CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to obtain Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Rev. Christine Boardman for leading our worship service this morning. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, September 15, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending August 22 were $686. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to our Receiver of Offerings, Anne Oakes, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns Please keep Laura Caravatt in your prayers as she recovers from injuries sustained in a fall. We keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Anthony Cuteri, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Rick and Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Gavin Greenawalt, Bridget Janney, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Matulonis, Anne Oakes, Hannah Sotak, Bernie Stolp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations Linda Thomson - birthday on September 7 _________________________________________________________________________ August 29, 2021 10:00 am Service of Worship FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP* (In unison) In worship, we who are called "Christians" gather to express our unity with God and with each other. We are a community that spans the centuries, bound together by a covenant whose signature is baptism. In our worship today we renew our commitment to live in this covenant and we draw together a wider community of believers, including those who bore witness at our baptism. With ancient love that sustains and hope that nurtures our dreams, we worship God as faithful women and men, children and youth have done for years. PRAYER OF INVOCATION* (in unison) Spirit of the living God, be in our midst with your baptism of power and your communion of love. We wait upon you in stillness and patience. Sweep over us with your Spirit, and change us by your love that we may labor and serve with you to bring beauty and healing to our broken world. Amen. HYMN 660* God is Here PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison) Loving God you are Sovereign over our days. When the winds of faith blow strong, you are with us. When the burdens and storms of life seem oppressive you are with us. When a sense of calm purpose centers our lives of love, you are with us. Forgive us when we neglect to acknow- ledge your presence or stubbornly try to live without your guidance. We forget to count our blessings or practice our faith with intention. Great God, forgive us and grant us the wisdom to trust you, the courage to serve you. Amen. SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS READING OF SCRIPTURE PSALM 15 Hymnal, p. 747 GLORIA 70 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Invitation, Welcome and Address Questions and Assent Act of Baptism Closing Prayer NEW TESTAMENT READING Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 SERMON ‘Be Love’ HYMN 111 * How Can We Name a Love JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety OFFERTORY SENTENCE OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* (in unison) O God, you have blessed us in mercy and wisdom, opening us to new birth and new beginnings. May the gifts you provide help all of us to accomplish the tasks for which you have called us. Bless what we receive and what we give to build a more just, peaceful and loving world in the name of Christ, the Redeemer. Amen. HYMN 508 * Faith, While Trees Are Still in Blossom BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God POSTLUDE * All who are able may stand. _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the August 29 Service Hymn 660 God is Here God is here! As we your people meet to offer praise and prayer, may we find in fuller measure what it is in Christ we share. Here, as in the world around us, all our varied skills and arts wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts. Here are symbols to remind us of our lifelong need of grace; here are table, font, and pulpit; here the cross has central place. Here in honesty of preaching, here in silence, as in speech, here, in newness and renewal, God the Spirit comes to each. Here our children find a welcome in the Shepherd's flock and fold; here as bread and wine are taken, Christ sustains us, as of old. Here the servants of the Servant seek in worship to explore what it means in daily living to believe and to adore. Lord of all, of church and kingdom, in an age of change and doubt keep us faithful to the gospel; help us work your purpose out. Here, in this day's dedication, all we have to give, receive; we, who cannot live without you, we adore you! We believe! Hymn 111 How Can We Name a Love How can we name a Love that wakens heart and mind, indwelling all we know or think or do or seek or find? Within our daily world, in every human face, Love's echoes sound and God is found, hid in the commonplace. If we awoke to life built on a rock of care that asked no great reward but firm, assured, was simply there, we can, with parents' names, describe, and thus adore, Love unconfined, a father kind, a mother strong and sure. When people share a task, and strength and skills unite in projects old or new, to make or do with shared delight, our Friend and Partner's will is better understood, that all should share, create, and care, and know that life is good. So in a hundred names, each day we all can meet a presence, sensed and shown at work, at home, or in the street. Yet every name we see, shines in a brighter sun: In Christ alone is Love full grown and life and hope begun. Hymn 508 Faith, While Trees Are Still in Blossom Faith, while trees are still in blossom, plans the picking of the fruit; faith can feel the thrill of harvest when the buds begin to sprout. Long before the dawn is breaking, faith anticipates the sun. Faith is eager for the daylight, for the work that must be done. Long before the rains were coming, Noah went and built an ark. Abraham, the lonely migrant, saw the light beyond the dark. Faith, uplifted, tamed the water of the undivided sea, and the people of the Hebrews found the path that made them free. Faith believes that God is faithful: God will be what God will be! Faith accepts the call, responding, "I am willing, Lord, send me." PSALM 15 _________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to obtain Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Hannah Sotak for leading our worship service this morning. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, September 15, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending August 15 were $965. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to our Receiver of Offerings, Anne Oakes, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns Please keep Laura Caravatt in your prayers as she recovers from injuries sustained in a fall. We keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Anthony Cuteri, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Rick and Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Gavin Greenawalt, Bridget Janney, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Matulonis, Anne Oakes, Hannah Sotak, Bernie Stolp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations David and Beth Almond anniversary on August 27 _________________________________________________________________________ August 22, 2021 10:00 am Service of Worship THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP* (Please stand.) (Words by Marty Haugen, copyright 1991) Here in this place new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away See in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to You, O God, in the light of this day Gather us in, the lost and forsaken Gather us in, the blind and the lame Gather us in, the rich and the haughty Gather us in, the proud and the strong Gather us in and hold us forever Gather us in and make us your own Gather us in, all peoples together Fire of Your love in our flesh and our bones. Let us pray: OPENING PRAYER* (in unison) God of all people, gather us in this day, bind us with your love, and make from us the Body of Christ that we may be the Body of Christ for the world. For we pray these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Sprit. AMEN. HYMN 57* vs. 1-2, 4, 7 ‘O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing’ CONFESSION OF SIN: ONE: Not one of us is without sin. ALL: Not one! ONE: Each of us has fallen short of the Glory of God. ALL: Seen or unseen, all our sins are known by God. ONE: Let us come before the Lord in a time of confession. (Silent reflection and Prayer of Confession) ALL: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. ONE: Each of us has been betrayed, harmed, hurt, and sinned against. ALL: Every one of us! ONE: We know the pain and destruction of sin is deep and scarring. Out of our hurt, we are often tempted to hurt others. ALL: As we cry out for justice and healing, let us turn to the Lord in a time of prayer. (Silent Prayer for Healing) ALL: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers. DECLARATION OF THE GOOD NEWS: ONE: Now, hear the Good News! While all people were still sinners, Christ died for all. This is proof of God’s love for each of us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! MANY: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! ONE: In the name of Christ, may you find healing! Many: In the name of Christ, may you find healing! ONE: Praise be to God. AMEN. READING OF SCRIPTURE OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 9: 1-7 PSALM 84 p. 805 w/ refrain GLORIA 70 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. NEW TESTAMENT READING Mark 2: 1-17 SERMON ‘Can We Be Set Free?’ HYMN 375* “There Is a Balm in Gilead’ JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety OFFERTORY SENTENCE OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN 480* “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God POSTLUDE * All who are able may stand. _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the August 22 Service HYMN 57 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing vs. 1-2, 4, 7 O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace! My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread through all the earth abroad the honors of thy name. He breaks the power of canceled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me. In Christ, your head, you then shall know, shall feel your sins forgiven; anticipate your heaven below, and own that love is heaven. HYMN 375 There Is a Balm in Gilead Refrain: There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul. Some times I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain. But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again. (Refrain) Don't ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend, and if you look for knowledge he'll ne'er refuse to lend. (Refrain) If you can’t preach like Peter, if you can’t pray like Paul, just tell the love of Jesus, and say he died for all. (Refrain) HYMN 480 O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow may richer, fuller be. O Light that followest all my way, I yield my flickering torch to thee; my heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine's blaze its day may brighter, fairer be. O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow thru the rain, and feel the promise is not vain, that morn shall tearless be. O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life's glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red life that shall endless be. PSALM 84 _________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. Please read and follow those procedures for the safety of all. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Jeremy Schrauf for leading our worship service this morning. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, September 15, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending August 8, 2021 were $ 635. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to our Receiver of Offerings, Anne Oakes, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns Please keep Laura Caravatt in your prayers while she recovers from injuries sustained in a fall. Please keep Gavin Greenawalt in your prayers in his struggle with Long Covid. Please keep the family of Carolyn Gauthier in your prayers. We keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Anthony Cuteri, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Rick and Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Bridget Janney, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Matulonis, Anne Oakes, Hannah Sotak, Bernie Stolp, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations David and Beth Almond anniversary on August 27 _________________________________________________________________________ August 15, 2021 10:00 A.M. SERVICE OF WORSHIP Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING LEADER The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) PEOPLE And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP* (Please stand.) LEADER Be still and know that God is. PEOPLE God was, also, in the beginning. LEADER And when all human striving has ceased, God will still be. PEOPLE From everlasting to everlasting, God is God and alone is worthy to be worshiped. LEADER Let us sing praise to our God HYMN 463* Lord, Speak to Me OPENING PRAYER* CONFESSION OF SIN If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1: 8-9) Let us confess our sins before God and one another. Holy One, we confess that we continue conflicts in our holy human family, even though we know they cause unspeakable suffering. Like David, who wept for Absalom, his lost son. We are filled with sorrow for all who suffer or even die as a result of our conflicts, and yet still we do not find the ways to peace. And, O God, we know we have done or said things that we should not have done of said and have not done or said things we ought to have done or said. Forgive us SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS Remember that we are chosen by Christ, who reconciles us to God. Christ presents us holy and blameless before God. May we continue in the faith, remain stable and steadfast and not shift from the hope of the gospel which we have heard. For in Christ, we are forgiven. Amen READING OF SCRIPTURE PSALM 34:9–14 Hymnal, page 770 GLORIA 70 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS Ephesians 5:15–20 John 6:51–58 SERMON “Thoughts on Two Concerns” HYMN 626* Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety OFFERTORY SENTENCE OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN 369* Blessed Assurance BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God POSTLUDE * All who are able may stand. _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the August 15 Service HYMN 463* Lord, Speak to Me Lord, speak to me, that I may speak in living echoes of thy tone; as thou hast sought, so let me seek thine erring children lost and lone. O strengthen me, that while I stand firm on the rock, and strong in thee, I may stretch out a loving hand to wrestlers with the troubled sea. O teach me, Lord, that I may teach the precious things thou dost impart; and wing my words, that they may reach the hidden depths of many a heart. O fill me with thy fullness, Lord, until my very heart o'erflow in kindling thought and glowing word, thy love to tell, thy praise to show. O use me, Lord, use even me, just as thou wilt, and when, and where, until thy blessed face I see, thy rest, thy joy, thy glory share. HYMN 626* Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand; ponder nothing earthly-minded, for with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood; he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food. Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of light descendeth from the realms of endless day, that the powers of hell may vanish as the darkness clears away. At his feet the six-winged seraph, cherubim, with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord Most High! HYMN 369* Blessed Assurance Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (Refrain) Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. (Refrain) PSALM 34 verses 9 - 14 Response 1 CHURCH SERVICES at the UNITED CHURCH of LUDLOW are shared ELECTRONICALLY Contact unitedchurch@tds.net or call 802-228-4211 for more information. _________________________________________________________________________ If you are comfortable attending in person, please join us. The doors open at 9:45 am, and worship begins at 10:00 am. We follow procedures to minimize the risk of exposure. Please read and follow those procedures for the safety of all. If you are not able to attend in person, a simultaneous Zoom stream is available. Send an email to unitedchurch@tds.net to get Zoom access. _________________________________________________________________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS We wish to thank Jack Mahoney for leading our worship service this morning. A Warm Welcome to All Visitors If any member of the congregation may be of service to you, please contact the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Regarding Individuals in the Hospital or Sick at Home It would be greatly appreciated if you know of individuals or family members in the hospital or sick at home, to kindly inform the church office at 802-228-4211 or unitedchurch@tds.net. Upcoming Meetings/Events Executive Board Meeting - Wednesday, August 25, 7:00 pm Weekly Offerings Offerings and other cash receipts for the week ending July 25, 2021 were $ 1306. The costs for each week are $1,320 (derived by dividing the annual budget by 52 weeks). Please continue to mail your offerings to our Receiver of Offerings, Anne Oakes, at 145 Merrill Road, Ludlow, Vermont 05149. Altar Guild Linda Alexander and Carol Wu provide our Altar Guild services. Prayer Concerns Please keep Gavin Greenawalt in your prayers in his struggle with Long Covid. Please keep the family of Carolyn Gauthier in your prayers. Please keep Bernie Stolp in your prayers. We keep the following in our prayers: James Almond, Anthony Cuteri, Jean Eggleston, Kathy Rick and Mindy Doyle, Judy Edwards, Bridget Janney, Sheila Kafer, Susan Kneebone, Ginny Kottkamp, Anne Matulonis, Anne Oakes, Hannah Sotak, Evelyn Tucker, Herb Van Guilder, and Evelyn Verro. Celebrations Kathy and Rick Doyle anniversary on August 13 _________________________________________________________________________ August 8, 2021 10:00 A.M. SERVICE OF WORSHIP Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost PRELUDE (All are encouraged to use the prelude as a quiet time of meditation in preparation for the worship service which follows.) ANNOUNCEMENTS AND GREETING The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13: 13) And also with you. CALL TO WORSHIP* (Please stand.) All: Lord, we seek to bless you at all times. Let your praise live forever in our word and deed. Fill our souls with humility and gladness. Let us exalt your name together. Amen HYMN 426 * Behold A Broken World OPENING PRAYER* CONFESSION OF SIN If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1: 8-9) Let us confess our sins before God and one another. God who knows the innermost workings of hearts and minds, we seek your compassion and mercy as we confess our sins. In our imperfect understanding of you, we can only claim imperfect love, imperfect forgiveness. In our days spent in your creation we so often miss the mark of living into Christ’s message by letting Christ’s love transform us. You gave us a guide in Jesus so that we might know you more intimately, but we rejected him. We lift up our imperfection to you. Help guide us back to you in the embodied evidence of your overwhelming grace. SILENCE (Silence may be observed for reflection and prayer.) ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS READING OF SCRIPTURE OLD TESTAMENT READING 2 Sam 18:5-17, 32-33 PSALM 130 Hymnal, pages 848 GLORIA 70 Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. NEW TESTAMENT READING Eph 4:25 - 5:2 SERMON HYMN 474 * Precious Lord Take My Hand JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. LORD’S PRAYER (“trespasses”) PRAYER RESPONSE Hymnal, No. 473 Lead me, Lord, lead me in thy righteousness; Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, thou, Lord only, That makest me dwell in safety OFFERTORY SENTENCE Friends, we are called to serve God with all we have. Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, faithful commitment, and praise. OFFERTORY DOXOLOGY At the Presentation, Hymn 95* Old 100th Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, you heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. PRAYER OF DEDICATION* HYMN 368 * My Hope is Built BENEDICTION AND BLESSING* BENEDICTION RESPONSE DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. _________________________________________________________________________ Lyrics to the Hymns and Responsive Reading for the August 8 Service 426 Behold a Broken World Behold a broken world, we pray, where want and war increase, and grant us, Lord, in this our day, the ancient dream of peace: A dream of swords to sickles bent, of spears to scythe and spade, the weapons of our warfare spent, a world of peace remade; Where every battle-flag is furled and every trumpet stilled, where wars shall cease in all the world, a waking dream fulfilled. No force of arms shall there prevail nor justice cease its sway; nor shall their loftiest visions fail the dreamers of the day. O Prince of peace, who died to save, a lost world to redeem, and rose in triumph from the grave, behold our waking dream. Bring, Lord, your better world to birth, your kingdom, love's domain; where peace with God, and peace on earth, and peace eternal reign. 474 Precious Lord, Take My Hand Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light: Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home. When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near, When my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call, Hold my hand lest I fall, Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home. When the darkness appears and the night draws near, And the day is past and gone, At the river I stand, Guide my feet, hold my hand, Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home. 368 My Hope Is Built My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. Refrain: On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil. (Refrain) His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay. (Refrain) When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found! Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne! (Refrain) PSALM 130 _________________________________________________________________________
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