ORDER OF WORSHIP October 4, 2015 World Communion Sunday 19 th Sunday after Pentecost 27 th Sunday in Ordinary Time / Proper 22 *Congregation Stands (If you prefer, It is acceptable to remain seated.) Welcome to Knox Presbyterian Church! Please sign and pass the Friendship Book ( pew pad ) if you have not already done so. Our prayer is that you will experience the presence of the eternal, as we worship our God together. We invite you to take the time during the prelude to focus your heart and mind in worship. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS John McCallum PRELUDE "Communion" Organ Charles Sergisson John McCallum Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. CALL TO WORSHIP Isaiah 55:6-7 (NIV) *SONG OF WORSHIP: LIVING FOR JESUS A LIFE THAT IS TRUE (Hymn #569) (VERSE 1) Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please him in all that I do; yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, this is the pathway of blessing for me. (VERSE 2) Living for Jesus who died in my place,
bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace; such love constrains me to answer his call, follow his leading and give him my all. (VERSE 3) Living for Jesus wherever I am, doing each duty in his holy name, willing to suffer affliction and loss, deeming each trial a part of my cross. (VERSE 4) Living for Jesus through earth s little while, my dearest treasure the light of his smile, seeking the lost ones he died to redeem, bringing the weary to find rest in him. Cameo Thompson Prayer of Confession Loving God, you created us to live in relationship with you, to love and serve one another, and to care for all your creatures. Yet, in the hardness of our hearts, we dismiss your commandments and seek to go our separate ways. Lord, have mercy on us. Redeem, restore, and re-create us, for the sake of Christ our Savior. Amen. TIME OF PRAYER Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2015
[Silent Prayer] Assurance of Pardon Jesus said, Let the children come to me, do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Seeing our repentant hearts, Jesus will embrace us in grace and comfort us with mercy. In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. We are children of God! Live in peace! Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2015 SONG OF WORSHIP: Please remain seated for the following hymn. MAKE ROOM WITHIN MY HEART O GOD (Hymn #559) (VERSE 1) Make room within my heart, O God, that you may form in me the image you have shown in Christ, my very life to be. Inspire my thought, O lofty One, to reach the highest plane, that I may know the mind of Christ, and him as greatest gain. (VERSE 2) Direct my will, O King of kings, subject it to your own, that every impulse, action, word, may make your kingdom known. Effect my prayer, great Trinity, eternal Three-in-One, combine each part of me to praise the Father, Spirit, Son. OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS: In gratitude for all God has done, and so we are invited, we bring our offerings and tithes for the building up of God s kingdom. Cameo Thompson Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication Blessed are you, our Comfort. You have given Jesus, your only son, who was made lower than the angels, for our sake. With thanksgiving, we give of what you have provided,
that your will may be done in this world. Give us the wisdom and courage to do so. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word worship Companion. 2015 *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. Bringing our gifts forward and/or lighting a candle At this time the children are excused to attend Junior Chapel. Offertory "Litany" Organ Edward Broughton PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Rev. Don Meekhof READING OF THE SCRIPTURES Numbers 14: 1 11 (NIV) Laverne Meekhof That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! 3 Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn t it be better for us to go back to Egypt? 4 And they said to each other, We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt. 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because
we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them. 10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 The Lord said to Moses, How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? John McCallum Philippians 2:1 11 (NIV) Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Rev. Don Meekhof Lord, Change My Attitude Before It s Too Late MESSAGE
COMMUNION HYMN: LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER (Hymn #776) (VERSE 1) Let us break bread together on our knees; let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. (VERSE 2) Let us drink wine together on our knees; let us drink wine together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. (VERSE 3) Let us praise God together on our knees; let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. SHARING AROUND CHRIST S TABLE COMMUNION
Rev. Don Meekhof Christ becomes a part of our flesh through Holy Communion. The Lord s Supper is not an end in itself. It always points beyond itself to celebrate God s grace and covenant faithfulness. This does not mean the physical aspects of the celebration are incidental or unimportant. The Lord s Supper should be a celebration fitting to the abundant grace of God offered in Christ. Invitation to the Lord s Supper Breaking of the Bread & Pouring of the Cup Sharing the Body and Blood of Christ *CLOSING SONG It is the custom at Knox, in celebration of Holy Communion, to hold hands and form a circle around the sanctuary to sing our closing song BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS (Hymn #708) Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. BENEDICTION Rev. Don Meekhof POSTLUDE "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing" Tom Birchwood Organ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the pulpit today: Don Meekhof is our Temporary Stated Supply pastor. Those words in quotes are the official title given by Presbytery because with Shared Ministry there is no full-time pastor. However, Don most definitely has a fulltime love for shepherding the flock of Christ and we are blessed to have him with us!