NOTES: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stand before King Nebudchanezzar and make a fantastic claim. What was the King expecting? A fearful capitulation? A passionate argument? Instead, the three young men defer. They take the bold step of letting God speak for God's self. They make no defense. Like them, we are called to stand up and do the right thing, even when it's not popular. And like them, we can trust God to be with us...even through the fire.
SCRIPTURE: Daniel 3:1-18
3 King
Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and
whose width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the
province of Babylon. 2 Then
King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, the prefects, and the
governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the
magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to assemble and
come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set
up. 3 So
the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the
treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the
provinces, assembled for the dedication of the statue that King
Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When they were standing before the statue
that Nebuchadnezzar had set up, 4 the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that
when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum,
and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden
statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.” 7 Therefore,
as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre,
trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples,
nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that
King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You,
O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the
horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall
fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There
are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the
province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed
to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the
golden statue that you have set up.”13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good.[a] But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. 17 If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us.[b] 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”
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#552 Standing on the Promises ALL
Call to Worship
Leader: We gather together in the presence of God
People: to offer our praise and our prayers.
Leader: We come before God with confidence!
People: Even when we can’t find the words,
God’s own Spirit is right here with us,
praying in us and for us,
Leader: We bring a living offering, our hearts, minds and spirits.
People: We come with joy to offer our worship
to God who knows and loves us all!
Invocation Unison
Spirit
of God,
enlighten
our hearts to the reality of divine presence among us.
Let
our worship be pleasing in your sight.
Let our gathering be an experience of deep communion
with
you and one another.
In
the name of Jesus Christ, this is our prayer. Amen.
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture:
Sermon/Meditation
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn:CH 570 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" sts. 1 & 3
Praying Together
~ written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild,
Prayer
of Intercession
(inspired by Romans 5:1-5; 13:11-14)
O Holy God, we thank you for an
enduring hope—one which cannot disappoint us or mislead us. You enter into every believing heart and make new
lives that have been torn asunder by the darkness of this
world...
In your mercy,
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We pray today O God that those believers who are
asleep may awake and know that salvation is nearer now than when they first
believed. Help them, and us, to lay
aside the busywork of frustration and to take up the yoke of faithful decision that you bestow
upon those who actively seek you day by day.
Grant that their faith and ours may be fully alive....
In your mercy,
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We ask today, O God, for those who have lost hope
and for those who have never had it.
Grant to us and to those we lift before you in our hearts a new and
abiding vision of what have you have done, and what you are doing, and what you
will do, to save and redeem your people and indeed the creation itself. Grant, O God, that all might see and believe
and discover their purpose and the purpose of all that is and all that is yet
to be....
In your mercy,
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We lift before you, O God, those persons and those
places we named today in our Joys. Joy rises in our hearts for those who celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, new opportunities and healing. Let our gratitude flavor our rejoicing. Let hope grow in us as we lift our hearts for each other. We lift before you those names and places we named today in our sharing of Concerns. Word of suffering, ill health, sorrow and fear raise our concern. Once again, let gratitude flavor our response to these concerns. Knowing what you have done for us all, we entrust each other's deepest cares to you. And we wait for healing, restoration and courage with hope.
In your mercy,
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We ask all this of you, O God, knowing that you are
our hope and our salvation, a very present help in times of trouble, and the
One whose purpose is to grant and new and abundant life to us and our
world. Praise be to your name. Amen.
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn: CH #548 "The Old Rugged Cross" sts. 1 & 4
Communion Hymn: CH #548 "The Old Rugged Cross" sts. 1 & 4
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#588 "Have Thine Own Way" sts. 1 & 2
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#552 Standing on the Promises ALL
Invocation Unison
~
written by Norman D. Yeater.
Passing of the Peace
Call to Offering
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
Leader: We gather together in the presence of God
People: to offer our praise and our prayers.
Leader: We come before God with confidence!
People: Even when we can’t find the words,
God’s own Spirit is right here with us,
praying in us and for us,
Leader: We bring a living offering, our hearts, minds and spirits.
People: We come with joy to offer our worship
to God who knows and loves us all!
Hymn of Praise:CH#552 Standing on the Promises ALL
The Acolytes light the Christ candles.
Invocation Unison
Spirit
of God,
enlighten
our hearts to the reality of divine presence among us.
Let
our worship be pleasing in your sight.
Let our gathering be an experience of deep communion
with
you and one another.
In
the name of Jesus Christ, this is our prayer. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith: CH #562 "Because He Lives" sts. 1 & 2
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
Choir Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon/Meditation
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn:CH 570 "Sweet Hour of Prayer" sts. 1 & 3
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 #548 "The Old Rugged Cross" sts. 1 & 4
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#588 "Have Thine Own Way" sts. 1 & 2
Hymn of Discipleship: CH#588 "Have Thine Own Way" sts. 1 & 2
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song: CH #445 "Go in Peace" ALL
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!
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