First Presbyterian Church
Brookings, SD
15th Sunday after Pentecost
September 1, 2024
PRELUDE Glory in the Cross, James Southbridge
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
• CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED Sept. 2 in observance of Labor Day.
CALL TO WORSHIP
We come today to worship a God who seeks us
O Lord, you have searched me and known me
We come today to worship a God who knows us
O Lord, you are acquainted with all my ways
We come today to worship a God who guides us
O Lord, lead me in the way everlasting
All: Let us worship our God together!
OPENING HYMN #485 (blue) To God be the Glory
To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!
Great things he hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. [Refrain]
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we come to you with many burdens on our hearts. We confess that we have not done what we should have done this past week and we have done some things we shouldn’t have done. (take a moment and confess your personal regrets silently) Despite our shortcomings, you are with us, you know us, you call us, and you claim us as your own. We thank you for that and ask you to lead us in your way of righteousness. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (read responsively)
To God be the Glory- through God’s great mercy, we are forgiven and free.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
CHILDREN’S SERMON and Blessing of Backpacks
HYMN for Children: We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder (on screen – sung a capella)
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
Children of the Lord.
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher,
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher,
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher,
Children of the Lord.
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
Children of the Lord.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord, God, Help Us to Hear Your Holy Word so that we may understand your call for us in Our daily life. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 139 1-10, 23-24 (Read responsively)
1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
O LORD, you know it completely.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 28:10-19a
0Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.
12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 And the LORD stood beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring;
14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring.
15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place — and I did not know it!”
17And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
18So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19aHe called that place Bethel;
Gospel Reading John 3:16-17 (Read in Unison)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
SERMON “Where’s your ladder?” (Robby Flint)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH--Apostle's Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘What Shall I Render to My God?’ Choir
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, with all creation we sing your praise.
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.
….The Lord’s Prayer (on the screen)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY (on screen)
CLOSING HYMN #420 (blue) God of Grace and God of Glory
God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power;
Crown Thine ancient church’s story, bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo, the hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!
From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Cure Thy children’s warring madness; bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be
Armored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor Thee!
That we fail not them nor Thee!
Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore;
Let the gift of Thy salvation be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage serving Thee whom we adore,
Serving Thee whom we adore.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE We Gather Together, arr. Mary McDonald
Brookings, SD
15th Sunday after Pentecost
September 1, 2024
PRELUDE Glory in the Cross, James Southbridge
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
• CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED Sept. 2 in observance of Labor Day.
- TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP, 9:30ish AM at Mission Coffee House.
CALL TO WORSHIP
We come today to worship a God who seeks us
O Lord, you have searched me and known me
We come today to worship a God who knows us
O Lord, you are acquainted with all my ways
We come today to worship a God who guides us
O Lord, lead me in the way everlasting
All: Let us worship our God together!
OPENING HYMN #485 (blue) To God be the Glory
To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!
Great things he hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. [Refrain]
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we come to you with many burdens on our hearts. We confess that we have not done what we should have done this past week and we have done some things we shouldn’t have done. (take a moment and confess your personal regrets silently) Despite our shortcomings, you are with us, you know us, you call us, and you claim us as your own. We thank you for that and ask you to lead us in your way of righteousness. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (read responsively)
To God be the Glory- through God’s great mercy, we are forgiven and free.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
CHILDREN’S SERMON and Blessing of Backpacks
HYMN for Children: We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder (on screen – sung a capella)
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder,
Children of the Lord.
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher,
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher,
Ev’ry round goes higher, higher,
Children of the Lord.
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
If you love Him, why not serve Him?
Children of the Lord.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord, God, Help Us to Hear Your Holy Word so that we may understand your call for us in Our daily life. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 139 1-10, 23-24 (Read responsively)
1 O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
3 You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
O LORD, you know it completely.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my thoughts.
24 See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 28:10-19a
0Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.
12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 And the LORD stood beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring;
14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring.
15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
16Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place — and I did not know it!”
17And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
18So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19aHe called that place Bethel;
Gospel Reading John 3:16-17 (Read in Unison)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
SERMON “Where’s your ladder?” (Robby Flint)
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH--Apostle's Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
SPECIAL MUSIC ‘What Shall I Render to My God?’ Choir
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, with all creation we sing your praise.
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.
….The Lord’s Prayer (on the screen)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY (on screen)
CLOSING HYMN #420 (blue) God of Grace and God of Glory
God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power;
Crown Thine ancient church’s story, bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo, the hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!
From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Cure Thy children’s warring madness; bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be
Armored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor Thee!
That we fail not them nor Thee!
Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore;
Let the gift of Thy salvation be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage serving Thee whom we adore,
Serving Thee whom we adore.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE We Gather Together, arr. Mary McDonald
