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
“. . . in the Resurrection. . . the love of God comes into the midst of violence and is not undone by it but creates another story.”
Sentences of Scripture
Rev. Laurie Hartzell
Opening Voluntary
“Let Us Break Bread Together”
arr. Moses Hogan
Sharing the Life of Westminster
Call to Worship
Sherrill Vore
One: Hallelujah! Thank God! Praise God by name!
All: Tell everyone you meet what God has done!
One: Sing God songs! Belt out hymns! Translate God’s wonders into music!
All: Honor God’s holy name with Hallelujahs.
One: Keep your eyes open for God. Be alert for signs of God’s presence.
All: For God is our God! God remembers God’s covenant and God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Hymn 39: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Prayer of Confession
God of grace, here is what we want to confess this morning: it’s getting harder and harder to listen to one another. For so long we have been speaking to screen images. We forget now, to look at eyes and the lift of a hand. For even longer we have allowed words and ideas to harden into positions that seem so fixed we don’t even know how to explore them anymore together. While someone else is speaking we find ourselves thinking about what we will say next to make our point; how we may prove them wrong and even thoughtless. We believe that we know your will and perhaps, God, we have even stopped listening to you, anew each day. Forgive us, please. Refresh in us your gift of imagination that we may tell the stories of our living and listen authentically to the stories told by others. Give us ears to hear and hearts that are open, we pray.
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
“My Lord, What a Morning”
arr. Sue Ellen Page
Cheri Reid, soprano
Kathleen VanderVelde, soprano
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
I Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Sermon
“Verbs for Tough Times,” Rev. Laurie Hartzell
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.
Offering Our Lives
Offertory
“The King of Love My Shepherd Is”
Felix Mendelssohn
Cheri Reid, soprano
Kathleen VanderVelde, soprano
The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
For those worshiping in the sanctuary, we are using pre-packaged communion elements with gluten-free bread and juice. If you didn’t receive one before you entered the sanctuary, simply raise your hand, and an usher will bring you one. Children are welcome to participate in this sacrament. You may place the used packaging materials on the communion racks on the back of the pews, and then dispose of them in bins when you exit the sanctuary at the conclusion of the service.
Invitation to the Lord's Table
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!
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
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.
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.
The Words of Institution
Communion of the People
Prayer of Response
Nourishing God, thank you for inviting us to this table where all are welcome, and for feeding us with the bread of life and quenching our thirst with the cup of blessing. You tell us that all things are possible with you, so continue to pour your spirit on us. May we can ground ourselves in the ways of your kingdom. May we be a source of hope and love for all who hunger and thirst for good news. Amen.
Going Out to be the Church
Closing Hymn 526: Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ
Charge and Benediction
Closing Voluntary
“Scherzo,” Alan Ridout, Helen Hofmeister, Organ