Sunday October 13, 2024 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

PRELUDE — Fugue on “St. Anne” — J.S. Bach
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

SILENT MEDITATION
The trouble with being rich is that since you can solve with your checkbook virtually all of the practical problems that bedevil ordinary people, you are left in your leisure with nothing but the great human problems to contend with: how to be happy, how to love and be loved, how to find meaning and purpose in your life.  In desperation, the rich are continually tempted to believe that they can solve these problems too with their checkbooks, which is presumably what led Jesus to remark one day that for a rich man to get to Heaven is about as easy as for a Cadillac to get through a revolving door. — Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking

CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP — Psalm 150 — John Harper

PRAISE AND ADORATION

*HYMN OF PRAISE #716 — God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending  BEACH SPRING
(*Please stand, if you are able)

CONFESSION AND PARDON

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious and merciful God, we often wonder what we must do to be right with you. The gospel tells us what you have done for us in Jesus to make us right with you. Yet, we still establish rules and try to follow them to win your love. We strive for security by piling up the things of this life.  Lord, forgive our self-centeredness that seeks our well-being while we ignore the needs of others.  Forgive our relying on ourselves rather than accepting fully Jesus’s call to discipleship.  Help us to seek your kingdom and righteousness first in our lives. Through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION AND PETITION

KYRIE ELEISON #575 — Lord, Have Mercy Upon Us — KYRIE ELEISON (Pardini)                                                          

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (#447) — We Are Forgiven — WE ARE FORGIVEN

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRESENTATION OF BIBLES TO SECOND GRADERS
Charlotte Clerk                 
Xander Huff                           
Sam McClain                                            
Adalyn Spielman
Kaitlynn Evers                  
Emma Kalkwarf                     
Brody McGuire                                            
Michael Tot
Liam Frampton                
Charlie Knight                       
Bryant Schiessler                                            
Shepard Versaw
Greyson Grady                 
Liam Kort                                

*Congregational Response (to the Second Graders):
We rejoice with you as your church recognizes this step in your religious growth.  We pray God’s continued guidance for you and your family as you use this Bible in the years to come.  We are already proud of you, and we look forward to helping you grow in faith.

MOMENT FOR STEWARDSHIP — Sam Rennick
Elder, Member of the Finance Committee

*HYMN #714 — God of the Fertile Fields — ITALIAN HYMN

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 — Prayer of St. Benedict — Bob Chilcott

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON  — Mark 10: 17-31 — page 822 of the pew Bible
This is the Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God!

SERMON — “When Jesus Looks at You” — Dr. Zieman

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — from A Brief Statement of Faith (PCUSA, 1991)
In a broken and fearful world, the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.  In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, Come, Lord Jesus!

*GLORIA PATRI #581                                          

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY — All Things Bright and Beautiful — John Rutter

*DOXOLOGY (#607) — “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” OLD HUNDREDTH
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      
Generous and merciful God, we thank you for your indescribable gift of Jesus Christ.  As we present our offerings today, give us grateful and generous hearts, that we may always follow Jesus in what we say and do.  Help us to remember that every generous act of giving and every prefect gift is from above, from you, our heavenly Father.  Amen.

COMMISSIONING OF MISSION TEAM TO LITHUANIA
Anne Wattles, Becky Zieman, and Marshall Zieman will form part of a group of 13 PCUSA participants and leaders who have prepared for months to explore the painful and lingering legacies of war in the small Baltic country of Lithuania. This travel seminar will move from Vilnius to Klaipeda learning about the country’s history from the Nazi and Soviet occupations to today’s Ukrainian refugee crisis. The group will learn about efforts to help survivors, descendants and communities open up, confront, heal and learn from war-time experiences.  The time spent at LCC International University in Klaipeda will include meeting with students from across the former Soviet Union (including Ukraine, Belarus and Russia) and war affected countries in the Middle East and Africa, including participation in the university’s Center for Dialogue and Conflict Transformation, learning about their peace and reconciliation work in and beyond Lithuania.

*HYMN #722 — Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak — CANONBURY

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION                                                   

*POSTLUDE — Alla Marcia John Ireland