Order of Worship

Opening Voluntary – “Voluntary VI, ‘Canticle,’ Op. 26, No. 6” by Drew Banzhoff

Welcome/Greetings

Choral Introit

*Opening Hymn #577 – “God of Grace and God of Glory”      

*Call to Worship

L:  Oh, how I love your will, dear Lord.  I mediate on your wisdom all day long.

P:  Your teaching makes me wiser each day.  Your instruction helps me become my truest self.

L:  How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

P:  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light that shines on my path.

*Opening Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, and renew us in this hour of celebration.  We rejoice that you make us your partners in pursuit of a just and peaceful world.  With Jesus, we ask the question, “Will there be faith on earth?”  Will we settle for mere beliefs, or will we yield to the deep longing for your will to be done, here and now?  Teach us to hope, work, and cry out for your justice and peace to be made real.  Walk with us, Jesus, until we joyfully reach that day when all God’s children belong to your eternal family.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and most merciful God, you know the thoughts of our hearts.  We confess that we have sinned against you and done evil in your sight.  We have transgressed your holy laws.  We have disregarded your Word and Sacraments.  Forgive us, O Lord. Give us grace and power to put away all hurtful things, that, being delivered from the bondage of sin, we may bring forth fruit worthy of repentance, and from henceforth may ever walk in your holy ways; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Words of Assurance

If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Passing of the Peace of Christ

Through bands of love, we are forever connected.  May we share the peace of Christ, the love of God, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, knowing that the cords of human kindness bind us together throughout eternity.

Children’s Message                      Lenore Kurz

Laity Sunday

L:  From the beginning, God entered into covenant with the human family:  with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Deborah, Ruth, and Jeremiah.

P:  Through baptism, Jesus Christ calls us into the covenant and makes us ministers of Christ’s righteousness.

L:  All Christian ministry is Christ’s work of outreaching love.  It demonstrates a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebration and discipleship.

P:  All Christians are called to Christ’s servanthood in the world, to the glory of God and for human fulfillment.

L:  The Church, as the community of the new covenant, participates in Christ’s ministry of grace.

P:  It stretches out to human needs wherever service may convey God’s love and ours.

L:  In our ministry of servanthood is this ultimate concern:

P:  that all may be renewed in the image of their Creator, and that all Christians are called to minister in deeds and words that heal and free.  Amen.

Scriptures

Old Testament – Psalm 121 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?  ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  ³ He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; ⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  ⁵ The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; ⁶ the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  ⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; ⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading – Mark 4:21-25 (NIV)

²¹ He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed?  Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?  ²² For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.  ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”  ²⁴ “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued.  “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.  ²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

*Hymn before the Sermon #593 – “Here I Am, Lord”              

Sermon – “How Does God Call You?”             Bob DiSalvo

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Invitation to Tithes and Offering

In our effort to know Christ, we realize how much God has given to us.  May we offer a portion of our gifts to God in thanksgiving and praise for all we have been given.

Anthem – “The Call” by Craig Courtney

*Hymn No. 95 – Presentation of the Offering

*Prayer of Dedication

Holy One, creator of all, we give you thanks for all you have entrusted to us.  As good stewards, we now bring you these gifts and ask that you use them to help your children around the world.  As we bring our gifts, we also offer our lives, praying that you will use us to bear good fruit for all people.  Amen.

*Closing Hymn – “The Church Endures”  (See Insert)

(Words and Music by George J. Simmons)

*Dismissal with Blessing

Closing Voluntary – “Voluntary VII, Litany,’ Op. 26, No. 7” by Drew Banzhoff