ORDER OF WORSHIP
16th Sunday after Pentecost
September 17, 2023
PRELUDE 'The Solid Rock' arr. Don Hustad
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
We’ve come to worship God, who loved us before we were yet born,
who knows us even better than we know ourselves,
whose presence never leaves us,
whose love for us never ceases.
This is our God.
Let’s worship together!
*HYMN #645 (Red) ‘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 has 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 toilsome 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 (in unison)
Faithful God, You know each one of us. You see us. You listen to us. And yet, we think we can hide our sin from You. We hope You won’t notice that we ignore the needs of others, that we haven’t done those things You ask of us. We hope You won’t notice that instead of trusting in You, we place our trust in the things of this world. Forgive us for these shortcomings. Help us to redirect our lives and our mindset so that we will recognize that You are a faithful God with plans that work together for good for us and for your world. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
(Silence for reflection and self-examination)
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
*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
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READING
Exodus 3:1-12
1 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness and came to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Now go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 He said, “I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
Psalm 139:1-12 (responsive reading)
1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
Matthew 28: 18-20 (the great commission)
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This is the Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON – ‘God’s remarkable promise: I’ll be there’ Donna Flint, CRE
*HYMN #488 (Red) ‘I was There to Hear your Borning Cry’
“I was there to hear your borning cry; I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off to find where demons dwell:
“When you heard the wonder of the Word, I was there to cheer you on.
You were raised to praise the living Lord to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme from dusk till rising sun.”
“In the middle ages of your life, not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night, complete what I’ve begun.
When the evening gently closes in and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been with just one more surprise.”
“I was there to hear your borning cry; I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized to see your life unfold.”
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.
INVITATION TO OFFERING
SPECIAL MUSIC
*DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
-Carol G
-Robert (Robby’s father)
-Susan H (MK’s daughter)
-Sharon H
-Maxine D
-Andrew N (friend of Ella)
-Barb (Bob O’s sister)
-Anthony B (Teri’s son)
-USS South Dakota, captain and crew
-Jim (Dianne L’s husband)
-Paige F
-Nelda H
-Betty G
-Richard C and Dolores as caregiver
-Bob J and Jan as caregiver
-Darwin L and Jeanne as caregiver
-Bob O and Nancy as caregiver
-Andrew & Beth L
-Gwen B (Lee P’s friend)
-Patty (friend of Michele and Brookings)
-Harry (Bonnie S’s father)
Our homebound or in care members: Richard C, Bob J, Delores K, Rose P, Cliff R, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Cliff R, Rick & Bonnie S, Stanley & Julie S & family Stanley & Dylan
Those who mourn: We pray for the Riedesel, Eich, Ohnstad, VanderWaal, Broksieck, Canaday, Barnett, Fee, Goodale, McCann, and Webster families and all who have lost loved ones.
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.
*HYMN #661 (Red) ‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’
Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home;
when Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is he;
his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free;
for his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth, but one step I may see;
his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. [Refrain]
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise;
when songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him; from care he sets me free;
his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. [Refrain]
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-WORSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING will be held today, Sept. 17 following the worship service.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House at 9:30ish.
-CHOIR PRACTICE will be held on Wednesdays at 5:15 to 6:00 or 6:15 PM. Please meet in the north meeting room. Let’s make a joyful noise to the Lord!
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER TIME is studying I & II Thessalonians which started on September 7th, 2023, 9:30-11:30. Come visit and see what we are about!
-THE PC(USA) PEACE & GLOBAL WITNESS SPECIAL OFFERING is from Sept. 3 until Oct. 1. Please put donations in the offering plate and write ‘Peace Special Offering’ on the memo line or use the envelopes by the offering plates. Thank you for your generosity!
BLESSING AND CHARGE
POSTLUDE 'Rock of Ages' arr. Don Hustad