Sunday July 6, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

Prelude — Lord Jesus Christ, Turn Thou to Us — Johann Gottfried Walther
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
Holy God, this weekend as our nation celebrates independence and freedom, we are reminded of both our freedom to choose you and our conscious choice to live a life of dependence on your grace and mercy. Be present with us in our worship today, as we offer ourselves to you. Amen.

Call to Worship — Jeremiah 9:23-24
“Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom,
       do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; 
but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord;
       I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.”  Let us worship our sovereign, faithful, God!

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #331 — God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand — NATIONAL HYMN
(*Please stand, if you are able)

A Litany for Independence Day
As we remember the birth of our nation, and the gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, let us offer our thanks and prayers to God, the giver of all good gifts. For the women and men who braved the long journey by sea to come to this new world,
       We thank you, Lord.
For the tribes and nations who inhabited this land for generation upon generation,
       We thank you, Lord.
For patriots who dreamed of, and fought for, a free nation,
       We thank you, Lord.
For the men and women who laid the foundation of our democracy, who pledged liberty and justice for all,
       We thank you, Lord.
For those who built this country brick by brick, road by road, and town by town,
       We thank you, Lord.
For soldiers who have fought for our country, for all who paid for our freedom by their service, and those who paid by their sacrifice,
       We thank you, Lord.
For the innovators and artists, poets and teachers, farmers and factory workers; for all who labor and provide for the common good,
       We thank you, Lord.
For our own community, for those who came before us in this place, and for our neighbors near and far,
       We thank you, Lord.
Lord, we pray for The United States, that our country would always defend and promote liberty and freedom, truth and justice.
       We pray to you, Lord.
That we might always be a nation where all are free to worship and pray,
       We pray to you, Lord.
That we might always be a beacon of freedom to those who live under the shadow of terror and hopelessness,
       We pray to you, Lord.
That those who are elected to govern and lead would be guided by you, and be ever aware of the trust that has been given them,
       We pray to you, Lord.
That we would be a people who repent from our sins, and who always return to you and to your grace,
       We pray to you, Lord:
       Gracious God, Father of all nations, bless and defend us and our land; prosper the work of our hands, and increase in us your grace and compassion, and our offerings of thanks to you, our rock and our salvation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Congregational Response (#581)                   Glory Be to the Father       GLORIA PATRI (Greatorex)

Welcome                                     
During the Welcome, children are invited to come forward.

Time for Young Disciples

*Hymn #337 — My Country, ‘Tis of Thee — AMERICA

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 — Hymn of Peace — Mary McDonald                                                      

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20 — page 844 of the pew Bible                                             

Sermon — “Your Mission from God” — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith — adapted from the Confession of 1967
To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as God’s reconciling community, to share God’s labor of healing the hostilities which separate people from God and from each other.  Christ has called the church to this mission and given it the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The church follows Christ’s pattern in the form of its life and in the method of its action.  So, to live and serve is to confess Christ as Lord.

*Sanctus (#562) — Holy, Holy, Holy SANCTUS (Schubert)

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — There Is a Balm in Gilead — arr. Kevin Boesiger and Mary McDonald

*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                                                                                                                                                       
Holy God, bless our gifts of money, energy, time and prayer, that they may travel far in your world, blessing your children in every place.   We dedicate this offering and our very lives, to you, Living Lord.  Make us grateful people who know who to thank.  Give us light and generous hearts as we commit ourselves afresh this day to building your kingdom and serving you.  Amen.

*Hymn #338 — O Beautiful for Spacious Skies — MATERNA

*Charge and Benediction

*Benediction Response — Go Now in Peace — Don Besig

Postlude — The Emperor’s Fanfare — Antonio Soler; arr. E. Power Biggs