PRELUDE   “Light Dawns on a Weary World”

 

the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of God’s grace!

2 The name of Jesus charms our fears,

and bids our sorrows cease,

sings music in the sinner’s ears, brings life, and health, and peace.

5 To God all glory, praise, and love be now and ever given

WORDS OF WELCOME 

ADORATION   

CALL TO WORSHIP Isaiah 35:4

ONE: Be strong; do not fear! God is with us.

MANY: The Lord will come to save us.

                                                   

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Direct and help us, O Lord, in all our deeds, that in all our works 

begun, continued, and ended in You, we may glorify Your holy name, and finally, by Your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

HYMN [GTG#79] Light Dawns on a Weary World

1 Light dawns on a weary world when eyes begin to see 

all people’s dignity. Light dawns on a weary world:

the promised day of justice comes. 

CHORUS: The trees shall clap their hands; the dry lands, gush with springs; the hills and mountains shall break forth with singing!

We shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace,

as all the world in wonder  echoes shalom.

2 Love grows in a weary world when hungry hearts find bread

and children’s dreams are fed. Love grows in a weary world:

the promised feast of plenty comes.

Chorus.

3 Hope blooms in a weary world when creatures, once forlorn,

find wilderness reborn. Hope blooms in a weary world:

the promised green of Eden comes.

Chorus

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

Eternal God, 

in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: Cleanse us from all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, 

confiding in your grace, and finding in you our refuge and strength; 

through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579[ [GTG581]                                                                 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

1st SCRIPTURE                       Mark 7:24-37        

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

2nd SCRIPTURE                                                  James 2:1-6a, 14-17

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

                          

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH         Apostles’ Creed 

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY   

             

DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

 

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

ONE: The Lord be with you.

MANY: And also with you.

ONE: Lift up your hearts.

MANY: We lift them to the Lord.

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

MANY: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE: …Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:

MANY: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

ONE: … Praise to you, Lord Jesus:

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

ONE: … The gifts of God for the people of God.

HYMN [*Blue #][GTG#772] Live into Hope

1 Live into hope of captives freed, of sight regained, the end of greed.

The oppressed shall be the first to see

the year of God’s own jubilee!

2 Live into hope! The blind shall see  with insight and with clarity,

removing shades of pride and fear, a vision of our God brought near.

3 Live into hope of liberty, the right to speak, the right to be,

the right to have one’s daily bread, to hear God’s word 

and thus be fed.

4 Live into hope of captives freed from chains of fear 

or want or greed. God now proclaims our full release

to faith and hope and joy and peace.

PARTING PRAYER 

You, eternal Father, are the table that offers us as food 

the Lamb, your only-begotten Son. He is the most exquisite of foods for us, both in his teaching, which nourishes us in your will, 

and in the sacrament that we receive in holy communion, which feeds and strengthens us. And the Holy Spirit is indeed a waiter for us, who serves us charity for our neighbors. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [GTG#547] Go, My Children, with My Blessing

Verse 2 “Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.

Here you learned how much I love you,

what I can cure.

Here you heard my dear Son’s story; here you touched him, 

saw his glory. Go, my children, sins forgiven,

at peace and pure.”

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly.

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved. 

STAFF

Church Office: 504.888.1375 Playschool Office: 504.888.1378

Briana Mayfield – Church Office Assistant 

Kelly Cuppett – Music Director

Lauren Crisler  – Playschool Director

Stephanie Galliano – Playschool Admin. Asst.

Deacons

Bill Bottomley 504-885-3850 pslclerk@earthlink.net

Mary Antill 504-247-5720 buzz2moosetaco@gmail.com

Tony Hill 504-214-8095 rolandohill2003@yahoo.com

Laurie Hill 504-344-9079 la.tres@yahoo.com