Sunday September 8, 2024 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

GATHERING IN GOD’S NAME

PRELUDE — Praise the Lord with Drums and Cymbals — Sigfrid Karg-Elert; arr. Sondra Tucker
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

SILENT MEDITATION
“When someone is broken, don’t try to fix them – you can’t. When someone is hurting, don’t attempt to take away their pain – you can’t.  Instead, love them by walking beside them in the hurt – you can. Because sometimes what people need is simply to know they aren’t alone.” — Jenny Albers, as quoted in ‘Our Daily Bread’

CALL TO WORSHIP — from Psalm 146
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
       Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.

PRAISE AND ADORATION

*HYMN #267 — Come, Christians, Join to Sing — MADRID
(*Please stand, if you are able)

CONFESSION AND PARDON

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, although we honor you with our words and worship, our hearts are often far from you. We are quick to judge, quick to exclude, quick to put others down instead of building them up. Forgive us, God. Help us amend our ways. Help us embrace the inclusive love you graciously offer us and expect us to offer others. Hear this our prayer, and the prayers we offer to you in silence now…

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

TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES

THE NEW TESTAMANT READING — James 2: 1-10 — page 981 of the pew Bible

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MOMENT FOR MISSION — Karen Morey, for the International Peacemaker Program

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 — Be Thou My Vision — Bob Chilcott                                                      

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE LESSON — Mark 7: 24-37 — page 819 of the pew Bible

SERMON — “Astounded Beyond Measure” — Dr. Zieman

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH — Book of Common Worship; from Romans 8
We believe there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus;
for we know that all things work together for good for those who love God,
who are called according to God’s purpose.
We are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

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

PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY — When Morning Gilds the Skies — John A. Behnke

*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      
Holy God, how often we take for granted all that we have. How often we fail to recognize how blessed we are. Take these gifts we give in response to your generosity, and use them to further Christ’s mission and ministry in a hurting world.  Amen.

*HYMN OF DEDICATION #546 — Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing– SICILIAN MARINERS

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE  — The Lord Bless You and Keep You — Peter Lutkin

*POSTLUDE — Postlude — Douglas E. Wagner