Order of Worship 09_26_2021

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

18th Sunday after Pentecost

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)

September 26, 2021 Ten Thirty in the morning

 Minister: The Rev. Aaron Ochart

Liturgist: Cindy Freudenthal                                        

Please silence all cell phones. 

Face masks must be worn while in the building

Bold face indicates congregational participation

*Please Stand in body or spirit

GATHERING

WORDS OF WELCOME

PRELUDE          Prelude in g BWV 558      

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                         Phil. 2:11 

ONE: Let every tongue confess the good news: 

MANY: Jesus Christ is Lord; glory to God!                          

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Loving God,  You have covenanted to be with us and for us, not because of what we have done, but because of what you have done. Give us a glimpse of your goodness and grace, and help us to share that grace with others.  Amen.

HYMN                          “God of the Sparrow”

1.God of the sparrow God of the whale God of the swirling stars

How does the creature say Awe How does the creature say Praise

2.God of the earthquake God of the storm God of the trumpet blast 

How does the creature cry Woe How does the creature cry Save

3.God of the rainbow God of the cross God of the empty grave

How does the creature say Grace How does the creature say Thanks

  1. God of the hungry God of the sick God of the prodigal

How does the creature say Care How does the creature say Life

5.God of the neighbor God of the foe God of the pruning hook

How does the creature say Love How does the creature say Joy

  1. God of the ages God near at hand God of the loving heart

How do your children say Joy How do your children say Home

CALL TO CONFESSION        

SILENT CONFESSION                                                          

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)

Merciful God, in your presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves, as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression. Lord, have mercy upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love in 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                                                John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”                

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN              

ANTHEM                         “Wrestling Jacob”                  

SECOND LESSON                                            Genesis 28:10-17

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. 

SERMON                    “Unmerited Grace”                  Rev. Aaron Ochart

RESPONSE 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                            Nicene Creed: BOC 1.1-3

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.                                                          

COLLECTION OF OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY            “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)”

*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. 

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.

SENDING

*HYMN 341         “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine!”

1 Blessed assurance: Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, 

washed in His blood.

Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Savior all the day long;

This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.

2 Perfect submission, perfect delight,

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

Angels, descending, bring from above 

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain)

3 Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest,

Watching and waiting, looking above, 

filled with His goodness, lost in His love. (Refrain)

*PARTING PRAYER                            Clement of Rome (1st Century)  

We pray to you, O God:  be our helper and protector. Save the afflicted, have mercy on the lowly, raise up the fallen, help the needy, humble the proud, return the lost, feed the hungry, release the captive, heal the sick, revive the weak, and comfort those in fear. All this we ask for the sake of the world you love, and in the name of the one you sent to save us: Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE        Little Preludes and Intermezzi: No. 6 Poco Vivace – Herman Schroeder