CALL TO WORSHIP                                                            John 1:36, 39

ONE: Look, here is the Lamb of God! 

MANY: Jesus calls us: Come and see.                                                                

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Patient God, Your son, Jesus, expressed anger at abuses and injustice. Help us to show concern, not apathy, for injustice in our world, and teach us to make right all that may be wrong. Amen.

HYMN 419              “How Clear is Our Vocation Lord”

1 How clear is our vocation, Lord, When once we heed Your call:

To live according to Your word, And daily learn, refreshed, restored,

That You are Lord of all And will not let us fall.

 

2 But if, forgetful, we should find Your yoke is hard to bear,

If worldly pressures fray the mind And love itself cannot unwind

Its tangled skein of care: Our inward life repair.

 

3 We mark Your saints, how they became In hindrances more sure,

Whose joyful virtues put to shame The casual way we wear Your name,

And by our faults obscure Your power to cleanse and cure.

 

4 In what You give us, Lord, to do, Together or alone,

In old routines or ventures new, May we not cease to look to You–

The cross You hung upon– All You endeavored done.

 CONFESSION 

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light. We turn away from the poor; we ignore cries for justice; we do not strive for peace.

In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin, and pour out the gifts of your Spirit, that forgiven and renewed, we may show forth your glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI 579 

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.

PROCLAMATION

FIRST LESSON                                                                        Psalm 127                                                                                                                                                                                

Unless the Lord builds the house,

    those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord guards the city,

    the guard keeps watch in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early

    and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

    for he gives sleep to his beloved.

Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord,

    the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

    are the sons of one’s youth.

Happy is the man who has

    his quiver full of them.

He shall not be put to shame

    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN     

         

ANTHEM                       “God’s Holy House”                            Robert Lau

This is God’s holy house and in it let us sing

bringing praise to God on high, and to our heavenly King

May it always be to us a symbol of God’s love,

filled with comfort, peace and grace, sent from the Lord above. 

Holy, holy, holy, lord above: bless us as we worship you, and bless this house of love

Hymns of praise let us sing within this sacred place. 

May we know God’s love for us, the power of his grace.

Songs of joy will fill the air and loud hosannas ring;

we will sing to God on high, and Jesus Christ the King.

SECOND LESSON                                                                John 2:13-25

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.             

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON             “Human Institutions”                       Rev. Aaron Ochart 

 RESPONSE     

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH               Scots Confession: BOC 3.01

We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust. Who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible; one in substance and yet distinct in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. By whom we confess and believe all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided by his inscrutable providence for such end as his eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of his own glory.   

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                 

*DOXOLOGY

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 AND 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 442                “The Church’s One Foundation”

1 The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord;

She is His new creation By water and the word.

From heaven He came and sought her To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her And for her life He died.

2 Elect from every nation, Yet one o’er all the earth,

Her charter of salvation One Lord, one faith, one birth;

One holy name she blesses, Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses, With every grace endued.

3 Though with a scornful wonder This world sees her oppressed,

By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed,

Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up, “How long?”

And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song.

4 Mid toil and tribulation, And tumult of her war,

She waits the consummation Of peace forevermore;

Till with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest,

And the great church victorious Shall be the church at rest.

5 Yet she on earth has union With God the Three in One,

And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won:

O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,

Like them, the meek and lowly, May live eternally.

PARTING PRAYER                       Clement of Rome (First Century)

O God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Grant us, we pray, to be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming down of the Holy Spirit into our hearts. That which we know not, reveal; that which is wanting in us, fill up; that which we know, confirm; and keep us blameless in your service; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

BENEDICTION RESPONSE      “You Shall Go Out with Joy”

You shall go out with joy And be led forth with peace

The mountains and the hills Will break forth before you

There’ll be shouts of joy And all the trees of the field

Will clap, will clap their hands

And all the trees of the field Will clap their hands (clap clap)

The trees of the field Will clap their hands (clap clap)

The trees of the field Will clap their hands (clap clap)

While you go out with joy

POSTLUDE     Chaconne in C – Buxtehude            

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                         Psalms 29: 3, 9                        

ONE: The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

MANY: and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

                                                   

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of revelation, You made your son known at a wedding, a public celebration of love. Celebrate love with us by revealing Jesus in our midst. Amen.

HYMN 302                     “I Danced in the Morning”

1 I danced in the morning when the world was begun,

And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun

And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth—

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 they left me there on a cross to die. [Refrain]

 

4 I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black.

It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back;

They buried my body and they thought I’d gone.

But I am the dance and I still go on. [Refrain]

 

5 They cut me down and I leap 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]                              

 CONFESSION 

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light. We turn away from the poor; we ignore cries for justice; we do not strive for peace.

In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin, and pour out the gifts of your Spirit, that forgiven and renewed, we may show forth your glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI 579 

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.

PROCLAMATION

FIRST LESSON                                                       Psalm 104:1-4, 14-23

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

    O Lord my God, you are very great.

You are clothed with honor and majesty,

    wrapped in light as with a garment.

You stretch out the heavens like a tent,

    you set the beams of your chambers on the waters,

you make the clouds your chariot,

    you ride on the wings of the wind,

you make the winds your messengers,

    fire and flame your ministers.

You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,

    and plants for people to use,

to bring forth food from the earth, 

    and wine to gladden the human heart,

oil to make the face shine,

    and bread to strengthen the human heart. 

The trees of the Lord are watered abundantly,

    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

In them the birds build their nests;

    the stork has its home in the fir trees.

The high mountains are for the wild goats;

    the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.

You have made the moon to mark the seasons;

    the sun knows its time for setting.

You make darkness, and it is night,

    when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.

The young lions roar for their prey,

    seeking their food from God.

When the sun rises, they withdraw

    and lie down in their dens.

People go out to their work

    and to their labor until the evening.                                                                                                                                                                                                             

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN              “Signs”

ANTHEM    “Behold, I Have Loved You”   Robin Wolaver/arr. Bill Wolaver      

Behold, I have loved you with an everlasting love

Behold, I have drawn you with my loving kindness

I have loved you with an everlasting love 

      

SECOND LESSON                                                                  John 2:1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

SERMON                 “Superabundance”                     Rev. Aaron Ochart 

 RESPONSE     

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                               The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                 

*DOXOLOGY

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 AND 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 464                  “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

1 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,

Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

Drive the gloom of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day.

2 All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise.

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Flowery meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain,

Call us to rejoice in Thee.

3 Mortals, join the happy chorus

Which the morning stars began;

Love divine is reigning o’er us,

Joining all in heaven’s plan.

Ever singing, march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife,

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

PARTING PRAYER                       Clement of Rome (First Century)

O God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Grant us, we pray, to be grounded and settled in your truth by the coming down of the Holy Spirit into our hearts. That which we know not, reveal; that which is wanting in us, fill up; that which we know, confirm; and keep us blameless in your service; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE           A Festal Tune – Weber