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
“But true love, sacrificing love, which loves every human being according to its own individuality, is willing to make every sacrifice — it seeks not its own.”
Sentences of Scripture
Rev. Laurie Hartzell
Opening Voluntary
Partita on “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”
arr. Don Freudenburg
Sharing the Life of Westminster
Call to Worship (from psalm 100)
Susan Jennings
One: Make a joyful noise to God all the earth!
All: Worship God with gladness; come into God’s presence with singing.
One: Know that the Lord is God. God made us. We belong to God.
All: We are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture.
One: Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and God’s courts with praise.
All: For God is good! God’s steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations.
Hymn 35: "Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
Lobe Den Herren
Prayer of Confession (from the Book of Common Prayer
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Have mercy upon us and forgive us. May we delight in your will and walk in your ways. Hear our prayers…
Silent Confession
Kyrie
The Assurance of God's Grace
One: Friends, believe the Good News.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Response Hymn 693 Though I May Speak
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 of the Peace of Christ
One: Peace be with you.
All: And also with you.
Ministry of Music
“Plenty Good Room”
arr. Donald Moore
John Schlafley, Tenor
Blessing with Younger Disciples
(Children three years through fourth 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 also with you.
Congregation: Go in peace!
The Word
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture
Matthew 19:16-26
Sermon
“Status Update”, Kyle Kooyers
Responding to The Word
Affirmation of Faith
from A Brief Statement of Faith(Presbyterian Church USA)
(We affirm our faith together to remind us who and whose we are.) 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, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community.
But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation.
Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.
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 kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering Our Lives
Offeratory
“Jesus, My All, to Heaven Is Gone”
arr. K. Lee Scott
John Schlafley, Tenor
Doxology
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.
Generous God, in abundance you give us things both spiritual and physical. Help us to hold lightly the fading things of this earth and grasp tightly the lasting things of your kingdom, so that what we are and do and say may be our gifts to you. May we become “active power in your hands.” In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Going Out to be the Church
Closing Hymn 697
“Take My Life” (stanzas 1,2,3,4, and 6)
Charge and Benediction
Closing Voluntary
Finale on “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”
arr. Don Freudenburg
Helen Hofmeister, Organ