St. Paul s United Church of Christ We are a welcoming, Christ-centered community called to embody, nurture and share God s Loving Light both within St. Paul s and our wider community. www.stpaulsbirdsboro.org
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 2 nd, 2018 9:30 am Worship We re Glad You are Here! Welcome: Inspired by Christ and his ministry of God s invitation, we proclaim, No matter where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! Get Connected: Sign up online for the weekly E-news or monthly Cornerstone Newsletter, like us on Facebook, give us a call, or send an email. It is our joy to journey with you! Restrooms: These are located on the basement level of the church. Either go through the double doors in the front of the sanctuary and turn right to go downstairs, or use the stairwell in the back of the sanctuary and then walk through the fellowship hall. Children: Children of all ages are welcome within our worship services, so that they may learn how to worship God. (We readily expect to hear their presence and recognize their occasional need for a break from the worship space.) Children s activity bags, for use during the service, are available by both entrances to the sanctuary. A nursery, located beyond the double doors in the front of the sanctuary, is also available for children up to 5 years old. Please see a greeter for assistance. Hearing amplification devices: These personal devices are available for your use. Directly connected into our sound system, they make it possible to hear those leading worship without amplifying background noises. Please see our sound person for assistance. Remember: As we enter into worship, turn off or silence your cell phone, pager, or watch chime. Your presence is a blessing to God and to us! Please feel free to share with us any ways in which we might be a blessing to you in this journey of faith and life. Today s Scripture Readings Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 + Psalm 15 + James 1:17-27 + Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Minister All Members Pastor Rev. Joseph A Motz Guest Preacher Rev. Jennifer Smith Organist Grace Griffith Worship Steward Steve Flanagan Acolyte Will Manney Ushers Stuart Wells & Richard Wolf Nursery Attendant Barb Kerper & TBD 300 West First Street, Birdsboro PA 19508 610-582-8461 + office@stpaulsbirdsboro.org + www.stpaulsbirdsboro.org Pastor s e-mail: pastormotz@stpaulsbirdsboro.org
Order of Worship Welcome & Announcements Prelude (Prayer: As I come to you, let this people of your heart remind me that I am more than my labors. I am more than what I have, or can now, produce. I am yours; I am a blessing of your creation; I am a wonder of your joy; I am child forever loved in your embrace.) (Please rise in body or in spirit) Call to Worship Leader: In the morning, we seek the One who has created us for life. People: Awake my soul, for God is calling. Leader: The Almighty calls our lives to justice and peace; to be instruments of hope and life. People: Awake my soul, for God is calling us to share of life. Leader: The psalmist declares: O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. People: Awake my soul, in praise of God who comes with the gift of life. Hymn: Take My Life, God, Let It Be
Call to Confession Leader: If we say that we live in full communion with God, that nothing divides us from the will and way of our Lord, then the truth is not in us. People: But if we confess what divides us from God, and from one another, then God, who is merciful and just will not leave us in our brokenness, but will raise us up to newness of life, that is of Christ, our Lord. Leader: As a people who long for full and true life, let us confess together. (Please be seated) Corporate Confession Leader: Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? All: Those whose walk is blameless and who do what is righteous, who speak the truth from their hearts and have no slander on their tongues, who do their neighbors no wrong and cast no slur on others, who despise the vile, while honoring those who fear the Lord, who keep their oaths even when it is difficult, who lend money without interest and who accept no bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things will never be shaken. Leader: Lord, though we are not as you command, we humble ourselves before you. In Jesus name, hear our prayers for healing and renewal that we lift before you now. Silent Confession (A time of personal prayer for God s healing and redeeming peace.) -Psalm 15 adapted Assurance of Grace Leader: Through Jesus, God offers salvation and wholeness unto all this world, so that our lives may share in the joy that is of Christ. You are a people who have been set free to life, through the loving grace of God. People: Thanks be to God! Amen. Passing of the Peace Leader: The peace of Christ be with you. People: And also with you.
(After sharing Christ s Peace with others, please be seated.) Hymn: Praise the Savior, Ye Who Know Him #20 Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9 (p. #279) Epistle Lesson: James 1:17-27 (p. #1881) (Please rise in body or in spirit) Gospel Lesson: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (p. #1563) Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! (Please be seated) Sermon What s In Your Heart? (Please rise in body or in spirit) All: Profession of Faith Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 32, 34 We are called Christian because by faith we are a member of Christ and so we share in his anointing. We are anointed to confess his name, to present ourselves to him as living sacrifices of thanks, to strive with a good conscience against sin and evil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for all eternity. We call Jesus our Lord because not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood he has set us free from sin and from the tyranny of the evil one, and has bought us, body and soul, to be his very own. Glory and Praise be to our God for now and forevermore. Amen
Hymn: Lord, I Want To Be a Christian Arrangement Copyright 1992, The Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-714498 (Please be seated) Receiving of Tithes and Offerings (We give as an act of worship, tangibly offering ourselves to God s service.)
Offertory (Please rise in body or in spirit to sing glory to God) Offertory Prayer Holy Communion Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until he comes. ~1 Corinthians 11:26 Invitation Leader: Jesus said, Come unto me all who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest. People: To you we come, O Christ. Communion Prayer Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Pastor: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up unto the Lord. Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord God Most High. People: It is right to give God thanks and praise. Pastor: Praise sings from our lips, O God, as we give thanks for your providing within this life
and the life that is yet to come. People: It is you who has provided us the breath of our being and the salvation of our lives from all that seeks to destroy. Pastor: As we declare our praise, in the life that you provide, we lift in prayer all who labor in hope of goodness and life be they individuals who labor for pay or as volunteers, in the workplace or at home, in the church or in the secular, in the United States or around the world. People: Pour your blessing upon these your people, we pray. Pastor: We pray especially for those whose wages do not reflect their labors, and for those whose labors do not provide for their basic needs, for those who make the difficult decisions of hiring and firing, and for those who still suffer under the burden of years of economic strain. People: We pray for the coming world that you have revealed in Jesus, where sharing by all will mean scarcity for none. Pastor: Come even now Lord Jesus, as we unite our voice unto you, through the outpouring of your Holy Spirit: Seraphic Hymn
Words of Institution Prayer of Consecration Pastor: Blessed Lord, our God, consecrate by your Holy Spirit, these gifts of bread and fruit of the vine, and bless us that as we receive them at this table, we may offer you our faith and praise, we may be united with Christ and with one another, and we may continue faithful in all things. All: In the strength Christ gives us, we offer ourselves to you, eternal God, and give thanks that you have called us to serve you. Amen. All: 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, for ever. Amen. (Please be seated) Sharing of the Elements - Intinction (At the direction of the ushers, please come forward. After receiving the bread from the pastor, dip it into the chalice of red wine or white grape juice before consuming. Then return to your seat via the side aisles. If you need the elements brought to you please inform your usher so that we might bring the bread and cup to you.) (After all have communed, please rise in body or in spirit to join in prayer) Acclamation of Praise Pastor: In Christ our spirits have been renewed for the work of God s kingdom, and the service of God s people. People: Praise be to the one who has fed us the very food of life, Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.
Commissioning Pastor: Go now in the blessing and the strength of God. People: We go to serve our every brother and sister in the name of Christ. Benediction Sending Hymn: Sent Forth by God s Blessing
Word Copyright 1964 World Library Publications. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-714498 Music Copyright 1972 CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-714498 Descant Copyright 1993, the Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-714498
Postlude (As the acolyte carries the Light of Christ out into the world, so too are we to carry Christ s light from this sanctuary into the world, our communities, and our homes. May the presence of the Spirit go with you until we gather again in the shared joy of God s worship.) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Announcements Chime Choir - Chimes choir is looking to start up in September, and ringers are needed! The goal of the chimes choir for the next few months will be to have a relaxed rehearsal schedule and to offer a musical presentation in 1 or 2 services. If you are interested in participating in chimes choir, please talk to Grace Griffith for more information. Christian Education - Classes begin on Sunday, September 9 (next Sunday). Classes are offered to all children, Nursery/Pre-K through ninth grade, during the 9:30am weekly worship service. Teachers are hard at work designing lesson plans that will nurture a rich, creative, fun environment that helps each child to grow into a lifelong relationship with God. We hope to see you there! Altar Flower Sponsorship There is an opening on the flower chart for Sunday, Sept. 30. If you are interested in sponsoring flowers for that service, please contact Judy Reeser. Applebees Pancake Breakfast - All you can eat! Cost $8.00 / September 22nd from 8:00 am to 10:00 am to benefit Boy Scout Troop 595 See either Sandi Swavely or Gage Fecera for tickets Creative Contemplative Holy Listening instructed by Pat Babel - Listening deeply to another person places us on holy ground where gifts are reaped by speaker and listener. This class will be held on September 17 from 6:30PM to 8PM. Creative Contemplative classes will be offered FREE to the public on the third Monday of each month and they will be held at the Daniel Boone High School, Room 135, Birdsboro, PA. Please see our website or Facebook page for further details and a complete listing of classes. Interactive Drumming & Rhythm Worship - September 30 th - Music has always played a central role in the praise of God and as a means to bring one into a fuller communion with God. On September 30 th, in addition to our traditional organ centered worship, we ll be given the opportunity to explore God s worship through drumming and other rhythm instruments. Our instructor and guide for this worship will be Lisa Fairman, from Earth Rhythms LLC, who comes to us highly recommended by the participants of a recent women s clergy retreat gathering. No experience is necessary and everything you need will be provided. Therefore come as you are, inviting others with you to experience and explore this unique, and yet age old, way of entering into God s living presence.