouted till with joy the heavens rang,
Then your wisdom and your greatness their exultant music told,
all the beauty and the splendor which your mighty works unfold.
When in synagogue and temple voices raised the psalmists’ songs,
Offering up the adoration which alone to you belongs;
When the singers, trumpets, cymbals all combine, your praise to share,
Awestruck people saw your glory fill the sacred house of prayer.
Voice and instrument in union through the ages spoke your praise.
Plainsong, tuneful hymns and anthems told your faithful gracious ways.
Choir and orchestra and organ each a sacred offering brought,
While inspired by your own Spirit, poet and composer wrought.
Lord, we bring our gift of music; touch our lips and fire our hearts.
Teach our minds and train our senses; fit us for these sacred arts.
Then with skill and consecration we would serve you, Lord, and give
All our powers to glorify you, and in serving fully live.
MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY Tune: OLD HUNDRED
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy spirit evermore;
Praise triune God whom we adore. Amen.
*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
O God of love, you have called us into the church. WE thank you for opportunities to grow in understanding and concern for one another. May our congregation be an incarnation of our love within and beyond these church doors, wherever there is loneliness, injustice, or misunderstanding; through Christ our Head, and the Holy Spirit our Strength. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #641 When in Our Music God Is Glorified Vs. 1, 2, 3, 5
When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride,
It is as though the whole creation cried: alleluia!
How often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound,
As worship moved us to a more profound, Alleluia!
So has the church in liturgy and song, in faith and love, through centuries of wrong,
Borne witness to the truth in every tongue: Alleluia!
Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise!
And may God give us faith to sing always: Alleluia!
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*PASSING THE PEACE
Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And with you also.
Pastor: Let us pass the peace of Christ.
People: The peace of Christ be with you.
*POSTLUDE Postlude I Jean Langlais