Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
August 25, 2019
Chiming of the Hour
Welcome
Hymn Sing
Announcements | Joys and Concerns | Silent Prayer
Introit: O Sing to Our God
Call to Worship
ONE: Assemble before God, our rock and refuge.
Come together to listen for the voice of our Creator.
MANY: The Word of God shakes the foundation of the earth. God’s Word upends our certainties.
God rescues us from cruelty and injustice.
In steadfast love, God delivers us from our enemies.
We remember our rich heritage of grace.
We give thanks for God’s mercy.
This is God’s holy day, a time to lay aside narrow interests. How will we honor God in word and deed?
We delight in the Word and works of our God. We join together in praise and strive to be God’s agents of healing.
Unison Prayer of Invocation
You know us, O gracious God, better than we know ourselves. You have carried us to the heights and you have dwelled with us in life’s depths. You are our hope and our trust. Touch us here, for you are far beyond our reach. Dwell with us here to lift our aspirations and inspire confidence among us. Amen.
✠ Hymn: #720 Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult GALILEE
Call to Confession
Unison Prayer of Confession
God of all space and time, we have forgotten that you are in charge of the earth. We have neglected brothers and sisters whom you have called us to love. We desire others to conform to our way of doing things, rather than reaching to them where they are. We resist the revolutionary power of your grace. Sometimes we would rather continue our own crippled existence then call on you for help. Heal us, Holy One. Amen.
Moment of Silent Prayer
Assurance of God’s Love
ONE: God is the love that over and around us lies;
the grace that is totally unearned;
and the healing that makes the earth whole.
Give thanks to God; we are forgiven!
ALL: Thanks be to God! Alleluia; Amen!
✠ 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 71:1-6
ONE: In You, O Holy One, I seek refuge;
MANY: Let me never be disappointed.
In Your desire for justice,
Deliver me and set me free;
Turn Your ear to me;
Save my life.
Be to me the rock of refuge,
To which I can always flee;
Decree my deliverance,
You Who are my rock and my stronghold.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the corrupt,
From the grasp of the unjust and cruel.
For You, O Most High, are my hope,
My trust, z Holy One, from the days of my youth.
I have leaned upon You from my birth;
It was You who brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I sing of You always!
Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-10
(Pg. 854 in the Old Testament in the pew Bible)
Offering of our Gifts
Anthem: Lord, My Trust is in Thee Heinrich Schutz
Emily Elliott & Terre Lefferts, sopranos
✠ 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
God of healing wonder, with reverence and awe for your ways we offer our gifts for the tasks of love and justice, restoring and setting free in your holy name. Amen.
✠ Hymn: #793 O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come
ERHALT UNS, HERR
Scripture Reading: Luke 13:10-17
(Pg. 92 in the New Testament in the pew Bible)
Sermon: Excuses, Excuses Pastor John Nelson
Pastoral Prayer| Silent Prayer | Lord’s Prayer (debts)
✠ Hymn: #157 I Danced in the Morning LORD OF THE DANCE
Benediction
Postlude: Sonata No. 1 Johann Naumann
(✠ 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 Oberto for serving as our lay reader; Patricia Palmer and Kathy Mera for serving as ushers; Emily Elliott & Terre Lefferts 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
Jimmy Bowman, Sally Dowling, Carole Fraher, Peter Kuhbach, Sherrell Andrews, Dale Sapp, Sean Clegg, Roberta Fay, J. Kevin Carroll, 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.
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
Monday: 1 pm Salisbury Duplicate Bridge
Tuesday: 7 pm Sinfonietta Rehearsal
Wednesday: 9 am Staff Meeting
Thursday: 4 pm Parish Hall in use
Next Sunday: 11:30 am Church Council Meeting
Ministry Opportunities
CHURCH IN THE WILDWOOD
Pastor John is preaching at Church in the Wildwood this evening at 7:00 p.m. All are cordially invited to attend this ecumenical vesper service and hymn sing. The church is located on Rte 183, a few miles north of Colebrook center. Members of our choir will be singing as well!
BIBLE STUDIES
Women’s Bible Study will begin on Thursday, September 5 at 4:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall Library. Men’s Bible Study will begin on Friday, September 6 at 7:45 a.m. in the Parish Hall.
All are welcome! If you are interested in participating in either Bible Study, please contact Pastor John so he may order a sufficient number of books.
DO YOU HAVE A CHURCH KEY?
We are updating our list of key holders for the church house. If you have a key to the Library Street door, please let Kathy in the church office know: [email protected]
or (860) 435-2442.
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, 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 advocate for the dignity and welcome of every person.