Sunday October 6, 2024 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

PRELUDE — Shall We Gather at the River — setting by Robert Hobby          
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

SILENT MEDITATION
“We will never change the world by just going to church.  We will only change it by being the church.” – The Celtic Christian Tradition

CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                                   
Around the world people gather to break bread together.
       We gather with them in heart and mind.
Around the world the broken body is made whole.
       As part of that body, we join in its unity.
We who share in the banquet come eagerly to be fed.
       Let us worship together, let us share God’s bounty. 

PRAISE AND ADORATION

*OPENING HYMN #409 — God Is Here! — ABBOT’S LEIGH
(*Please stand, if you are able.)     

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, we are indebted to you and your generosity, but we fail to live as good stewards of all you have given us. We confiscate and consume far more than our fair share. We neglect the poor and trap people in poverty, claiming that debt forgiveness is unfair.  God, liberate us from our spiritual and moral bondage.  Reorder our priorities so all your nations and peoples may thrive.  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

 MOMENT FOR STERWARDSHIP — Rock Sumner, PCOC Business Administrator

*HYMN #694 — Great God of Every Blessing — AURELIA

 FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER

 JOYS AND CONCERNS

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON — Ephesians 3: 14-21 — page 950 of the pew Bible

SERMON —  “The Company of Saints”

PRAYER

CALL FOR THE OFFERING

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY  — Antiphon — Ralph Vaughan Williams — (Let All the World in Every Corner Sing)

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
The elders will serve you in the pews.  All baptized Christians are invited to partake. 
We ask that you hold on to the piece of bread or the cup until all have been served, so that we may partake as one body. 

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
From north and south, from east and west, we come:
       God’s people, called to the Table where simple grace nourishes us.
From down the street, and across our city, to around the world, today we are invited to a joyful feast, hosted by the Lord Jesus Christ.
       God’s people are called to community, where we live and serve one another.
From every class, every race, every status; from little ones, to youth and parents, to elders with overflowing hearts:
       God’s people are called to witness to God’s hope, to offer peace to a shattered world.  

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — from The Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A’s 54-55
I believe that the Son of God, through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith.  And of this community I am and always will be a living member.

The communion of saints – believers one and all—as members of this community, share in Christ and in all his treasures and gifts.  Each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and cheerfully for the service and enrichment of the other members. 

*GLORIA PATRI #581 — Glory Be to the Father GLORIA PATRI

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

COMMUNION PRAYER
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.

SERVING OF THE BREAD — Dr. Zieman will walk down the center aisle with gluten–free bread.                                                                                                                                                                                    

ANTHEM — Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table — John Ferguson

SERVING OF THE CUP OF THE NEW COVENANT                                           

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (in unison)
Majestic and eternal God, you have fed us with the bread of life and satisfied us with the cup of salvation. As we rise from this table, may we remember its expanse, and our connection to our siblings in Christ around the globe. Make us instruments of your peace and messengers of your love in thought, word, and deed. Make us one with you and all of creation through the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

*HYMN OF DEDICATION #318                   In Christ There Is No East or West                                      ST. PETER

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE                                                                                                     

*POSTLUDE — Praise to the Lord, the Almighty  setting by John Behnke