Calendar

Order of Worship

October 22, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.

Stream on YouTube

Download Full Bulletin (PDF)

News and Announcements

Prelude

Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist (“We Now Implore the Holy Ghost”)
BuxWV 208, Dietrich Buxtehude

Today’s prelude is based upon a German chorale which has its roots in the 13th century. Martin Luther wrote additional stanzas, adapting it as a hymn, his version first appearing in Wittenburg in 1524. The text is a prayer to the Holy Ghost to watch over and protect us during this life until we return home. Themes of faith, love, and hope make this appropriate for general use throughout the liturgical year. The lavishly ornamented melody by Dietrich Buxtehude creates a peaceful, meditative setting.

*Call to Worship

(The congregation responds aloud with the bold text)

In this hour of worship, when we name things for what they really are, we give to God what is God’s.

Between the demands of this last week and the demands of the one ahead, we give to God what is God’s.

With open hearts and hands and minds, every innate gift from our loving Creator, we give to God what is God’s.

Come, let us worship God!

*Hymn #49: “The God of Abraham Praise”

1. The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above,
the Ancient of Eternal Days,
the God of love!
The Lord, the great I am,
by earth and heaven confessed,
we bow before your holy name,
forever blest.

2. Your spirit still flows free,
high surging where it will.
In prophet’s word you spoke of old
and you speak still.
Established is your law,
and changeless it shall stand,
deep writ upon the human heart
by your strong hand.

3. Your goodly land we seek,
with peace and plenty blest,
a land of sacred liberty
and Sabbath rest.
There milk and honey flow,
and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life forever grow
with mercy crowned.

4. You have eternal life
implanted in the soul;
your love shall be our strength and stay,
while ages roll.
We praise you, living God!
We praise your holy name:
the first, the last, beyond all thought,
and still the same!

Prayer of Adoration

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

Creator God, we are commanded to give to you what is branded as yours. But since we cannot see your face, we confess to a miserable confusion. Where is your image printed? Not on our coinage or our calendars. Not on any of the things we buy in the store or in the ad-laden videos that stream by us. No, the only place we can see your face is in our neighbor and in the mirror. We’re the ones created in your image. And yet, we’d rather pay you taxes, God, than give up our whole selves. But if we are what you want—heart, mind, soul, and strength—we’ll do our best, God. We’ll give our all to you.

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of pardon

Hear the good news! Our God, lover of justice, glories not in punishment but in redemption.
Christ has broken the power of sin and rescued us from our shame. 

Be at peace: you are forgiven, and you are free.
To God be the glory! Alleluia! Amen.

*Response of Praise: Hymn #582, “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”

1. Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

2. World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

*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

Prayer for Illumination

Holy Spirit, illumine these words, that they may become your Word and your gospel, your good news. Speak to us with power that redeems and makes all things new. Amen.

Scripture: Psalm 96

O sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord; bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity.”
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar and all that fills it;
let the field exult and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
before the Lord, for he is coming,
for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with his truth.

Hymn #716: “God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending”

1. God, whose giving knows no ending,
from your rich and endless store,
nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom,
costly cross, grave’s shattered door:
gifted by you, we turn to you,
offering up ourselves in praise;
thankful song shall rise forever,
gracious donor of our days.

2. Skills and time are ours for pressing
toward the goals of Christ, your Son:
all at peace in health and freedom,
races joined, the church made one.
Now direct our daily labor,
lest we strive for self alone.
Born with talents, make us servants
fit to answer at your throne.

3. Treasure, too, you have entrusted,
gain through powers your grace conferred:
ours to use for home and kindred,
and to spread the gospel word.
Open wide our hands in sharing,
as we heed Christ’s ageless call,
healing, teaching, and reclaiming,
serving you by loving all.

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?” They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.

Sermon

“What’s in Your Wallet?”

Call to Offering

Give online (opens in new tab)

Affirmation of Faith (Adapted from A Brief Statement of Faith)

In life and death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good, acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation, and makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant.

We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God, was crucified, and raised from the dead, delivering us from death to life eternal.

We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.  The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the church.

In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Call to Offering

Offertory: Lord, I Want to Be a Christian,
American spiritual, arr. Gilbert Martin

Lord, I want to be a Christian
In my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be a Christian
In my heart.

Lord, I want to be more loving
In my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be more loving
In my heart.

Lord, I want to be more holy
In my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be more holy
In my heart.

Lord, I want to be like Jesus
In my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be like Jesus
In my heart.

*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

Lord, we dedicate our all to you; not just the money that we no longer call ours—whether it’s sitting in an offering plate or whizzing along digital paths—but also our thoughts, our plans, our time, our dreams, our days. It’s all yours, God. It always was. Help us to rejoice in that. 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 #307: “God of Grace and God of Glory”

1. God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church’s story;
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.

2. Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.

3. Cure thy children’s warring madness;
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.

4. Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore.
Let the gift of thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.

*Benediction

The glory of the Lord is all around you, here in this sanctuary, beyond this sanctuary, and within your hearts. Everywhere the children of God go, so does the image of God.

So go, bearing invisible glory to make you brave;
the love of God, to make you strong,
the peace of Christ, to make you kind,
and the power of the Spirit, to make you alive,
today and tomorrow and all the days to come. Amen.

*Postlude

Toccata in E Minor, Johann Pachelbel

Johann Pachelbel is one of the foremost composers of the middle Baroque period. Surprisingly, and despite the popularity of his music today, he was largely forgotten until a rising interest in Baroque music during the mid-20th century when scholars began studying and publishing his music. Pachelbel prioritized contrapuntal simplicity and clarity in his compositions, and his music is not as harmonically adventurous and creative as, for example, the compositions of Buxtehude. During his lifetime, he was best known as an organ composer, and he wrote a large body of music for both liturgical and non-liturgical use.

Participants

• Wendy Johnston,
  Organist and Assistant Director of Music
• Greg Knauf,
  Director of Music
• Ken Kovacs,
  Pastor
• Vickie Lord,
  Social media support
• Susan Jaeger,
  Liturgist

Sources

• Liturgy (adapted) by Carol Holbrook Prickett for The Presbyterian Outlook.
• 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