18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 6, 2006                                                                                                10:00 a.m.

*Those able may stand

GREETINGS, CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH AND REGISTRY OF ATTENDANCE

PRELUDE                                 “Reverie”                                                      Van Woert

BRINGING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THIS ROOM

*CALL TO WORSHIP

ALL:  (Hymn 138, verse 1)  Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!  Early in the morning our song   shall rise to Thee; Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!  God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.

ONE:  God’s love reaches to the heavens; God’s faithfulness pierces the skies!

ALL:  God’s justice fills the oceans; God’s righteousness is like the mighty mountain!

ONE:  All of God’s children, young and old, large and small, take refuge in the shadow of God’s wings!

ALL:  We feast on the abundance of God’s love!  We drink from the Fountain of Life!  We come to worship God!                              (From Psalm 36)

*HYMN  473                   “For the Beauty of the Earth”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON

O God, have mercy upon us!  We know we don’t always take our discipleship seriously; we don’t always follow Christ.  Our faith is often flabby when we are put to the test; our courage can vanish in the face of temptation; our joints can stiffen when we are called to act.  Too often we profess loyalty, while our bodies deny commitment.  Have mercy on us, we pray!  Forgive us and turn us around, for Jesus’ sake!

            *SILENT PRAYER

            *ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARDON

            *GLORIA PATRI (Hymn 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.

READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT                            2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a

READING FROM THE EPISTLE                                     Ephesians 4:1-7; 11-16

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Jesus loves me, this I know!  For the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to him belong, They are weak, but he is strong!  Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!

(Toddlers may go to the Nursery, older children will remain in worship)

READING FROM THE GOSPEL                                                           John 17: 20-23

SERMON                                                 “One”                                 Rev. Ann LaMar

(Click this link to read the sermon)

HYMN 507 (verses 1-3)                   “I Come with Joy”

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from A Brief Statement of Faith, 1991)

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, [who] proclaimed the reign of God.  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.  We trust in the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.  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.

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

            OFFERTORY                “Oh, Praise the Lord!”                             Kohlmann

            *DOXOLOGY (Hymn 592) AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

INVITATION TO THE LORD'S TABLE

COMMUNION ANTHEM      “A Communion Meditation”                  Besig

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

ONE:  The Lord be with you.

ALL:  And also with you.

ONE:  Lift up your hearts.

ALL:  We lift them to the Lord.

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

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

ONE:  It is indeed right…sing to the glory of Your name.

ALL:  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:  All glory and blessing…Great is the mystery of faith;

ALL:  Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

ONE:  Merciful God…

THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD (Hold the Bread until all are served)

THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE (Hold the Cup until all are served)

THE CLOSING PRAYER

*HYMN 507 (verses 4 and 5)              “I Come with Joy”

*THE CHARGE AND THE BENEDICTION

*CARRYING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

And the peace of God, that passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts, shall keep your minds on Jesus Christ.

POSTLUDE                             “Largo”                                                              Lorenz