22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 3, 2006                                                                                        10:00 a.m.

*Those able may stand

GREETINGS, CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH AND REGISTRY OF ATTENDANCE

PRELUDE                                 “Adagio”                                                   Mendelssohn

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 searches us and knows us; God is acquainted with all our ways.

ALL:  Even before we speak a word, God knows it completely.

ONE:  God formed us; God knit us together in our mother’s womb.

ALL:  God knows much more that we know!  Let us listen to God!                          (From Psalm 139)

*HYMN  244            “Let Us with a Gladsome Mind”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON

O God, we would like to be bold disciples, but we fear suffering.  We would “pick up our cross and carry it,” but we don’t want to move from our comfortable places.  We count the cost of following Jesus before we make a decision.  Forgive the conditions we make when we try to follow, and free us by Your grace to be bold and faithful disciples.

            *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                                               Song of Solomon 2:8-13

READING FROM THE EPISTLE                                                  James 1:17-27

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                                                          Matthew 20:1-16

SERMON                    Hard Texts:  That’s Not Fair!                     Rev. Ann LaMar

(Click this link to read the sermon)

* HYMN 280          “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound”

* 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                “Chorale”                                                          Bach

            *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      “If We Truly Believe”                              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 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:  We praise you…Great is the mystery of faith;

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

ONE:  Pour out…

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  514               “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”

*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                             “March”                                                         Schreiner