Worship
Sunday, October 3, 2021
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE RISEN CHRIST
GATHERING MUSIC
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” – tune – “Toplady”
~ arr. Jack C. Goode, Don Hustad
“This Is My Father’s World” – tune – “Terra Beata”
~ arr. Diane Bish
PRELUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Tranquillity”
~ Elizabeth B. Jackson
WORDS OF WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tom Carson
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Marna Taylor
L: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P: And also with you.
L: If God is for us, who is against us?
P: He who gave his son, now gives the Spirit.
L: The Holy One is in our midst.
P: Equipping us for ministry in the service of Christ.
L: In Christ we are more than conquerors.
P: For nothing can separate us from the love of God!
*OPENING PRAYER (In Unison)
Marna Taylor
God of our yesterdays and tomorrows, nothing is permanent but your love; nothing is certain except your presence. When the winds of change blow, and the mountaintop experiences give way to the stark reality of the valley, remind us you are with us still. If we should be tempted to worry or fear, help us to abide in your grace. Open our hearts, that we may know the truth of your presence and the glory of your love.
*HYMN
Sue Livingstone, Linda Juhl, Bob Rhodes, John Palmer
“God of Grace and God of Glory” ~ UMH #577
TIME FOR CHILDREN
Shelley Ahn-Wong, Children’s Ministry Director
THE COMMUNITY PROCLAIMS AND HEARS THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (In Unison)
Marna Taylor
Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING
Marna Taylor
Psalm 13
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
*APOSTLES’ CREED
Tom Carson
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer Cards Collected
HYMN
Sue Livingstone, Linda Juhl, John Palmer
“Old Time Religion”
~ arr. Moses Hogan, adap. Benjamin Harlan
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Tom Carson
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SCRIPTURE READING
Marna Taylor
Romans 8:31-39
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am 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.
L: The Word of Life.
P: Thanks be to God. Amen.
SERMON
Tom Carson
Things Ain’t Like They Used to Be
THE COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO THE WORD
WORSHIP WITH TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Marna Taylor
Giver of all good gifts, your blessings of love and life fill our world with hope for the future. Receive our tithes and offerings as an expression of our love, gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise. Amen.
OFFERTORY
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Scherzetto”
~ Robert J. Powell
*DOXOLOGY
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” ~ UMH 95
*HYMN
Sue Livingstone, Linda Juhl, Bob Rhodes, John Palmer
“In Christ There is No East or West” ~ UMH #548
THE COMMUNITY DEPARTS FOR MINISTRY
*BENEDICTION
Tom Carson
POSTLUDE
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Toccata in F Major”
~ Dietrich Buxtehude
* Stand as you are able