SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

July 9th, 2023 Ten Thirty in the morning

Minister: Rev. Aaron Ochart         

Liturgist: Bill Bottomley 

Organist: Robert Mouledoux

Please silence all cell phones. 

Bold face indicates congregational participation.

✝ Please stand, in body or spirit

THE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED IN

PRELUDE              

✝PROCESSIONAL HYMN [GTG#697] 

“Take My Life”

1 Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee;

take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise;

let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love;

take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee,

swift and beautiful for thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold;

take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose,

every power as thou shalt choose.

6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store;

take myself and I will be ever, only, all for thee,

ever, only, all for thee.

WORDS OF WELCOME         

MINUTE FOR THE CHURCH VBS  

CALL TO WORSHIP Luke 6:38

ONE: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap;

MANY: for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. 

                                                   

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

God of abundance, you have given us more than we could ask for or deserve. You have given us each minute, hour, day, and year. You have given us abilities, passions, talents, and weaknesses. You have given us money, resources, influence, and relationships. You call us to recognize all that we have, and to share it with others. To offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to be your people here and now, this is our spiritual act of worship. In the name of Jesus Christ who gave all for us. Amen. 

✝HYMN [*Blue #375] [GTG#711] “Lord of All Good”

1. Lord of all good, our gifts we bring to you;

Use them your holy purpose to fulfill;

Tokens of love and pledges brought anew,

That our whole life is offered to your will.

2. We give our mind to understand your ways;

hands, eyes, and voice to serve your great design;

Heart with the flame of your own love ablaze,

Till for your glory all our powers combine.

3. Father, whose bounty all creation shows;

Christ, by whose willing sacrifice we live;

Spirit, from whom all life in fullness flows,

To you with grateful hearts ourselves we give.

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN             

RESPONSE HYMN [Blue #369] [GTG#700]  

“I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”

I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of grace, love, and communion, we confess that we have failed to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We ignore your commandments, stray from your way, and follow other gods. Have mercy on us. Forgive our sin and raise us to new life that we may serve you faithfully and give honor to your holy name. Amen

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

✝GLORIA PATRI [BLUE#579] [GTG#581] 

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 WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

SCRIPTURE [Pew Bible OT 474 or 501]  Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

   He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

   he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths

   for his name’s sake.

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

   I fear no evil;

for you are with me;

   your rod and your staff—

   they comfort me.

 

You prepare a table before me

   in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

   my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

   all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

   my whole life long.

 

[Pew Bible NT #173 or 183] 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,

‘He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;

   his righteousness endures for ever.’

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 

[Pew Bible NT #151 or 161]     Romans 12:1-8

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

 

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

 

SERMON “Supporting the Church Through the Giving of Money, Time, and Talents”         the Rev. Aaron Ochart

 RESPONSE     

✝AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        “A Brief Statement of Faith”- Spirit 

In life and in 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 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. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church. In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. 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!”

 

With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY  

✝DOXOLOGY [*BLUE#592] [GTG#606]

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. 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 [*Blue #514] [GTG#526] 

“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”    

1 Let us talents and tongues employ, reaching out with a shout of joy:

bread is broken; the wine is poured;

Christ is spoken and seen and heard. 

Refrain: Jesus lives again; earth can breathe again;

pass the Word around: loaves abound!

2 Christ is able to make us one; at the table he sets the tone,

teaching people to live to bless,

love in word and in deed express. [Refrain]

3 Jesus calls us in, sends us out bearing fruit in a world of doubt,

gives us love to tell, bread to share:

God (Immanuel) everywhere! [Refrain]

 

✝PARTING PRAYER 

Grant unto us, O God, the fullness of your promises.

where we have been weak, grant us your strength;

where we have been confused, grant us your guidance;

where we have been distraught, grant us your comfort;

where we have been dead, grant us your life.

Apart from you, O Lord, we are nothing,

in and with you we can do all things. Amen.

✝CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

✝RESPONSE[*Blue#432][GTG# 765] “Song of Hope” 

May the God of hope go with us every day,

filling all our lives with love and joy and peace. 

May the God of justice speed us on our way,

bringing light and hope to every land and race.

Praying, let us work for peace; singing, share our joy with all;

Working for a world that’s new, faith-ful when we hear Christ’s Call

POSTLUDE    

*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.

Participating in today’s service are Rev. Aaron Ochart, Pastor; Louise Ochart, CE Leader; Sam Garnett, Music Director; and Kelly Cuppett, Assistant Music Director. Appreciation to Dennis Lauland. Mike Fortin, and David Garland for the video production of today’s service. 

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.