ORDER OF WORSHIP
COMMUNION
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
November 5, 2023
PRELUDE Adagio, Felix Mendelssohn
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather together in the name of our Lord God, our creator.
God calls us away from the expectations and attitudes of the world around us,
God invites us into a transforming relationship with Him.
God invites us into a relationship with each other.
All: Let’s worship God together!
*HYMN #341 (Blue) Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect communion, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love. [Refrain]
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison)
Holy and gracious God, we count ourselves among those who have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. We have not sought first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. We have not been content with our daily bread, or loved our neighbors as we should. We have run toward temptation and not away. The very sins we judge in others, we have committed ourselves. We now confess our sins to You and we ask You to forgive us, for we need Your mercy and we long to be cleansed and restored. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
GLORIA PATRI
CHILDREN’S SERMON
SPECIAL MUSIC: ‘Whoever Would Be Great Among You’ (Ronald Nelson) Choir
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.
Matthew 23:1-12
1 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’s seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
SERMON The Pharisees, the Disciples, and Charles Barkley Donna Flint, CRE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Confession of 1967) (in unison)
God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of man’s mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals his love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men. The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of his love.
INVITATION TO OFFERING and PRAYER OF DEDICATION
DOXOLOGY
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #517 (Blue) We Come as Guests Invited (remain seated)
We come as guests invited when Jesus bids us dine,
His friends on earth united to share the bread and wine;
The bread of life is broken, the wine is freely poured for us,
In solemn token of Christ our dying Lord.
We eat and drink, receiving from Christ the grace we need,
And in our hearts believing on Him by faith we feed;
With wonder and thanksgiving for love that knows no end,
We find in Jesus living our ever-present Friend.
One bread is ours for sharing, one single fruitful vine,
Our fellowship declaring renewed in bread and wine:
Renewed, sustained, and given by token, sign, and word,
The pledge and seal of heaven, the love of Christ our Lord.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
… Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with all the faithful of every time and place:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.
… Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
…who taught us to pray:
LORD’S PRAYER (on screen)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
(come forward to receive the elements)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
*HYMN #344 (Blue) Christ of the Upward Way
Christ of the upward way, my Guide divine,
Where You have set Your feet, may I place mine;
And move and march wherever You have trod,
Keeping face forward up the hill of God.
Give me the heart to hear Your voice and will,
That without fault or fear I may fulfill
Your purpose with a glad and holy zest,
Like one who would not bring less than the best.
Christ of the upward way, my guide divine,
Where You have set Your feet may I place mine;
And when Your last call comes serene and clear,
Calm may my answer be, “Lord, I am here.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Song for All Saints, Mary McDonald
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TO ELECT OFFICERS
COMMUNION
23rd Sunday after Pentecost
November 5, 2023
PRELUDE Adagio, Felix Mendelssohn
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather together in the name of our Lord God, our creator.
God calls us away from the expectations and attitudes of the world around us,
God invites us into a transforming relationship with Him.
God invites us into a relationship with each other.
All: Let’s worship God together!
*HYMN #341 (Blue) Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.;
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect communion, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels, descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love. [Refrain]
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (in unison)
Holy and gracious God, we count ourselves among those who have sinned and fallen short of Your glory. We have not sought first Your kingdom and Your righteousness. We have not been content with our daily bread, or loved our neighbors as we should. We have run toward temptation and not away. The very sins we judge in others, we have committed ourselves. We now confess our sins to You and we ask You to forgive us, for we need Your mercy and we long to be cleansed and restored. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
GLORIA PATRI
CHILDREN’S SERMON
SPECIAL MUSIC: ‘Whoever Would Be Great Among You’ (Ronald Nelson) Choir
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.
Matthew 23:1-12
1 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’s seat; 3 therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.
SERMON The Pharisees, the Disciples, and Charles Barkley Donna Flint, CRE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Confession of 1967) (in unison)
God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of man’s mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals his love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men. The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of his love.
INVITATION TO OFFERING and PRAYER OF DEDICATION
DOXOLOGY
SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #517 (Blue) We Come as Guests Invited (remain seated)
We come as guests invited when Jesus bids us dine,
His friends on earth united to share the bread and wine;
The bread of life is broken, the wine is freely poured for us,
In solemn token of Christ our dying Lord.
We eat and drink, receiving from Christ the grace we need,
And in our hearts believing on Him by faith we feed;
With wonder and thanksgiving for love that knows no end,
We find in Jesus living our ever-present Friend.
One bread is ours for sharing, one single fruitful vine,
Our fellowship declaring renewed in bread and wine:
Renewed, sustained, and given by token, sign, and word,
The pledge and seal of heaven, the love of Christ our Lord.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
… Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with all the faithful of every time and place:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.
… Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
…who taught us to pray:
LORD’S PRAYER (on screen)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
(come forward to receive the elements)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
*HYMN #344 (Blue) Christ of the Upward Way
Christ of the upward way, my Guide divine,
Where You have set Your feet, may I place mine;
And move and march wherever You have trod,
Keeping face forward up the hill of God.
Give me the heart to hear Your voice and will,
That without fault or fear I may fulfill
Your purpose with a glad and holy zest,
Like one who would not bring less than the best.
Christ of the upward way, my guide divine,
Where You have set Your feet may I place mine;
And when Your last call comes serene and clear,
Calm may my answer be, “Lord, I am here.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Song for All Saints, Mary McDonald
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING TO ELECT OFFICERS