INTROIT ““The Blessing (Reprise)”

CALL TO WORSHIP     Luke 18:14

ONE: All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.

MANY: All who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, Lord, 

to rule and direct us according to your will, to comfort us in all our temptations and afflictions, to defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; that we, being steadfast in the faith, may increase in love and in all good works, and in the end obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

one God, now and forever. Amen.

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy God, your truth is so often sharp and unsettling. We confess the ways we skirt the hard edges of your Word, turn up the volume on lesser noises, and lean into the comfort of our own certainty rather than submit to the discomfort of your challenge. You send us messengers, and we sidestep them; you challenge us, and we defend ourselves. Again and again, Holy God, we resist what we do not want to hear. And yet you keep calling. Have mercy on us. Interrupt our evasions. Soften what pride has hardened in us. Let us hear and receive your truth. 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, amen.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

CONGREGATIONAL ANTHEM  [Blue#586] [GTG#601] “Amen”

1st SCRIPTURE Psalm 84:1-7

2nd  SCRIPTURE 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18       

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

HYMN [Blue#343] [GTG#761] “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service”

1 Called as partners in Christ’s service, called to ministries of grace, we respond with deep commitment

 fresh new lines of faith to trace.

May we learn the art of sharing, side by side and friend with friend, equal partners in our caring to fulfill God’s chosen end.

2 Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring, 

Christ’s clear call to work and worth,

 let us follow, never faltering, reconciling folk on earth.

Men and women, richer, poorer,

all God’s people, young and old, 

blending human skills together gracious gifts from God unfold.

3 Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission, in a small or global sense, help us bear each other’s burdens,

 breaking down each wall or fence.

Words of comfort, words of vision, words of challenge, said with care, bring new power and strength 

for action, make us colleagues, free and fair.

4 So God grant us for tomorrow ways to order human life

 that surround each person’s sorrow

 with a calm that conquers strife.

Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase,

 messengers of faith, thus giving hope and confidence and peace. 

SERMON   “Fought, Finished, Kept the Faith”   Pastor Ford J. Dieth

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,  and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY   “Thank God I Do” by Lauren Daigle

DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 

HYMN “Hear Our Prayer O Lord”

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.

HYMN [Blue#] [GTG#275] “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

1 A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.

Our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe.

His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal.

2 Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side,

the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he.

Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same,

and he must win the battle.

3 And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him.

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure.

One little word shall fell him.

4 That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth. The Spirit and the gifts are ours

through him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also.

The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still.

His kingdom is forever. 

PARTING PRAYER    

Everlasting God,

who strengthens Your servants to fight the good fight and to finish the race in faith, grant that we, like Your apostle Paul, may keep the faith with steadfast hearts, trusting not in our own strength but in Your mighty power to deliver and sustain us.

This we ask through Christ our Savior. 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [Blue#][GTG#546] “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing”

 3 Savior, when your love shall call us, from our struggling pilgrim way, let no fear of death appall us,

glad your summons to obey.

May we ever, may we ever reign with you in endless day.

POSTLUDE “Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood                      

*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. 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.