Sunday February 16, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — March Religiuse — Alexandre Guilmant
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“How far you go in life depends on you being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong.  Because, someday in life, you will have been all these.” — George Washington Carver

Call to Worship — based on Psalm 1
Like trees planted by streams of water
       Let us trust in the Lord
and meditate on God’s Word
        so we can yield good and bountiful fruit.  Let us worship God!                                                           
        Praise and Adoration

*Opening Hymn #619 — Praise My Soul, the God of Heaven — LAUDA ANIMA           
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
God of grace, you remind us that we are blessed when we trust in you.  Yet, we acknowledge that we do not always trust you.  When the day-to-day problems of life bear down on our lives, we look to simple fixes instead of your guidance.   We lash out in anger and hate instead of turning to you in prayer and petition.  God, have mercy on us.  Help us lean into your love and patiently wait for your guidance.   Now God, in silence, we confess those times when we have not trusted you, and express the matters that weigh most heavily on our hearts. 

Silent Prayers of Confession and Petition

Confessional Response (#434) — Restore in Us, O God — BAYLOR

Assurance of Pardon

*Gloria Patri (#581) — GLORIA PATRI (Greatorex)

*Welcome                
During the welcome, children are invited to come forward for their time with Dr. Zieman.

Time for Young Disciples

*Hymn #172 — Blest Are They — BLEST ARE THEY

Announcements

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 — Ubi Caritas (11:10) — Ola Gjeilo

Where charity and love are, God is there.
The love of Christ has gathered us together. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Let us revere and love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love one another. Amen.

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 6: 17-26 — page xxx of the pew Bible

Sermon — “How Will You Measure Happiness?” — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — The Confession of 1967, 9.15
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 divine love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men and women.  The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of God’s love.

*Sanctus — Holy, Holy, God Almighty — DIVINUM MYSTERIUM

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — All That Hath Life and Breath Praise Ye the Lord! —  René Clausen                                                   

*Doxology (#607) — “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” — OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise Christ, all people here below;
praise Holy Spirit evermore; praise Triune God, whom we adore.  Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication
God, you have sustained us in lean times and led us to sources of living water. Take these gifts and multiply their blessings for those who are hungry, hurting and in need of your strength.  Amen.

*Hymn of Dedication #634 — To God Be the Glory — TO GOD BE THE GLORY

*Charge and Benediction                              

*Benediction Response — “Go Now in Peace” — Don Besig

Postlude — “Fanfare on SLANE” — Charles Ore