SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Twenty First Sunday After Pentecost
October 22nd, 2023 Ten Thirty in the Morning
Guest Preacher: Mike Isham
Lay Leader: Andrew Crawford
Guest Musician: Hazel Clinard
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#835]
“Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
Refrain: Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee: let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
1 I am weak, but thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk,
let me walk close to thee. [Refrain]
2 Through this world of toil and snares, if I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee. [Refrain]
WORDS OF WELCOME
MINUTE FOR MISSION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP Ps. 91:14–15
ONE: Those who love the Lord, God will deliver;
MANY: when they call, God will answer them.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty and Everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations. Preserve the works of your mercy, that your church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your name; 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 OF THE MONTH [BLUE#330] [GTG #50]
“Deep in the Shadows of the Past”
1 Deep in the shadows of the past,
far out from settled lands,
some nomads traveled with their God
across the desert sands.
The dawning hope of humankind
by them was sensed and shown:
a promise calling them ahead,
a future yet unknown.
2 While others bowed to changeless gods,
they met a mystery,
invisible, without a name:
“I AM WHAT I WILL BE”;
and by their tents, around their fires
in story, song, and law,
they praised, remembered, handed on
a past that promised more.
3 From Exodus to Pentecost
the promise changed and grew,
while some, remembering the past,
recorded what they knew,
or with their letters and laments,
their prophecy and praise,
recovered, kindled, and expressed
new hope for changing days.
4 For all the writings that survived,
for leaders, long ago,
who sifted, copied, and preserved
the Bible that we know,
give thanks, and find its story yet
our promise, strength, and call,
the model of emerging faith,
alive with hope for all.
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN
RESPONSE HYMN [Blue#138] [GTG #1]
“Holy Holy Holy! Lord God Almighty!”
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
REPENTANCE
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Lord our God, you call us to proclaim your gospel, but we remain silent in the presence of evil. You call us to be reconciled to you and one another, but we are content to live in separation. You call us to seek the good of all, but we fail to resist the powers of oppression. You call us to bring liberty for the oppressed, but we do not insist on freedom for all. You call us to fight pretensions and injustice, but we sit idly by, endangering the lives of people far and near.
Forgive us, Lord. Reconcile us to you by your Spirit, and give us the courage and strength to be reconciled to others; through Jesus Christ. 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 76 or 79] Exodus 33:12-23
Moses said to the LORD, ‘See, you have said to me, “Bring up this people”; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, “I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.” Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.’ He said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ And he said to him, ‘If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.’
The LORD said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.’ Moses said, ‘Show me your glory, I pray.’ And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, “The LORD”; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But’, he said, ‘you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.’ And the LORD continued, ‘See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.’
ONE: The Word of the Lord
MANY: Thanks be to God
SERMON: “Sanctuary” Mike Isham
RESPONSE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH “Theological Declaration of Barmen”
Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death.
As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures.
The church’s commission, upon which its freedom is founded, consists in delivering the message of the free grace of God to all people in Christ’s stead, and therefore in the ministry of his own Word and work through sermon and Sacrament.
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
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 [GTG#701] “Lord, Prepare Me (Sanctuary)”
Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary
Pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for You (x2)
PARTING PRAYER
O come to me, O servant Lord, pour water in your bowl, and wash my feet. I am bold to ask this because of my longing for fellowship with you. Wash my feet, then, and be my companion. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
RESPONSE [GTG#406] “We Are Standing On Holy Ground”
We are standing on holy ground
And I know there are angels all around
Let us praise Jesus now
We are standing in his presence On holy ground
POSTLUDE