worship 7-16-23

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

Seventh Sunday After Pentecost

July 16th, 2023 Ten Thirty in the morning

Minister: Rev. Aaron Ochart         

Liturgist: Ron Palmisano

Please silence all cell phones. 

Bold face indicates congregational participation.

✝ Please stand, in body or spirit

THE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED IN

PRELUDE              “Under the Green Tree” Sweelinck

✝PROCESSIONAL HYMN [GTG#749] “Come, Live in the Light!”    

  1. Come, live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord

We are called to be light for the kingdom

To live in the freedom of the city of God

Chorus: We are called to act with justice; We are called to love tenderly;

We are called to serve one another, To walk humbly with God.

2.Come, open your heart! Show your mercy to all those in fear!

We are called to be hope for the hopeless

So hatred and violence will be no more (chorus)

  1. Sing, sing a new song! Sing of that great day when all will be one!

God will reign and we’ll walk with each other

As sisters and brothers united in love (chorus) 

WORDS OF WELCOME         

MINUTE FOR THE CHURCH VBS  

ADORATION 

CALL TO WORSHIP               2 Corinthians 16-17

ONE: From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.

MANY: So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has become new!                  

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Jesus Christ, you have come to give us life, a life overflowing with your grace. You call us to right relationship and action with God, with one another, and with all creation. But we too easily fall back into the patterns of this world, exploiting neighbor and nature for our own ends. We do not always live as your servant people, or display the unity that we have in you. Help us to demonstrate a new quality of life both within the church, and in the world around us. Amen.

✝HYMN [GTG 319] Men of Faith Rise Up And Sing

  1. Men of faith rise up and sing of the great and glorious King.

You are strong when you feel weak; in your brokenness complete.     

Refrain: Shout to the north and the south, 

sing to the east and the west.

Jesus is savior to all, Lord of heaven and earth. 

  1. Rise up women of the truth. Stand and sing to broken hearts

who can know the healing power of our awesome King of love. (Refrain)

Bridge: We’ve been through fire; we’ve been through rain;

we’ve been refined by the power of your name.

We’ve fallen deeper in love with you. 

You’ve burned the truth on our lips. (Refrain)

  1. Rise up, church, with broken wings; fill this place with songs again

of our God who reigns on high; by God’s grace again we’ll fly.  (Refrain)

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN             

RESPONSE HYMN [GTG#300]  

“We are One in the Spirit”

We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord; 

We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord,

and we’ll pray that all unity may one day be restored:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love. 

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 543 or 575]  Psalm 133

A Song of Ascents.

How very good and pleasant it is

   when kindred live together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head,

   running down upon the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

   running down over the collar of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon,

   which falls on the mountains of Zion.

For there the Lord ordained his blessing,

   life for evermore.

[Pew Bible NT #114 or 122] Deuteronomy 14:1-8, 22-23, 15:1-5 

You are children of the LORD your God. You must not lacerate yourselves or shave your forelocks for the dead. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; it is you the LORD has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

You shall not eat any abhorrent thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain-sheep. Any animal that divides the hoof and has the hoof cloven in two, and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cloven you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock-badger, because they chew the cud but do not divide the hoof; they are unclean for you. And the pig, because it divides the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. You shall not eat their meat, and you shall not touch their carcasses.

Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field. In the presence of the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose as a dwelling for his name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts. And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it from a neighbor who is a member of the community, because the LORD’s remission has been proclaimed. From a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you. There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the LORD is sure to bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you as a possession to occupy, if only you will obey the LORD your God by diligently observing this entire commandment that I command you today.

[Pew Bible NT #181 or 192]     Ephesians 2:1-10

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON “Demonstrating a New Quality of Life Within and Through the Church”         the Rev. Aaron Ochart

 RESPONSE     

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

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 Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.

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 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us 

  1. B. Bradbury, arr. V. Labenske

✝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. 

REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM

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.

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# 442] [GTG#321] 

“The Church’s One Foundation”

1 The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.

She is his new creation by water and the word.

From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride.

With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.

2 Elect from every nation, yet one o’er all the earth,

her charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth.

One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food,

and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

3 Though with a scornful wonder this world sees her oppressed,

by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed,

yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up: “How long?”

And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.

4 Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war,

she waits the consummation of peace forevermore:

till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest,

and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

5 Yet she on earth has union with God, the Three in One,

and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won:

O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we,

like them, the meek and lowly, may live eternally.

✝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” 

(1st time in Spanish, 2nd Time in English)

¡Dios de la esperanza, danos gozo y paz!

Al mundo en crisis, habla tu verdad.

Dios de la justicia, mándanos tu luz,

Luz y esperanza en la oscuridad.

Oremos por la paz, cantemos de tu amor,

luchemos por la paz, fieles a ti, Señor.

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;



Worship Service 7-9-23

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. 




ANNOUNCEMENTS


Announcements 7-16-23

Announcements:

CONGREGATIONAL VITALITY RECOMMENDATIONS:  Are you interested in the topic of Church growth, and vitality? Are you concerned about the current trend of membership decline in the world wide church but don’t know what you can do here at JCPC to stem the tide and grow the church? This month we will be highlighting a few books on this crucial topic. We will have five book recommendations which can each be found at the PCUSA webstore or amazon. Many of these books even have discussions topics and questions which would be perfect for a small group study, so grab a few friends and check out the books. Our second book recommendation is:Sailboat Church: Helping Your Church Rethink Its Mission and Practice By Joan S. Gray: Is your church a rowboat church or a sailboat church?

Rowboat churches depend largely on human effort. When church budgets shrink and membership declines, rowboat churches frantically row harder against a current, often frustrated and disappointed at their efforts. Sailboat churches, on the other hand, take up the oars, hoist sails, and rely on the Holy Spirit to guide them.

Arguing that churches should be “sailboats,” Joan S. Gray encourages readers to shift concern from the many daily, practical concerns of their local church to fresh ideas that can be found using the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The book includes forty days of sailing prayers, quotes from Scripture, brief reflection questions, and an extensive bibliography that is arranged by theme. Perfect for groups to read together, this book will help leaders reframe their church’s mission and practice with the Holy Spirit as their guide.

GLASS RECYCLING: Ever wish you could recycle your glass jars instead of tossing them in the trash. Well you are in luck. Kelly and Sam are collecting glass to be recycled by the Glass Half Full, a company that recycles glass to be used as sand in duster relief and coastal restoration. Please make sure all glass is rinsed out with no lids and place it in the bin in the Choir Room. 

PRAYER GROUPS: Our prayer group will continue to meet in July before worship at 10:10 AM. Each group will meet for about 15 min. The group leader will give a short lesson on prayer. Then the group will pray together for a specific area, ministry, or group of people.

GOODBYE to SAM: Sam Garnett, our Music Director and organist for the last three years, has been offered a new position. His last Sunday with us will be July 30th. Kelly Cuppett will continue as music staff. 

VBS VOLUNTEERS: It’s Summer and that means VBS is right around the corner. We already have 30 kids signed up and hope to get more. As always we can’t do this wonderful program without lots of help. Please use the link, QR code, or insert in the bulletin to sign up to help. We would love to have anyone and everyone that wants to help, even if you can’t volunteer everyday. We are especially looking for group leaders, an adult activity leader (possible only two days), Bible/Story leader, Snacks coordinator and teens to help with the groups. Please use this link https://bit.ly/JCPCVBS23Volunteers  or the insert in the Bulletin to sign up to help.

FAVORITE HYMN: Do you have a favorite hymn you would like us to sing in worship? Let us know using the insert and it just might be included in worship in the future. 

YAV CLOSING WORSHIP, VOLUNTEER CLEANING DAY, WISHLIST: It’s Been a wonderful year but it’s time to say goodbye to our amazing YAV’s. There will be a closing worship service at Lakeview Presbyterian Church, July 25th at 6:00 PM. On July 29th from 9am-noon, please join the YAV’s for a deep clean of the beloved “Big Green House” at 4225 Franklin Ave, New Orleans. All ages of cleaners are welcome! Inside we will clean the floors, appliances, windows, and furniture. Outside we’ll weed, mow, and rake gravel. YAV Site Coordinator Dan Wally Lang will coordinate volunteer signup, supplies, and snacks. RSVP via email at dan@pbysouthla.org

. For the coming year NOLA YAV is delighted to welcome three Young Adult Volunteers from Scotland!  Because they will be traveling internationally we hope to provide the following household items in gently used or new condition: 3 sets twin Linens/comforter, 3 pillows, 2 bicycles (Medium, large) 3 umbrellas, sunscreen, bug spray, twin memory foam mattress topper, shampoo, and conditioner. Please contact dan@pbysouthla.org if you can provide any of the following items by August 20, 2023