Bolded text is to be said, sung, or done together as a congregation. You can rise in these moments as well, either in body or spirit.
Gathering: Preparing to Hear the Word
In Preparation for Worship
Baptism is at once God’s gift of grace, God’s means of grace, and God’s call to respond to that grace.
Sentences of Scripture
Rev. Lynette Sparks
Opening Voluntary
“Wash, O God, Your Sons and Daughters”
arr. John Ferguson
Helen Hofmeister, Organ
Sharing the Life of Westminster
Rev. Lynette Sparks
Call to Worship (from Psalm 84)
Tom Macholan
One: How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord!
All: Our very being cries out for your living presence.
One: Even the birds of the air have found their home in you, Holy One,
All: a source of comfort and safety for their young.
One: Blessed are those who live in your house; they praise you constantly.
All: Blessed are those whose strength is in you.
Hymn 63: The Lord Is God
Azmon
Prayer of Confession
O Lord, you are near to those who are brokenhearted and save those whose spirits are crushed. Be near to us in our brokenness, and love us into wholeness. You are near to people who are hurting, but we keep our distance to avoid hard conversations. You envision a world where all needs are met, but we hoard our possessions and cling to our power. Be near to us in our brokenness, and love us into wholeness. By your mercy, forgive our sins. By your grace, free us to try again.
Silent Confession
Kyrie:
Assurance of God's Grace
One: Friends, believe the Good News.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Response Hymn 693, stanza 3
Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control;
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.
Passing the Peace of Christ
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
Ministry of Music
“Down in the Valley to Pray”
arr. Jay Althouse
Maria Schoon, soprano
Helen Hofmeister, piano
Sacrament of Baptism
Waters of Baptism
Response Hymn 486: Child of Blessing, Child of Promise
Reception Into the People of God
One: These children are now received into the holy universal Church. See what love God has given us that we should be called children of God. And we are!
All: Children of the Covenant, we welcome you into Christ’s church for we are all one in Christ. We promise to love, encourage, and support you. We promise to help you know Christ.
One: Thanks be to God.
All: Alleluia! Amen!
Blessings with Younger Disciples
Children three years through second grade may finish their time of worship in the Worship Centers. Children’s worship leaders or parents will shepherd them from the Sanctuary to their rooms. Parents may pick them up in their worship rooms following the service.
Congregation: As you worship together, may God be with you.
Children: And may God be with you.
Congregation: Go in peace!
The Word
Prayer for Illumination
We pray that the words of Scripture may be encountered as God’s Word.
Scripture
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18, Old Testament
Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors—Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor—lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.
“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
Sermon
“Choose This Day,” Rev. Lynette Sparks
Responding to the Word
Affirmation of Faith
Nancy Greidanus
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.
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.
Prayers of the People
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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the
Offering Our Lives
Offertory
“Day by Day”
arr. Donald Busarow
Maria Schoon, soprano
Helen Hofmeister, organ
Doxology
Means “words of glory.” They are a traditional expression of praise to God.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost!
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give thanks and praise.
Almighty God, we dedicate ourselves to serve you, for you alone are our God. Receive the gifts we offer, and with these gifts accept the offering of our lives so that your whole creation might flourish; all for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, your Word made flesh. Amen.
Going Out to Be the Church
Hymn 65: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
CWM Rhonda
Charge and Benediction
The Charge: Go into the world in peace. Have courage. Hold on to all that is good. Return no one evil for evil. Do justice. Walk with those who are fainthearted. Help those who suffer. Honor all people. Love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Closing Voluntary
“Toccata in F Major”
Dietrich Buxtehude
Helen Hofmeister, Organ
Participants in Today's Service
- Preacher: Rev. Lynette Sparks, Senior Pastor
- Liturgists: Tom Macholan, Elder for Camp Henry; Marian Vanderwall, Elder for Family Ministries; Nancy Greidanus, Minister for Children and Their Families
- Musicians: Helen Hofmeister, Minister of Music; Maria Schoon, soprano
- Tech Team: Brad Sparks; Dan Cisler; Ian Dengerink-Van Til
“Wash, O God, Your Sons and Daughters”; “Down in the Valley to Pray”; “Day by Day” used with permission under ONE LICENSE, License #724668-A. All rights reserved.