Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 18, 2019
Chiming of the Hour
Welcome
Prelude: Dialogue Sur Les Mixtures Jean Langlias
Announcements | Joys and Concerns | Silent Prayer
Introit: O Sing to Our God
Call to Worship
ONE: Return, beloved of God, to the embrace of grace.
God welcomes you to this hour of prayer.
MANY: God calls us by name and awaits our coming. God summons us out of hiding.
God is like a shepherd, caring for her flocks.
God is like a gardener, carefully tending his vines.
Surely God has provided richly for us.
Our lives are sustained by God’s good gifts.
Worship the one who longs for our coming.
Sing praise to the one who expects our faithfulness.
We call on God, who gives us life.
May God’s face shine on us to save us.
Unison Prayer of Invocation
Most gracious God, we greet you once again in this sacred space. We have come because we need to be reminded of your love and your expectations for our living. We are like the vine you planted, watered and protected. We know in our hearts that we need, want and desire your presence in our lives. So we come in prayer and listen for your Word to speak to our hearts and reveal again your desires for us. Amen.
✠ Hymn: #5 God the Sculptor of the Mountains
JENNINGS-HOUSTON
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession
O God of all good gifts, how generous are your provisions for us! Even before we are aware of our needs, you know what it is that we need. You invite us into a community and provide for us out of your steadfast love: nourishment for our bodies, protection from the elements and safety. You ask in return that we respond to your love by dedicating ourselves to nourishment and dignity for all. You expect that we will seek righteousness as a way of life.
But so often O God, we fail to live being mindful to others in a caring, just and righteous way. When your love and justice do not flow through our lives, our community withers, and so do we.
Forgive us, O God! In your loving care show us, again, the way to participate in your realm.
Moment of Silent Prayer
Assurance of God’s Love
✠ Gloria #583 GLORIA (Taizé)
Glory to God, glory to God, glory in the highest!
Glory to God, glory to God, alleluia, alleluia!
Responsive Psalter: Psalm 80: 1-2, 8-19
ONE: Give ear, O Shepherd of the people,
MANY: You who lead the divided people like a single flock!
You who are enthroned above all creation,
Shine forth, before the scattered tribes.
Awaken Your might, and come to save us!
You brought a vine out from the land of our captivity;
You drove out the weeds and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it;
It took deep root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
The mighty cedars with its branches;
It sent out its branches to the sea,
And its shoots to the Great River.
Why then have You broken down the vineyard’s walls,
So that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit,
The boar from the forest ravages it,
And all that move in the field feed on it?
Turn back again, O God Almighty;
Look down from heaven, and see!
Watch over this vine,
The root that Your saving hand planted.
For it is cut down;
It is burned with fire,
Perishing before Your angry blast.
But let Your hand rest upon the one at Your side,
The one You nurtured for Yourself.
We will never turn back from You;
Revive us that we may continue to appeal to You,
in Your constancy.
Restore us, O God Almighty;
Let Your face shine upon us,
That we may live.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7
(Pg. 776 in the Old Testament in the pew Bible)
Offering of our Gifts
Anthem: The People Who Walk in Darkness G.F. Handel
Martin Baltus, bass
✠ Doxology: #609 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!
✠ Unison Prayer of Dedication
Gracious One, whose creative energy has filled all heaven and earth with good things for us to enjoy and share, we would honor you with our offerings. May the ministries we do in your name bear fruits of justice and peace. May we grow in generosity until we become one with You, generous God! Amen.
✠ Hymn: #815 Give to the Winds Thy Fear FESTAL SONG
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:29-12:2
(Pg. 274 in the New Testament in the pew Bible)
Sermon: Your Perfect Faith Pastor John Nelson
Pastoral Prayer| Silent Prayer | Lord’s Prayer (debts)
✠ Hymn: Guide My Feet SPIRITUAL
Benediction
Postlude: Oh Thou of God the Father J.S. Bach
(✠ The congregation may stand.)
If you are visiting us today, Welcome!
Please sign our guest book and introduce yourself to our Pastor or to one of the Deacons. Fill out a welcome card in the pew to be put on our email list. Please see an usher if you would like to use a hearing device. Join us in the Parish Hall for refreshments and fellowship following worship. Today’s host is the Board of Trustees.
Many thanks to: Jenn Good for serving as our lay reader; Stephanie Tierney and Kathy Mera for serving as ushers; Martin Baltus for bringing special music gifts this morning.
Psalm quoted from The Psalms in Worship, Mary Susan Gast, © 2002; used by permission in this service of worship.
Prayer List
Peter Kuhbach, Sherrell Andrews, Dale Sapp, Sean Clegg, Roberta Fay, J. Kevin Carroll, Siddhi, Evan Adsit, Marty Sorenson, Terry Roy & family, Petee Robinson, Leonard Kaufman, Dick Taber, Tom Splaine, Joe K., Peter & Linda, Paula & Herman, Anne & Bill, Pauline, Sonya’s mother.
With Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ,
we pray for the people of Guatemala.
Thanksgiving for the life of those who have died, and God’s tender mercy on family and friends who are grieving:
Annette Hunt • Marty Finkle • John Hazard
Calendar
Today: 11:30 am Trustees Meeting
Monday: 1 pm Salisbury Duplicate Bridge
Wednesday: 9 am Staff Meeting
Thursday: 4 pm Parish Hall in use
Saturday: 2 pm Salisbury Band uses the Parish Hall
Welcome Statement
We seek to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and love our neighbors as ourselves. This Church is Open to persons of every race, ancestry, class, gender identity, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity for participation, membership, leadership and employment. We Affirm each individual as a child of God. As an Open and Affirming Congregation, we commit to model and advocate for the dignity and welcome of every person.