Sunday September 1, 2024 Worship Service
Livestream at 10:00 a.m.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

PRELUDE — Romantische Stücke Antonín Dvořák
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

SILENT MEDITATION
Worship is a time to rest from our labor. A time to rest from the pace and stress of our everyday lives. A time for us to find our rest in God, and in God’s complete love for us and acceptance of us.  As you reflect on the summer:  What are you grateful for?  What do you regret?  What did you learn?  Think forward to the coming program year and the season of autumn. What do you need from God? What does God need from you?

CALL TO WORSHIP — adopted from Psalm 139
O Lord, you have searched us and known us.
       You know the paths we choose to travel; you know when we lie down to rest.
You discern what we are thinking from far away.
       You are well acquainted with all our ways.
Let us worship the Lord our God,
       who knows us and accompanies us so completely.

PRAISE AND ADORATION

*HYMN #630 — Fairest Lord Jesus — CRUSADERS’ HYMN
(*Please stand, if you are able)

CONFESSION AND PARDON

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we confess that our words and actions do not always line up. We are quick to confess our faith, but slow to live it. We sing praise to your name but tend to ignore the needy.  Change us, O God. By your grace, transform us. Root out the selfishness that hardens our hearts and replace it with compassion and generosity. Empower us by your Spirit that we might be doers of your word and not hearers only. All this we pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION AND PETITION

KYRIE ELEISON (#551) — “Lord, Have Mercy” — LAND OF REST
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*GLORIA PATRI (#240) — Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks! — ALLELUIA NO. 1

WELCOME               
During the welcome, children are invited to come forward for a time with Dr. Zieman

TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE NEW TESTAMANT READING — James 1: 17-27 — page 980 of the pew Bible

*HYMN #717 — For the Life That You Have Given — PLEADING SAVIOR

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 — Partita No. 2 in D minor — J.S. Bach                                                                                                                                                       

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON — Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 — page 818 of the pew Bible

SERMON — “More Than Lip Service” — Dr. Zieman

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — from the Barmen Declaration
As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to God’s Creatures. We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords – areas in which we would not need justification or sanctification through him.

*SANCTUS (#572) — “Holy, Holy, Holy” — SANCTUS (Pavlechko)

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY — Partita No. 3 in E Major — J.S. Bach

*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      
Generous God, we return to you these gifts, not only of our resources, but also of our lives. Sanctify us and use us to work out your purposes in the world. Amen.

*HYMN #365 — “God Reigns!  Let Earth Rejoice! — MARION

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION                                                   

*POSTLUDE — A Festival Fanfare (from the 4^th Concerto)           
J.S. Bach; arr. VanDenman Thompson