Calendar

Order of Worship

September 10, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.

Prelude

“Gather Us In,” arr. Jeffrey Honoré

Introit: “Yesu Azali Awa,” Congolese folk hymn

Translation of Kongo:
Jesus is here with us. Alleluia to the Lord!

*Call to Worship

(The congregation responds aloud with the bold text)

We have come from many places
to this place.

We have come with all our differences,
seeking common ground in Christ.

We have come from different directions, with different perspectives,
to a place where journeys meet.

We come from north and south,
from east and west,
to a place,
as a people – the beloved body of Christ.

Come, then, let us worship God!

*Hymn #301: “Let Us Build a House”

1. Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

Refrain:
all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.

2. Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus: (Refrain)

3. Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine, and wheat;
a banquet hall on holy ground
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us: (Refrain)

4. Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger: (Refrain)

5. Let us build a house where all are named,
their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured,
taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter,
prayers of faith and songs of grace;
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter: (Refrain)

Prayer of Adoration

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Loving God, you have led us to this place, not to shield us from the heartache and pain of human life, but to heal us, inspire us, and to gently redirect us until we see the world as you do and love it with your love. So hear us as we confess our sin and brokenness: those moments when we turned away from you, from our neighbors, and from ourselves. We bring our heartache and pain and place them before your mercy and compassion, which know no end.

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of pardon

Hear the good news!

Anyone in Christ is a new creation! “What was” has passed away.
Behold, all things have become new!
Hear this good news and claim God’s love and grace for yourself.

Thanks be to God!

*Response of Praise: Hymn #188: “Jesus Loves Me, This I know”

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong. They are weak but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

*Passing of the Peace

Life in Community

Thank you for joining us for worship! Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week. If you’re joining us for the first time or would like to learn more about Catonsville Presbyterian, you’re welcome to share your email with us. We’ll send some information that will help you get connected.

Children’s Message

Affirmation of Baptismal Promise

Belonging is crucial!

Parents and congregations form a rich environment to help children, youth, and adults—people of all ages—discover the joys, responsibilities, and potentials of belonging to a community of faith.

We are all teachers.

Although we may not always be aware of it, our attitudes, behaviors, and commitments teach others about who we are and what we value.

The learning we do along our journey is “faith formation.” This moves beyond information and concentrates on relationships and experiences that lead us into a deeper relationship: with Jesus Christ; with Christ’s church; and with our shared service in the world.

As members of the church of Jesus Christ, as a community of faith, we affirm our promise to guide and nurture by word and deed, with love and prayer, encouraging all to know and follow Christ as faithful members of Christ’s church.

Prayer for Illumination

You promised to never break your covenant with us. Speak to us, living God, as you have spoken to our ancestors. Breathe through these words, speak to us again, and bring us to life, that we may live according to your word and be your faithful people; through Jesus Christ our Savior, we pray. Amen.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-13, 27-31

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were gentiles you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of services but the same Lord, and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of powerful deeds, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

…

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work powerful deeds? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

Sermon: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” Ken Kovacs

Call to Offering

Give online (opens in new tab)

Offertory: “NOw Let Us All Praise God and Sing,” Gordon Young

Now let us all praise God and sing Our great redeemer’s praise;
That we may all with one accord Our joyful voices raise.
Sing Alleluia!

All ye servants of the Lord, Praise Him forever,
Sing Jehovah’s mighty power, Praise Him forever.
Sing of His righteousness, Praise Him forever.

So let us all praise God and Sing Our great Redeemer’s praise;
That we may all with one accord Our joyful voices raise.
Sing Alleluia!

*Doxology #607, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication

Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us and what we have gathered in feeding the world with your love; through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People and 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn #300: “We Are One in the Spirit”

1. We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord;
we are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord,
and we pray that all unity may one day be restored:

Refrain:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love,
by our love;
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

2. We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand;
we will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand,
and together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land: (Refrain)

3. We will work with each other; we will work side by side;
we will work with each other; we will work side by side,
and we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride: (Refrain)

4. All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
and all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,
and all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one: (Refrain)

*Benediction

Postlude

“Toccata in F Major,” BuxWV 157, Dietrick Buxtehude

Today’s flowers are given to the glory of God with gratitude for the work of the Christian Education Committee, church school teachers, child care providers, and youth leaders.

Participants

• Dorothy L. Boulton,
  Associate Pastor
• Keith and Kathy Glennan,
  Audio/Video production
• Wendy Johnston,
  Organist and Assistant Director of Music
• Greg Knauf,
  Director of Music
• Ken Kovacs,
  Pastor
• Vickie Lord,
  Social media support
• Dottie Marshall,
  Sanctuary set up
• Stephanie Stevens,
  Liturgist

Sources

• Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013).
• Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-734388; CCLI Copyright License B 20481088 + Streaming License B 481071