October 15, 2017

THEME
 Elijah's Story for Our Times: God's Word is a Tender Touch
NOTES:As we continue to follow Elijah's journey in I Kings, we spend today at the house of the widow of Zarephath. In staying with her and her son, Elijah faces the extended effects of the drought on the people firsthand. Through their faithfulness to each other, the widow and Elijah find the grace of God moving powerful to save her child.



SCRIPTURE: I Kings 17:17-24
¹⁷ After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. ¹⁸ She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” ¹⁹ But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. ²⁰ He cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” ²¹ Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” ²² The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. ²³ Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” ²⁴ So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.”

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# 86 "Great Is Thy Faithfulness"                   sts. 1&2

Call to Worship   
   

Leader: Strangers meet.
People: Oil and grain turn to bread.
Leader: The sick are healed.
People: The weary are lifted up.
Leader: The prisoners are set free.
People: The everyday becomes a miracle.
Leader: This is God’s work.
People: We are its witnesses.
Leader: Let us worship God.

~ posted on the Ministry Matters                                                 Invocation                                                                     Unison        
 

O God who is greater than the shaking of the earth itself,

empower us to be still and know that You are God.

O Lord who draws us out of the whirlwind of everyday life,

breathe in us Your Holy Spirit to revive us when we are worn out.

O still, small voice, in this hour, speak the questions we need to consider

for our hearts, for our homes, for our communities, for our world.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, 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"                           st. 1

Praying Together       

Prayer of Intercession

(inspired by 1 Kings 17)

Holy God, Hear us as we pray for those who are thirsty,

places where there is drought,

or a lack of a clean water supply.

And for those who have to carry water for miles to keep everyday life feasible.

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who are hungry,

places where the harvest has failed,

or some disaster or accident has affected the crop yield.

For those who are struggling to find employment 

and so struggling to afford to put the food they would like on the table.

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who are struggling because they are widows or widowers,

for those who are bereaved 

having experienced the death of someone important to them 

whom they loved and still love.

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who are ill or near death,

those known to us

and those unknown to us but known to you

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

In silence we lift up those people and situations uppermost in our thinking today…

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us 

Holy God, You are with us in the dry, empty times. You are with us in the well-watered times of fullness. Your loving power for new life surprises us in the most desperate times. Surprise us today. And through us, surprise this old world. Let your Spirit flow in, a vibrant spring, a mighty river, an ocean of loving strength. Refresh your servants. Restore your kingdom in all our hearts. Revive the broken-hearted. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

~ adapted from a prayer written by Rev Allan McCafferty

We Gather at The Lord’s Table

Invitation to the Table                        

Communion Hymn: CH#339 "Just As I Am Without One Plea"                                  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#337 "Jesus Calls Us O'er the Tumult     sts. 1, 2, 4

Blessing                                                                      

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                                                                     

We Gather in the Light of Christ

Call to Worship
  

Leader: Strangers meet.
People: Oil and grain turn to bread.
Leader: The sick are healed.
People: The weary are lifted up.
Leader: The prisoners are set free.
People: The everyday becomes a miracle.
Leader: This is God’s work.
People: We are its witnesses.
Leader: Let us worship God.

~ posted on the Ministry Matters                                                           

 Hymn of Praise: Green 3016 "What a Mighty God We Serve"                 Sing Twice

The Acolytes light the Christ candles.

 
Invocation                                                                     Unison 

O God who is greater than the shaking of the earth itself,

empower us to be still and know that You are God.

O Lord who draws us out of the whirlwind of everyday life,

breathe in us Your Holy Spirit to revive us when we are worn out.

O still, small voice, in this hour, speak the questions we need to consider

for our hearts, for our homes, for our communities, for our world.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Passing of the Peace

We return to our seats as the piano music begins.   
   

Hymn of Faith: CH#555  "Through It All"                                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                                                                     

  

Anthem

Children’s Sermon                                                       

Sermon/Meditation                                                           

We Prayer Together

We Share Our Joys & Concerns                                        

Prayer Hymn: CH#554  "You Are My Hiding Place"                           ALL

Praying Together  

Prayer of Intercession

(inspired by 1 Kings 17)

Holy God, Hear us as we pray for those who are thirsty,

places where there is drought,

or a lack of a clean water supply.

And for those who have to carry water for miles to keep everyday life feasible.

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who are hungry,

places where the harvest has failed,

or some disaster or accident has affected the crop yield.

For those who are struggling to find employment 

and so struggling to afford to put the food they would like on the table.

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who are struggling because they are widows or widowers,

for those who are bereaved 

having experienced the death of someone important to them 

whom they loved and still love.

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

We pray for those who are ill or near death,

those known to us

and those unknown to us but known to you

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us

In silence we lift up those people and situations uppermost in our thinking today…

Lord hear us

Lord graciously hear us 

Holy God, You are with us in the dry, empty times. You are with us in the well-watered times of fullness. Your loving power for new life surprises us in the most desperate times. Surprise us today. And through us, surprise this old world. Let your Spirit flow in, a vibrant spring, a mighty river, an ocean of loving strength. Refresh your servants. Restore your kingdom in all our hearts. Revive the broken-hearted. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

~ adapted from a prayer written by Rev Allan McCafferty
                                                            

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#413 "Take Our Bread"                                 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: Worship &Song (Green) #3026  "God Is Good, All the Time" st. 1& 5

Acolytes come forward.

Blessing                                                                          

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!
 

Parting Song:  CH#564      "He Touched Me"                                st. 2