Sunday August 18, 2024 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

PRELUDE — Contemplation — Claude Debussy
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

SILENT MEDITATION
“Things can be awful and embarrassingly dysfunctional–and God can still move. God can still do great things.  I really believe that at the heart of the stories of the patriarchs, and the whole of the history in the book of Genesis, is the truth that God does things through the lives of the strangest and most awkward of people.  When God looked out over the whole world to find the people he would call his own–the people he would bless with the privilege of being a blessing to the whole world–he chose what often times looks like the “B” team. The replacements. The ones who didn’t even have the illusion of having their act together.  He chose people—Just. Like. Us.” — Rick Morley  

CALL TO WORSHIP — Psalm 111:1-4
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the congregation.
       Great are the works of the Lord studied by all who delight in them.
Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
       He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds, The Lord is gracious and merciful.
       Let us worship God!

PRAISE AND ADORATION

*HYMN #65 — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah  — CWM RHONDDA
(*Please stand, if you are able)

CONFESSION AND PARDON

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from death to life and sent his Spirit to be with us always. We confess that we have not trusted in the truth of that Spirit to enliven our hearts, to set us in the ways of justice, and to free us from fear. We have turned away from the gift of Christ’s presence. Forgive us, and turn our hearts back to you, that we may be your faithful and loving people, walking in the footsteps of the One who came to transform the world.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION AND PETITION

KYRIE ELEISON (#551) — Lord, Have Mercy — LAND OF REST
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*GLORIA PATRI (#240) —  Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks! — ALLELUIA NO. 1

WELCOME              
During the welcome, children are invited to come forward for a time with Dr. Zieman

TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES

THE OLD TESTAMANT READING — 1 Kings 2: 10-12, 3: 3-14 — page 265 of the pew Bible

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*HYMN #394 — Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation — WESTMINSTER ABBEY

FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER

JOYS AND CONCERNS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
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.

ANTHEM — Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing    Roland E. Martin                                                                                   

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON — John 6: 51-59 — page 868 of the pew Bible

SERMON — “Your Basic Necessity” — Dr. Zieman

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — from the Confession of 1967
In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all. The risen Christ is the Savior of all humanity. Those joined to him by faith are set right with God and commissioned to serve as his reconciling community. Christ is head of this community, the church, which begins with the apostles and continues through all generations.

God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals his love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinners. The power of God’s love to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of his love.

*SANCTUS (#572) — Holy, Holy, Holy — SANCTUS (Pavlechko)

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY — All Praise to God for Song God Gives — Dale Wood; arr. Allen Pote

*DOXOLOGY (#609) — Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia!
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION      
We present these gifts, O Lord, asking that you will use them through the church to spread the abundance of your love and justice in the world, that all may taste your goodness.  Amen.

*HYMN #748 — Go With Us, Lord — TALLIS’ CANON

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE — The Lord Bless You and Keep You — Peter Lutkin                

*POSTLUDE — Procession — Charles Ore