First Presbyterian Church
Brookings, SD
12th Sunday after Pentecost
August 11, 2024
PRELUDE Here I Am, Lord, arr. John Carter
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Grace and peace to you, who gather here. God alone calls us to worship.
We come to celebrate together all the good things God has done
We especially celebrate the gift of life and grace in Jesus Christ.
Together let us give thanks and praise to God.
*OPENING HYMN #483 (blue) Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above
Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory!
What God’s almighty power hath made, God’s gracious mercy keepeth;
By morning glow or evening shade God’s watchful eye ne’er sleepeth;
Within the kingdom of God’s might. Lo! All is just and all is right.
To God all praise and glory!
The Lord is never far away, but through all grief distressing,
An ever present help and stay, our peace, and joy, and blessing.
As with a mother's tender hand, God gently leads the chosen band:
To God all praise and glory!
Thus all my gladsome way along, I sing aloud thy praises,
That all may hear the grateful song my voice unwearied raises.
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart, both soul and body take your part:
To God all praise and glory!
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. We ask these things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘Awesome God’ Nancy O, pianist
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
2 Samuel 11: 14-15
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
2 Samuel 11: 26-12:9, 12:13a
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.
1 But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought.
He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meagre fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.
4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him."
5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6 he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul;
8 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
13 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin.
Psalm 32, verses 1-5 (responsively)
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
SERMON ‘The Monkey on Your Back' Robby Flint
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Book of Order, W-5.0204)
We believe that God calls the Church to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, caring for one another, sharing joys and sorrows, providing support in times of stress and need, and offering admonition, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Relying on Christ’s grace and the Spirit’s gifts, the church seeks to shepherd its members through times of danger and death, illness and loss, crisis and celebration, struggle and sin.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #184 (blue) How Blest Are Those
How blest are those whose great sin has freely been forgiven.
Whose guilt is wholly covered before the sight of heaven.
Blest those to whom our Lord God will not impute their sin,
Whose guilt has been forgiven whose heart is true again.
While I kept guilty silence, my strength was spent with grief.
Your hand was heavy on me; my life found no relief.
But when I made confession and hid no sin from You,
When I revealed my own guilt, You gave me life anew.
So let the godly seek You, when troubling times are near;
No storm or flood shall reach them, nor cause their hearts to fear.
In You, O Lord, I hide me, You save me from all ill,
And songs of Your salvation my heart with rapture fill.
The sorrows of the wicked in number shall abound,
But those who trust our own God great mercy shall surround.
Then in the Lord be joyful, in song lift up your voice,
Be glad in God, you righteous, rejoice, O saints, rejoice.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Bob F, Linda B
Our homebound or in care members: Richard and Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), Bob & Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Dick & Judy S, Terry & Ann S, Janet T
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.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #441 (blue) I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.
I love Thy church, O God:
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye
And graven on Thy hand.
For her my tears shall fall,
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given,
Till toils and cares shall end.
Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.
Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield,
And brighter bliss of heaven.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, arr. Ross James Root
Brookings, SD
12th Sunday after Pentecost
August 11, 2024
PRELUDE Here I Am, Lord, arr. John Carter
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
- CE/FELLOWSHIP MEETING will be held next Sunday, August 11 following worship at 11:15 AM
- TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
- DEACON MEETING will be held Wednesday, August 14 at 1:00 PM at the church meeting room.
- THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
- SISTERHOOD will meet Thursday, June 20 at 11:30 AM at the First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
- MEN’S BROTHERHOOD will meet Thursday, June 20 at 5:30 PM at the church lounge.
- SAVE THE DATE: August 18 - Potluck after worship service
CALL TO WORSHIP
Grace and peace to you, who gather here. God alone calls us to worship.
We come to celebrate together all the good things God has done
We especially celebrate the gift of life and grace in Jesus Christ.
Together let us give thanks and praise to God.
*OPENING HYMN #483 (blue) Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above
Sing praise to God who reigns above, the God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory!
What God’s almighty power hath made, God’s gracious mercy keepeth;
By morning glow or evening shade God’s watchful eye ne’er sleepeth;
Within the kingdom of God’s might. Lo! All is just and all is right.
To God all praise and glory!
The Lord is never far away, but through all grief distressing,
An ever present help and stay, our peace, and joy, and blessing.
As with a mother's tender hand, God gently leads the chosen band:
To God all praise and glory!
Thus all my gladsome way along, I sing aloud thy praises,
That all may hear the grateful song my voice unwearied raises.
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart, both soul and body take your part:
To God all praise and glory!
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment. You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. We ask these things in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
And to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
And ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘Awesome God’ Nancy O, pianist
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
2 Samuel 11: 14-15
14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.”
2 Samuel 11: 26-12:9, 12:13a
26 When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him. 27 When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.
1 But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought.
He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meagre fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.
4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him."
5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6 he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul;
8 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
13 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin.
Psalm 32, verses 1-5 (responsively)
1 Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
2 Blessed is the one
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit.
3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.[b]
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
SERMON ‘The Monkey on Your Back' Robby Flint
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Book of Order, W-5.0204)
We believe that God calls the Church to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, caring for one another, sharing joys and sorrows, providing support in times of stress and need, and offering admonition, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Relying on Christ’s grace and the Spirit’s gifts, the church seeks to shepherd its members through times of danger and death, illness and loss, crisis and celebration, struggle and sin.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #184 (blue) How Blest Are Those
How blest are those whose great sin has freely been forgiven.
Whose guilt is wholly covered before the sight of heaven.
Blest those to whom our Lord God will not impute their sin,
Whose guilt has been forgiven whose heart is true again.
While I kept guilty silence, my strength was spent with grief.
Your hand was heavy on me; my life found no relief.
But when I made confession and hid no sin from You,
When I revealed my own guilt, You gave me life anew.
So let the godly seek You, when troubling times are near;
No storm or flood shall reach them, nor cause their hearts to fear.
In You, O Lord, I hide me, You save me from all ill,
And songs of Your salvation my heart with rapture fill.
The sorrows of the wicked in number shall abound,
But those who trust our own God great mercy shall surround.
Then in the Lord be joyful, in song lift up your voice,
Be glad in God, you righteous, rejoice, O saints, rejoice.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Bob F, Linda B
Our homebound or in care members: Richard and Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), Bob & Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Dick & Judy S, Terry & Ann S, Janet T
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.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #441 (blue) I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of Thine abode,
The church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood.
I love Thy church, O God:
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye
And graven on Thy hand.
For her my tears shall fall,
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given,
Till toils and cares shall end.
Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.
Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given
The brightest glories earth can yield,
And brighter bliss of heaven.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, arr. Ross James Root