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St. John’s United Church of Christ

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Service: 10:30 a.m.                     August 31, 2008

 (Let us be silent and prayerful as we prepare our lives for worship.)

 

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

  Passing of the Peace        (Please be seated)

  Joys and Concerns of the Church   

(All hymns from the black hymnal unless noted otherwise)

 

Praising God

 *Hymn - #574 In Egypt under PharaohHenry T. Smart, 1836 / Ernest W. Shurtleff, 1887

   

*Prayer of Invocation (Unison)

Gracious and loving God, we rejoice in this day - a day you have made!  Open our hearts that we might worship you with joyful abandon.  Open our eyes so that we might revel in the glory of your creation.  Open our mouths to sing your praises.  Open our eyes to hear your Word anew.  Renew us and fill our entire beings with your Spirit. Amen.

 

*Call to Confession:

We know that when we turn to God humbly, God is sure to forgive us through grace.  We come before God and one another confessing that we need You in our lives:                                             

*Prayer of Confession: (In Unison)

       Forgive us, Lord, for the many times we go about our day living in a way that does not show the world we are transformed by you.  Despite our desire to be new creatures, we continue to be enticed by what the world offers, acting as if we do not know you.  Instead of seeking after your guidance and direction, we grab hold of the golden rings offered to us that seemingly give us a better life, forgetting that what you offer is not just better, but perfect.

            We acknowledge our sin before you and ask for your holy and perfect discernment for our lives in the world, out there, but also in this body of believers that surrounds us today. Renew our minds, transform our hearts, dear Lord so that all who see and hear us will know you. Amen.

 

 

*Silent Confession

*Kyrie No. 750 (Lord have mercy upon us. Chris t have mercy upon us.  Lord, have mercy upon us.

*Assurance of Pardon (Unison)-

There is no doubt that God has heard our prayer and is faithful to forgive us. Thanks be to God.

 

Special Music – “What A Friend”- Charles C. Converse / arr. Jack Schrader

                                                Performed by the Men’s Quartet

Hearing the Word of God

The Holy Scripture              Reader:  Colleen Ross

 

                        Exodus 3:1-15 (page 40 in pew bible)

                        Romans 12:9-21 (page 803 in pew bible)

 

Children’s Chat

 

Sermon:      It’s About Holding Up Our End of the Stick!”

 

Prayer Vesicle

            M. God be with you.

            C.  And also with you.

            M.  Let us pray. 

 

Prayers, Pastoral Prayer, Silent Prayer, Lord’s Prayer (using ‘sins’, and ‘sinned against us’)

Prayer Response No. 503 (Red Hymnal)

            O Thou who hearest every heart-felt prayer,

            With Thy rich grace, Lord, all our hearts prepare;

            Thou art our life, Thou art our Love and Light,

            O let this Sabbath hour with Thee be bright.

The Offering

Offertory – “Every Valley” – John Ness Beck

                        Performed by the Men’s Quartet

*The Offertory Response No. 780 ‘The Doxology’

     Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;

     Praise God above, you heavenly host:  Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

 

*Prayer of Dedication

*Hymn:  #591 This Is My Song Jean Sibelius, 1899/Lloyd Stone, 1934

*Benediction

Special MusicAnd Give You Peace Limbaugh

                                                Performed by The Men’s Quartet

*Postlude