PRELUDE – I -“Poco allegretto” from Seven Pieces in C major and C minor – C. Franck

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP (Psalm 46)                      

ONE: God is our refuge and strength,

MANY: A very present help in trouble.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of earthquake and storm; you call us in the wilderness, separated by space and time. You call us in the many places where you have sent us to continue to be your people. We thank you for the safety that you have provided, and pray for your grace on those who were harder hit than us. Amen. 

HYMN                              “God of the Sparrow”

1.God of the sparrow God of the whale

God of the swirling stars

How does the creature say Awe

How does the creature say Praise

2.God of the earthquake God of the storm

God of the trumpet blast

How does the creature cry Woe

How does the creature cry Save

3.God of the rainbow God of the cross

God of the empty grave

How does the creature say Grace

How does the creature say Thank

4. God of the hungry God of the sick

God of the prodigal

How does the creature say Care

How does the creature say Life

5.God of the neighbor God of the foe

God of the pruning hook

How does the creature say Love

How does the creature say Joy

6. God of the ages God near at hand

God of the loving heart

How do your children say Joy

How do your children say Home

CALL TO CONFESSION        

SILENT CONFESSION                                                          

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)

Merciful God, in your presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves, as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression. Lord, have mercy upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON               

GLORIA PATRI 579         

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.

PASSING THE PEACE

PROCLAMATION

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN                             

SCRIPTURE LESSON – Acts 28:11-31 NRSV 

Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’ They replied, ‘We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you. But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.’

After they had fixed a day to meet him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe. So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: ‘The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,

“Go to this people and say,

You will indeed listen, but never understand,

   and you will indeed look, but never perceive.

For this people’s heart has grown dull,

   and their ears are hard of hearing,

     and they have shut their eyes;

     so that they might not look with their eyes,

   and listen with their ears,

and understand with their heart and turn—

   and I would heal them.”

Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.’

He lived there for two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. 

SERMON             “The Ends of the Earth”           Rev. Aaron Ochart

RESPONSE               

COLLECTION OF OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY            “My Jesus I Love Thee”

*DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER        

    The Lord be with you.

        And also with you.

   Lift up your hearts.

        We lift them to the Lord.

   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise. 

SENDING

*HYMN              “Amazing Grace”

1 Amazing grace (how sweet the sound) that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come:

’tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures;

he will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

5. When we’ve been there ten-thousand years, bright shining as the sun.

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, than when we first begun. 

PRELUDE                   “Voluntary in G” Henry Heron

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP                                         Hebrews 13:16                             

Do good and share what you have

for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of compassion, you desire that all people might be drawn to you. You leave the ninety-nine sheep behind to find the missing one, you search for the last coin, you look for the missing child, and you give your own life so that we might live. Give us the faith and courage to proclaim your good news through word and deed. Amen. 

HYMN 370                              “Just as I Am”

1. Just as I am without one plea but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou biddest me come to thee, 

O Lamb of God, I come, I come. 

4. Just as I am, thy love unknown has broken every barrier down;

now to be thine, yea, thine alone, O lamb of God, I come, I come. 

CALL TO CONFESSION        

SILENT CONFESSION                                                          

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)

Merciful God, in your presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves, as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression. Lord, have mercy upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. Amen. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON               

GLORIA PATRI 579         

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.

PROCLAMATION

FIRST LESSON                       Matthew 10:5a, 16-23 NRSV

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions…

‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.                  

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN              

ANTHEM                                

SECOND LESSON                                   Acts 25:23-26:29 NRSV 

So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in. And Festus said, ‘King Agrippa and all here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and when he appealed to his Imperial Majesty, I decided to send him. But I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write— for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.’

Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:

‘I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defence today against all the accusations of the Jews, because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.

‘All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?…

‘After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.’

While he was making this defence, Festus exclaimed, ‘You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!’ But Paul said, ‘I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.’ Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.’

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. 

SERMON             “Whether Quickly or Not”           Rev. Aaron Ochart

RESPONSE 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH               Heidelberg Catechism: BOC 4.001                

Q1: What is your only comfort, in life and in death?

A1: That I belong body and soul, in life and in death not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by the Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.                 

COLLECTION OF OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY            

*DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.

SENDING

*HYMN 371              “Lift High the Cross”

Refrain:

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

till all the world adore his sacred name.

1 Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod,

the Lamb victorious, Christ, the Son of God. [Refrain]

2 All newborn servants of the Crucified

bear on their brow the seal of Christ who died. [Refrain]

3 O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,

your death has brought us life eternally. [Refrain]

4 So shall our song of triumph ever be:

praise to the Crucified for victory. [Refrain]