SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
25th Sunday after Pentecost
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
November 14, 2021 Ten Thirty in the morning
Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart
Liturgist: Lynn Sens
Please silence all cell phones.
Face masks are to be worn by all participants unless leading worship.
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
* Please stand, in body or spirit
GATHERING
WORDS OF WELCOME
PRELUDE Chaconne in F Minor by Pachelbel
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP Isa. 12:2
ONE: Surely God is our salvation;
MANY: Trust in the Lord and do not be afraid.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of all people, Show us how to let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an every-flowing stream. Create justice and righteousness in us, that all may rejoice in your blessings. Amen.
HYMN “Together We Serve”
- Together we serve, united by love,
inviting God’s World to the glorious feast.
We work and we pray through sorrow and joy,
extending God’s love to the last and the least.
- We seek to become a beacon of hope,
a lamp for the heart and a light for the feet.
We learn, year by year, to let love shine through
until we see Christ in each person we meet.
- We welcome the scarred, the wealthy, the poor,
the busy, the lonely, and all who need care.
We offer a home to those who will come,
our hands quick to help, our hearts ready to dare.
- We gather, by grace, we witness and work,
remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong.
Together we serve in Spirit and truth,
Remembering love is the strength of our song.
CONFESSION
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love. We have not loved our neighbors, and we have refused to hear the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 John 7:10-18, 37-44
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN
ANTHEM Author of Justice Jordan/Larson
Author of justice, on time’s endless page,
Your theme is justice in race, creed and age; Justice for women, for children, for men.
Stewards of justice, we pledge our “Amen.” Where there is someone unfairly accused,
where there is strength and in power abused, Where prejudice lives, and dignity dies,
lead us to action courageous and wise. Let it be written we sang freedom’s song,
challenging rights that are morally wrong. From rage and chaos, to hope and control,
Author of justice, heal our wounds, make us whole. Friends of the helpless, of victims in need,
foes of intolerance, hatred and greed; May we move mountains, as faith lights our way.
Brighter tomorrows are born of today. Author of justice, your message impart,
till loving kindness redeems ev’ry heart; And earth embraces her new destiny,
justice for everyone with true equity. Amen.
SECOND LESSON Amos 1:1-2; 5:14-15, 21-24
The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake. And he said: The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds wither, and the top of Carmel dries up.
Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals. I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
SERMON “Empty Devotion” Rev. Aaron Ochart
RESPONSE
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Brief Statement of Faith: Lines 1-8, 20-26, 27-27-41, 52-57, 77-80
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 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.
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments. we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.
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.
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.
RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY “God of Wonders” arr. Carol Tornquist
*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 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 434 “Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples”
- Today we are all called to be Disciples of the Lord,
To help to set the captives free, Make plow-share out of sword,
To feed the hungry, quench their thirst, Make love and peace our fast,
To serve the poor and homeless first, Our ease and comfort last.
- God made the world and at its birth Ordained our human race
To live as stewards of the earth, Responding to God’s grace.
But we are vain and sadly proud, We sow not peace but strife,
Our discord spreads a deadly cloud That threatens all of life.
- Pray justice may come rolling down As in a mighty stream,
With righteousness in field and town To cleanse us and redeem.
For God is longing to restore An earth where conflicts cease,
A world that was created for A harmony of peace.
- May we in service to our God Act out the living word,
And walk the road the saints have trod Till all have seen and heard.
As stewards of the earth may we Give thanks in one accord
To God who calls us all to be Disciples of the Lord.
PARTING PRAYER Thomas Merton
Almighty God, we thank you for all the gifts You have given us: our lives, our loved ones, all that we have and all that we are. Most of all, we thank You for Jesus, your Son and our Redeemer, who came among us to show us the way to eternal life. Jesus was the perfect steward of your gifts, showing that complete trust in You is necessary, and that giving of self is a most important part of following Him. May the offerings of our time, our talents, and our material resources be made in the same spirit of sacrifice that Jesus taught us by His life and death for us.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Toccata in C