NOTES: Our theme hymn for this week is "Lead on, O Cloud of Presence"words by Ruth Duck, 1974, tune (LANCASHIRE) by Henry T. Smart, 1835
Lead on, O Cloud of Presence; the exodus is come;
In wilderness and desert, our tribe shall make its home.
Our bondage left behind us, new hopes within us grow,
We seek the land of promise where milk and honey flow.
Lead on, O Fiery Pillar; we follow yet with fears,
But we shall come rejoicing though joy be born of tears.
We are not lost, the wand'ring, for by your light we come,
And we are still God's people. The journey is our home.
Lead on, O God of freedom, and guide us on the way,
And help us trust the promise through struggle and delay.
We pray our sons and daughters may journey to that land
Where justice dwells with mercy and love is law's demand.
Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12)
Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.
"Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.
Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
8:30 AM Order of Service
The Gathering
Welcome
Prelude
We Gather in The Light of Christ
Lighting the Christ Candles
Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!
Hymn of Praise: CH#633 "Lead On, O Cloud of Presence" ALL
Call to Worship
L: We are called to bring a new understanding of
God:
that God so loves the world.
P: We
are the salt of the earth.
L: We are called to bring a new hope in God:
that God gives us new life.
P: We
are the light of the world.
L: We are called to follow
God's word.
P: The law of God is to love God
and
to love one another.
L: Come, let us be the salt of the earth,
the light of the world.
P: Let
us join together in our love of God
to
worship and follow Jesus.
Invocation Unison
Glorious
God of love and justice, fire our hearts with desire to blaze
throughout creation as beacons of your righteousness, faithfulness, and
mercy seasoned with the love of Christ Jesus, our salvation. Salt our souls with a thirst and hunger to work for peace. Amen.
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture:
Sermon/Meditation
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn: CH#575 "Come and Find the Quiet Center" ALL
Praying Together
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn: CH#352 "Spirit Song" ALL
Communion Hymn: CH#352 "Spirit Song" ALL
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#469 "I am the Light of the World" sts. 2,3,4
Blessing
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
10:40AM Service
Welcome
Prelude
Prelude
We Gather in the Light of Christ
Call to Worship
Hymn of Praise: CH#633 "Lead On, O Cloud of Presence" ALL
Invocation Unison
Glorious God of love and justice, fire our hearts with desire to blaze throughout creation as beacons of your righteousness, faithfulness, and mercy seasoned with the love of Christ Jesus, our salvation. Salt our souls with a thirst and hunger to work for peace. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Affirmation of Faith: CH#759 Psalm 119:1-8 with Sung Response
Call to Offering
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
L: We are called to bring a new understanding of
God:
that God so loves the world.
P: We
are the salt of the earth.
L: We are called to bring a new hope in God:
that God gives us new life.
P: We
are the light of the world.
L: We are called to follow
God's word.
P: The law of God is to love God
and
to love one another.
L: Come, let us be the salt of the earth,
the light of the world.
P: Let
us join together in our love of God
to
worship and follow Jesus.
Hymn of Praise: CH#633 "Lead On, O Cloud of Presence" ALL
The Acolytes light the Christ candles.
Invocation Unison
Glorious God of love and justice, fire our hearts with desire to blaze throughout creation as beacons of your righteousness, faithfulness, and mercy seasoned with the love of Christ Jesus, our salvation. Salt our souls with a thirst and hunger to work for peace. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Affirmation of Faith: CH#759 Psalm 119:1-8 with Sung Response
We Offer Our Hearts to God
Call to Offering
The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon/Meditation
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn: CH#575 "Come and Find the Quiet Center" ALL
Praying Together
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to Communion
Christians of all denominations
and backgrounds are welcome to share in communion. Please hold each
element as we partake in unison.
Communion Hymn: CH#352 "Spirit Song" ALL
Prayers for Bread & Cup and Words of Institution
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#469 "I am the Light of the World" sts. 2,3,4
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#469 "I am the Light of the World" sts. 2,3,4
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song: CH#632 "Lead on, Oh King Eternal sts. 3
Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
