Sunday February 23, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Concerto in C — Paul Frey
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“The Holy Spirit, thank God, often enables people to forgive even though they are not sure how they did it.” — author Louis B. Smedes, 1921-2002

Call to Worship — from Psalm 37:39-40
Our salvation is from the Lord;
        God is our refuge in times of trouble.
The Lord helps us and rescues us;
        God saves us because we take refuge in our Lord, whom we worship today.

Praise and Adoration

*Opening Hymn #756 — O God of Every Nation  LLANGLOFFAN  
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we come to you in prayer today reminded of the promises of your kingdom.  You encourage us to give unto others and do good even to those who hate us.  But we fail and instead we grow angry and selfish, looking only into our immediate wants and needs, forgetting all those who are in our path.  Forgive us.  Help us remember “to do to others as you would have them do to you.” 

Silent Prayers of Confession and Petition

Kyrie Eleison (#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

Announcements 

Hymn #735 — I Need Thee Every Hour — NEED

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 — Let Us Love One Another — David von Kampen

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 6: 27-38 — page 838 of the pew Bible

Sermon — “Going from Preachin’ to Meddlin’” — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — from Philippians 2: 5-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess to the glory of God: Jesus Christ is Lord!

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

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — Just As I Am — Bradbury; arr. Craig Courtney

*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
O God, may these gifts be used as a witness to your love, peace, and justice at work in the world, renewing the face of the earth.  Amen.

*Hymn of Dedication #702 — Christ Be Beside Me — BUNESSAN

*Charge and Benediction                              

Postlude — Aria — Albert Zabel