NOTES: "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it." What is "the word" of God as Isaiah expresses it in today's text? That is the challenge for today's worship encounter. We are seeking that word of God and how it applies to our lives today as well as what it meant to Isaiah's first hearers. For Isaiah, this word is GOOD, GOOD news. Israel is blessed with a future simply by being a witness to it. Where do we see and hear GOOD, GOOD news? How is our future altered because of what we have witnessed as God's people?
SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 55 (NRSV)
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6 Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
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#64 "We Sing Your Mighty Power, O God" ALL
Call to Worship
Leader: Hear the word of the Lord,and come together!
People: Let the hungry come to me, let the poor be fed.
Leader: Let the thirsty come and drink, share my wine and bread.
People: Though you have no money, come to me and eat.
Leader: Drink the cup I offer, feed on finest wheat.
People: We have heard the word of the Lord. We come as one!
-adapted from a hymn by Delores Dufner
Invocation Unison
Leader: O God, we gather at your waters,
People: as a hot and bothered crowd gathers on the beach
on a sweltering, summer day.
Leader: O God, we drink at your fountain,
People: as a parched dog laps at the fresh,
running water of a cool creek.
People: as a parched dog laps at the fresh,
running water of a cool creek.
Leader: O God, we await your refreshment,
People: as a tired worker watches for the change of shift.
People: as a tired worker watches for the change of shift.
Leader: Quench our thirst, satisfy our longings.
May we be refreshed and restored in you;
People: and teach us where to find the bucket and how to carry it
so that we might draw that water for those who most need it.
May we be refreshed and restored in you;
People: and teach us where to find the bucket and how to carry it
so that we might draw that water for those who most need it.
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture:
Sermon/Meditation
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn:CH # 557 "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" sts. 1 & 2
Praying Together
Prayer for Others
(inspired by Isaiah 55:1-5, John 4:13-15, Psalm 63:1-2,
John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6)
Holy God,
whose Spirit moved over
the waters at the dawn of creation,
hear our prayers for all
who thirst today.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for those who
are spiritually thirsty,
who long to know Your
presence, but don’t know where to find You.
We pray for those who
are alone and without hope,
those who long to feel
needed and loved,
those who are searching
for meaning and purpose.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for all who are
physically thirsty,
who don’t have enough
water to drink, or feed their animals,
whose fields are
parched, whose crops have withered;
those who have to walk
long distances to find enough water to survive,
or who have to be
content with water that is unclean.
We pray for those whose
homes and villages are torn apart
because of drought or
famine.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for those who
are thirsty for justice,
who long for an equal
sharing of resources among peoples and nations;
those who put their
lives at risk to protect streams and rivers and oceans;
those who are working to
find clean water,
and make it available to those who need it.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
God, we ask that you
would open our hearts to the needs of all who thirst.
Give us courage to work
together for justice,
to stand alongside those
who are thirsty,
so that all people,
everywhere, may live without want or fear,
and may discover the
abundant life You promise to each one.
In the name of Jesus
Christ—the source of living water—we pray.
Amen.
~ written by Christine Longhurst
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn: CH#46 "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow ALL
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God above you heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
For wheat that from the earth will grow;
For vines from which the wine will flow;
For Love that brings us here to share;
For hearts to show Love everywhere.
At this your table, Lord, we wait;
With thankful hearts, anticipate
Your presence in our midst today
And with us as we go our way. Amen.
Communion Hymn: CH#46 "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow ALL
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God all creatures here below;
Praise God above you heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
For wheat that from the earth will grow;
For vines from which the wine will flow;
For Love that brings us here to share;
For hearts to show Love everywhere.
At this your table, Lord, we wait;
With thankful hearts, anticipate
Your presence in our midst today
And with us as we go our way. Amen.
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 #30 "I've Got Peace Like a River" ALL
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
Leader: Hear the word of the Lord,and come together!
People: Let the hungry come to me, let the poor be fed.
Leader: Let the thirsty come and drink, share my wine and bread.
People: Though you have no money, come to me and eat.
Leader: Drink the cup I offer, feed on finest wheat.
People: We have heard the word of the Lord. We come as one!
-adapted from a hymn by Delores Dufner
Hymn of Praise: CH#64 "We Sing Your Mighty Power, O God" ALL
Leader: Hear the word of the Lord,and come together!
People: Let the hungry come to me, let the poor be fed.
Leader: Let the thirsty come and drink, share my wine and bread.
People: Though you have no money, come to me and eat.
Leader: Drink the cup I offer, feed on finest wheat.
People: We have heard the word of the Lord. We come as one!
-adapted from a hymn by Delores Dufner
Hymn of Praise: CH#64 "We Sing Your Mighty Power, O God" ALL
The Acolytes light the Christ candles.
Invocation Unison
— written by Anita Monro
Passing of the Peace
Call to Offering
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
Invocation Unison
Leader: O God, we gather at your waters,
People: as a hot and bothered crowd gathers on the beach
on a sweltering, summer day.
Leader: O God, we drink at your fountain,
People: as a parched dog laps at the fresh,
running water of a cool creek.
People: as a parched dog laps at the fresh,
running water of a cool creek.
Leader: O God, we await your refreshment,
People: as a tired worker watches for the change of shift.
People: as a tired worker watches for the change of shift.
Leader: Quench our thirst, satisfy our longings.
May we be refreshed and restored in you;
People: and teach us where to find the bucket and how to carry it
so that we might draw that water for those who most need it.
May we be refreshed and restored in you;
People: and teach us where to find the bucket and how to carry it
so that we might draw that water for those who most need it.
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith: CH #30 "I've Got Peace Like a River" ALL
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
Special Music
Children’s Sermon
Sermon/Meditation
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn: Maranatha #28 "As the Deer" sts. 1 & 3
Praying Together
Prayer for Others
(inspired by Isaiah 55:1-5, John 4:13-15, Psalm 63:1-2,
John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6)
Holy God,
whose Spirit moved over
the waters at the dawn of creation,
hear our prayers for all
who thirst today.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for those who
are spiritually thirsty,
who long to know Your
presence, but don’t know where to find You.
We pray for those who
are alone and without hope,
those who long to feel
needed and loved,
those who are searching
for meaning and purpose.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for all who are
physically thirsty,
who don’t have enough
water to drink, or feed their animals,
whose fields are
parched, whose crops have withered;
those who have to walk
long distances to find enough water to survive,
or who have to be
content with water that is unclean.
We pray for those whose
homes and villages are torn apart
because of drought or
famine.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for those who
are thirsty for justice,
who long for an equal
sharing of resources among peoples and nations;
those who put their
lives at risk to protect streams and rivers and oceans;
those who are working to
find clean water,
and make it available to those who need it.
Leader: O healing river,
People: pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
God, we ask that you
would open our hearts to the needs of all who thirst.
Give us courage to work
together for justice,
to stand alongside those
who are thirsty,
so that all people,
everywhere, may live without want or fear,
and may discover the
abundant life You promise to each one.
In the name of Jesus
Christ—the source of living water—we pray.
Amen.
~ written by Christine Longhurst
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# 419 "All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly" 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# 420 "I Come with Joy" sts. 1 & 2
Hymn of Discipleship:CH# 420 "I Come with Joy" 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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