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Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
- Date: Sunday, September 17, 2023
- Time: 10:30am–11:30am
- Location: Sanctuary
Order of Worship
September 17, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.
Prelude
Vater unser im Himmelreich, (“Our Father Who Art in Heaven”), Georg Böhm
*Call to Worship
(The congregation responds aloud with the bold text)
Give praise to God!
Praise the Lord, for it is God who saves.
It is God who forgives.
It is God who delivers.
Give thanks and praise to the Lord!
*Hymn #15: “All Creatures Of Our God and king”
1. All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O brother sun with golden beam,
O sister moon with silver gleam,
sing praises! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. O brother wind with clouds and rain,
you nurture gifts of fruit and grain.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O sister water, flowing clear,
make music for your Lord to hear.
Sing praises! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. O brother fire, so warm and bright,
chase off the shadows of the night.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day
unfolds such blessings on our way,
sing praises! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4. All who for love of God forgive,
all who in pain or sorrow grieve,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ bears your burdens and your fears;
so, even in the midst of tears,
sing praises! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
5. [Choir only] And you, most gentle sister death,
waiting to hush our final breath:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom,
fair is the night that leads us home.
Sing praises! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
6. O sisters, brothers, take your part,
and worship God with humble heart.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
All creatures, bless the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, Three in One!
Sing praises! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Prayer of Adoration
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Gracious and loving God, you lived for us – we have not lived for you. You have forgiven us – we have not forgiven others. You have loved us – we have not loved ourselves nor have we loved one another.
Take pity on us and forgive us, God. Help us to forgive. Help us to live for you. Help us to love through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Silent prayer of confession
Assurance of pardon
People of God, our sins are forgiven.
God is merciful and gracious and is Lord of us all.
Reconciled to the God who loves us,
let us live and love through Christ our Lord.
*Response of Praise: Hymn #447: “We Are Forgiven”
We are forgiven.
We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven.
We are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
Thanks be to God.
*Passing of the Peace
Life in Community
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Children’s Message
Prayer for Illumination
Lord, by the power of your Holy Spirit open our understanding that we may receive the Word of life. Amen.
Scripture: Genesis 50:15-21
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
Sermon: “Dispositions of the Heart,” Rev. Dorothy L. Boulton
Hymn #444: “Forgive Our Sins As We Forgive”
1.”Forgive our sins as we forgive,”
you taught us, Lord, to pray,
but you alone can grant us grace
to live the words we say.
2. How can your pardon reach and bless
the unforgiving heart
that broods on wrongs and will not let
old bitterness depart?
3. In blazing light your cross reveals
the truth we dimly knew:
what trivial debts are owed to us,
how great our debt to you!
4. Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls
and bid resentment cease.
Then, by your mercy reconciled,
our lives will spread your peace.
Call to Offering
Offertory: “BROTHER JAMES’S AIR,” JAMES LEITH MACBETH BAIN, ARR. MACK WILBERG
The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie In pastures green; He leadeth me The quiet waters by.
He leadeth me, He leadeth me, the quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again; And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness, E’en for His own Name’s sake.
Within the paths of righteousness, E’en for His own Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through shadows death, Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me; and Thy rod And staff me comfort still.
Thy rod and staff they comfort still They comfort still.
My table Thou hast furnished In presence of my foes;
My head with oil thou dost anoint, And my cup overflows.
My head with oil Thou dost anoint, And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my days Will surely follow me;
And in my father’s house alway My dwelling place shall be.
And in Thy house forevermore, My dwelling place shall be.
*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
Almighty God, receive these gifts that we offer with grateful hearts and use our lives for the ministry of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. 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 #748: “GO WITH US, LORD”
Sing twice; first time in unison, second time as a canon.
Go with us, Lord, and guide the way
through this and every coming day,
that in your Spirit strong and true
our lives may be our gift to you.
*Benediction
The blessing of God be with you,
the love of Jesus fill you,
and power of the Holy Spirit sustain you,
now and forevermore.
Amen.
Postlude
Toccata in D Major, Johann Speth
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 - Howie Nixon,
Liturgist and sanctuary set up
Sources
- Feasting on the Word: Year A, Volume 2, Kimberly Bracken Long, ed. (Louisville: John Knox Press, 2009)
- 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