First Presbyterian Church
Brookings, SD
17th Sunday after Pentecost
September 15, 2024
PRELUDE Prelude in Classic Style, Gordon Young
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather today to worship the God who created us,
The God who calls us,
The God who equips us,
The God who loves us without end.
With joyful hearts, let us worship God.
*OPENING HYMN #481 (Blue) ‘Praise the Lord, God’s Glories Show’
1. Praise the Lord, God’s glories show, Alleluia!
Saints within God's courts below, Alleluia!
Angels round the throne above, Alleluia!
All who see and share God's love. Alleluia!
2. Earth to heaven and heaven to earth, Alleluia!
Tell the wonders, sing God’s worth, Alleluia!
Age to age and shore to shore, Alleluia!
Praise God, praise forevermore! Alleluia!
3. Praise the Lord, great mercies trace, Alleluia!
Praise this providence and grace, Alleluia!
All that God for us has done, Alleluia!
All God sends us through the Son. Alleluia!
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God of Comfort and God of Challenge, we come to you this morning knowing that we don’t deserve your patience. We stubbornly pray, asking for you to do our will, instead of asking for you to do your will. Forgive our many failures in the face of temptation, and those times when we have been stubborn in the face of correction. Lord God, have mercy on us and make us whole. In Jesus Christ, our Savior’s name, 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 ‘Thy Word’ by Michael Smith & Amy Grant Nancy O, violin
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Numbers 22: 1, 3, 5-9, 12-38
1 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.
For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” 15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. 19 Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”
20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.
27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.
28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” Balaam said.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”
34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
SERMON The Stubborn Prophet and the Persistent Donkey
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ 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.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #391 (Blue) ‘Take My Life’
1. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee,
swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee,
filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose,
every power as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne,
it shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee,
ever, only, all for Thee.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Bob F, Linda B, Rozanne M
Our homebound or in care members: Richard and Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), 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: Richard & Dolores C, Ginny C
Those Who Mourn: the family and friends of Bob Jones
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 #294 (Blue) ‘Wherever I May Wander’
1. Wherever I may wander, whatever I may be,
I’m certain of my Maker’s love; God’s care is over me.
God made the great high mountains,
And made the wide blue sea;
God made the sky where airplanes fly;
God made the world, and me.
2. Throughout the whole creation I see God’s loving care
For everyone in every land, God’s children everywhere.
Wherever I may wander, Wherever I may be,
I’m certain of my Maker’s love;
God’s care is over me.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, arr. Richard Ellsasser
Brookings, SD
17th Sunday after Pentecost
September 15, 2024
PRELUDE Prelude in Classic Style, Gordon Young
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
- WORSHIP MEETING, today Sunday, Sept. 15 following worship 11:15 AM
- TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP, 9:30ish AM, Mission Coffee House
- PIECES AND PRAYERS, Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 PM in the FPC Quilting Room
- COFFEE/COOKIES AT SUMMERHILL on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 3:00 PM
- THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY, 9:30 AM
- SISTERHOOD on Thursday, Sept. 19, 11:30 AM Mission Coffee House
- MEN’S BROTHERHOOD on Thursday, Sept. 19, 5:30 PM at FPC Lounge
- SPECIAL OFFERING: Peace and Global Witness donations are being accepted Sept. 8 through Oct. 6
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather today to worship the God who created us,
The God who calls us,
The God who equips us,
The God who loves us without end.
With joyful hearts, let us worship God.
*OPENING HYMN #481 (Blue) ‘Praise the Lord, God’s Glories Show’
1. Praise the Lord, God’s glories show, Alleluia!
Saints within God's courts below, Alleluia!
Angels round the throne above, Alleluia!
All who see and share God's love. Alleluia!
2. Earth to heaven and heaven to earth, Alleluia!
Tell the wonders, sing God’s worth, Alleluia!
Age to age and shore to shore, Alleluia!
Praise God, praise forevermore! Alleluia!
3. Praise the Lord, great mercies trace, Alleluia!
Praise this providence and grace, Alleluia!
All that God for us has done, Alleluia!
All God sends us through the Son. Alleluia!
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God of Comfort and God of Challenge, we come to you this morning knowing that we don’t deserve your patience. We stubbornly pray, asking for you to do our will, instead of asking for you to do your will. Forgive our many failures in the face of temptation, and those times when we have been stubborn in the face of correction. Lord God, have mercy on us and make us whole. In Jesus Christ, our Savior’s name, 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 ‘Thy Word’ by Michael Smith & Amy Grant Nancy O, violin
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Numbers 22: 1, 3, 5-9, 12-38
1 Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho.
3 and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites.
So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, 5 sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said:
“A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me.
6 Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land.
For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.”
7 The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.
8 “Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me.” So the Moabite officials stayed with him.
9 God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
12 But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”13 The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.” 14 So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.” 15 Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first. 16 They came to Balaam and said:
“This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me, 17 because I will reward you handsomely and do whatever you say. Come and put a curse on these people for me.”
18 But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. 19 Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”
20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”
21 Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 22 But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 23 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. 24 Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.
26 Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.
27 When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.
28 Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?”
29 Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.”
30 The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” “No,” Balaam said.
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
32 The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. 33 The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”
34 Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.”
35 The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials.
36 When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at the Moabite town on the Arnon border, at the edge of his territory. 37 Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send you an urgent summons? Why didn’t you come to me? Am I really not able to reward you?”
38 “Well, I have come to you now,” Balaam replied. “But I can’t say whatever I please. I must speak only what God puts in my mouth.”
SERMON The Stubborn Prophet and the Persistent Donkey
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ 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.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #391 (Blue) ‘Take My Life’
1. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
2. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee,
swift and beautiful for Thee.
3. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee,
filled with messages from Thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose,
every power as Thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne,
it shall be Thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee,
ever, only, all for Thee.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Bob F, Linda B, Rozanne M
Our homebound or in care members: Richard and Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), 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: Richard & Dolores C, Ginny C
Those Who Mourn: the family and friends of Bob Jones
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 #294 (Blue) ‘Wherever I May Wander’
1. Wherever I may wander, whatever I may be,
I’m certain of my Maker’s love; God’s care is over me.
God made the great high mountains,
And made the wide blue sea;
God made the sky where airplanes fly;
God made the world, and me.
2. Throughout the whole creation I see God’s loving care
For everyone in every land, God’s children everywhere.
Wherever I may wander, Wherever I may be,
I’m certain of my Maker’s love;
God’s care is over me.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee, arr. Richard Ellsasser