John Calvin Presbyterian Church

1. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God And it’s righteousness

And all these things shall be added unto you Allelu Alleluia

2. Ask and it shall be given unto you Seek and you shall find

Knock and it shall be opened unto you Allelu Alleluia

3. You shall not live by bread alone, but by every word

That proceeds from the mouth of God. Allelu Alleluia

WORDS OF WELCOME           

MINUTE FOR MISSION Pledge Sunday

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP Deut. 6:4–5

ONE: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.

MANY: You shall love the Lord your God.

                                                   

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of Elijah, with great fire you made your presence known to the worshipers of Baal. Help us to resist the temptation to place our trust and faith in anything other than you. Receive our worship and strengthen our faith. Amen.

HYMN OF THE MONTH [GTG# 301]“Let Us Build a House” Vs. 1,3,5

1. Let us build a house Where love can dwell and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions: 

All are welcome, all are welcome; all are welcome in this place. 

3. Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine and wheat;

a banquet hall on holy ground where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;

as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome, all are welcome; all are welcome in this place. 

5. Let us build a house where all are named, 

their songs and visions heard

and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace,

let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

All are welcome, all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN      

 RESPONSE HYMN [GTG#655] “What Shall I Render to the Lord” 

1. What shall I render to the Lord;

what shall my offering be,

for all the gracious benefits

God hath bestowed on me?

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty God, you love us, but we have not loved you. You call, but we have not listened. We walk away from neighbors in need, wrapped in our own concerns. We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.

God of grace, help us to admit our sin, so that as you come to us in mercy, we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579] [GTG581]     

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

SCRIPTURE [Pew Bible OT 310 or 325]                   1 Kings 18:20-39

Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” The people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the Lord; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.” All the people answered, “Well spoken!” Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me”; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down; Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”; with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed. Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time”; and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time”; and they did it a third time, so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water. At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God.”

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON                               “Limping”                       Reverend Ochart

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Brief Statement of Faith

In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in Jesus Christ, Fully human, fully God.

Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.

We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image …, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. 

We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church. 

With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                 “Elijah”       by Dan Davidson

DOXOLOGY  [*BLUE#592] [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 

THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

ONE: The Lord be with you.

MANY: And also with you.

ONE: Lift up your hearts.

MANY: We lift them to the Lord.

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

MANY: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE: …Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:

MANY: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

ONE: … Great is the mystery of faith:

MANY: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again…

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen

ONE: … The gifts of God for the people of God.

MANY: Thanks be to God.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION  

HYMN[*Blue #263][GTG#12] “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might:

thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;

thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

3 To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.

In all life thou livest, the true life of all.

We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,

then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.

4 Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light.

Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.

All praise we would render; O help us to see

’tis only the splendor of light hideth thee! 

PARTING PRAYER                

O come to me, O servant Lord, pour water in your bowl, and wash my feet. I am bold to ask this because of my longing for fellowship with you. Wash my feet, then, and be my companion. Amen. 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [GTG#44] Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us v. 3

3. Though as children we have wandered, 

placed our trust in power and might,

Left behind our brothers, sisters, God still calls us into life.

POSTLUDE           Improvisation on I’M GONNA LIVE           

At Bethlehem I had my birth.

Refrain: Dance then wherever you may be;

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, 

and I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be,

And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he. 

2 I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, 

but they would not dance, and they would not follow me.

I danced for the fishermen, for James and John. 

They came with me and the dance went on.(refrain)

3 I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame.

The holy people said it was a shame. 

They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high,

and left me there on the cross to die. (refrain)

5 They cut me down and I leapt up high

  I am the life that will never never die. 

I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me, 

I am the Lord of the Dance, said he. (refrain)

WORDS OF WELCOME     

MINUTE FOR MISSION Linda Lowry

ADORATION 

CALL TO WORSHIP     Ps. 90:1–2

ONE: The Lord is our eternal dwelling place;

MANY: from age to age, the Lord is our God.

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Holy One of Israel, King David worked hard to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel so that the people could honor you in your house of worship. Receive our praise in this house of worship, as we rejoice in your presence. Amen.

WORSHIP

“How Great Is Our God”

1 The splendor of our King, clothed in majesty; 

let all the earth rejoice, all the earth rejoice.

God wraps themself in light, and darkness tries to hide’ 

It trembles at their voice, trembles at their voice. 

Refrain: How great is our God! Sing with me, “How great is our God!

And all will see how great, how great, is our God!

2 Age to age God stands, and time is in their hands; 

Beginning and the end, beginning and the end.

The Godhead three in one, Father, Spirit, Son,

the Lion and the Lamb, the Lion and the Lamb. (Refrain)

Bridge: Name above all names, worthy of all praise;

My heart will sing, how great is our God! (Refrain)

“I Could Sing of Your Love Forever”

Over the mountains and the sea, your river runs with love for me,

and I will open up my heart and let the healer set me free. 

I’m happy to be in the truth, and I will daily lift my hands,

for I will always sing of when your love came down.

Refrain: I could sing of your love forever (4x)

Bridge: Oh I feel like dancing, it’s foolishness I know

but when the world has seen the light,

they will dance with joy like we’re dancing now (Refrain)     

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

SCRIPTURE  [Pew Bible OT 551 or 583] Psalm 150

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
  praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
  praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound;
  praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
  praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals;
  praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN       

SCRIPTURE  [Pew Bible OT 267 or 279] 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 6:1-5

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, ‘Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.’ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah for thirty-three years.

David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON:             “Undignified”                  Rev. Ochart

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH            “Confession of 1967”

God’s redeeming work in Jesus Christ embraces the whole of [hu]man’s life: social and cultural, economic and political, scientific and technological, individual and corporate. It includes [hu]man’s natural environment as exploited and despoiled by sin. It is the will of God that [God’s] purpose for human life shall be fulfilled under the rule of Christ and all evil be banished from [God’s] creation… With an urgency born of this hope, the church applies itself to present tasks and strives for a better world. It does not identify limited progress with the kingdom of God on earth, nor does it despair in the face of disappointment and defeat. In steadfast hope, the church looks beyond all partial achievement to the final triumph of God. “Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY             “Undignified”

DOXOLOGY [*BLUE#592] [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 

THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

CLOSING WORSHIP  “Heart of Worship”    

1 When the Music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come. 

Longing just to bring something that’s of worth, that will bless your heart. 

Pre chorus: I’ll bring you more than a song, 

for a song in itself is not what you have required.

You search much deeper within, through the way things appear;

you’re looking into my heart. 

Chorus: I’m coming back to the heart of worship, 

and it’s all about you, all about you, Jesus.

I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it,

when it’s all about you, all about you, Jesus. 

2 King of endless worth, no one could express how much you deserve. 

Though I’m weak and poor, all I have is yours, every single breath.

Pre chorus: I’ll bring you more than a song, 

for a song in itself is not what you have required.

You search much deeper within, through the way things appear;

you’re looking into my heart. 

Chorus: I’m coming back to the heart of worship, 

and it’s all about you, all about you, Jesus.

I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it,

when it’s all about you, all about you, Jesus.

“Seek Ye First” [*BLUE #333][GTG#175]

1 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness,

and all these things Shall be added unto you. Allelu, alleluia!

2 Ask, and it shall be give unto you; seek and you shall find;

knock and the door will be opened unto you. Allelu, alleluia!

3 You shall not live by bread alone, but by every word

that proceeds from the mouth of God. Allelu, alleluia!

Chorus: I’m coming back to the heart of worship, 

and it’s all about you, all about you, Jesus.

I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it,

when it’s all about you, all about you, Jesus. 

PARTING PRAYER 

O come to me, O servant Lord, pour water in your bowl, and wash my feet. I am bold to ask this because of my longing for fellowship with you. Wash my feet, then, and be my companion. Amen. 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [GTG# 406] “We Are Standing On Holy Ground”

We are standing on holy ground

And I know there are angels all around 

Let us praise Jesus now

We are standing in his presence On holy ground     

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly.

Participating in today’s service are Rev. Aaron Ochart, Pastor; Louise Ochart, CE Leader; Kelly Cuppett, Music Director. Appreciation to Dennis Lauland. Mike Fortin, and David Garland for the video production of today’s service. 

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved. 

STAFF