ORDER OF WORSHIP September 16, 2018 17 th Sunday after Pentecost/24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Please sign and pass the Friendship Book ( pew pad ) where you can also record any prayer requests. Our prayer is that you will experience the presence of the Living God as we worship together. We invite you to focus your heart and mind in worship. * indicates please stand as you are able. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Karen Colvin PRELUDE The Everlasting Arms Organ Lani Smith Karen Colvin Look at the heavens! They are shouting the glory of God. The days and the nights declare the magnificence of God s creative works. Their voice goes through all the earth and their words reach the ends of the world. Let our words of praise be acceptable to you. Our Lord, our rock, our redeemer! CALL TO WORSHIP *SONGS OF WORSHIP: MORNING HAS BROKEN (Hymn #362) (VERSE 1) Morning has broken like the first morning, blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word! (VERSE 2) Sweet the rain s new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass. Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where his feet pass. (VERSE 3) Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning, God s recreation of the new day! FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH (Hymn #353) (VERSE 1) For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, (VERSE 2) For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree, and flower, sun and moon and stars of light, (VERSE 3) For the joy of ear and eye, for the heart and mind s delight, for the mystic harmony linking sense to sound and sight, (VERSE 4) For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, (VERSE 5) For the Church that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love, (VERSE 6) For thyself, best gift divine, to the world so freely given; for that great, great love of thine, peace on earth and joy in heaven, TIME OF PRAYER Lois Robertson
Call to Confession Let us use our voices to declare those things we have said and done that have separated us from God, and from each other, that we may experience God s mercy and receive God s forgiveness. Prayer of Confession You have called us, O God, and we have refused to listen; you have stretched out your hand and we have not taken it. We have taken what you have given us and used those gifts to hurt others and defy you. We have refused to be tamed by your wisdom. Forgive our inability to recognize you and live out the reality of your gospel. Give us the insight we need to understand your place in our lives so that our words and actions reflect the glory of God in the lives of others. In the name of the Messiah we pray. Amen. [Silent Prayer] Declaration of Forgiveness The law of the Lord is perfect, and it revives the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure and make wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, and it enlightens the eyes. Hear the good news! In Jesus Christ, the living Word, we are forgiven. Live in peace! SONG OF WORSHIP: PLEASE REMAIN SEATED
GLORIA PATRI (Hymn #805) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen, Amen. The children are excused at this time to attend Junior Chapel. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES Rev. Peter Blank Diana Blank Proverbs 1:20 33 (NIV) 20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. James 3:13 4:3 (NIV) 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 4 1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James:7 8a (NIV) 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8a Come near to God and he will come near to you. MESSAGE Wisdom Cries Out Rev. Peter Blank
Rev. Peter Blank OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS Invitation to the Offering God has given us the sun and made us stewards of all creation. God has given us our lives and our very beings. Let us give to God, from what God has given us. *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. Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication God of wisdom, may this offering serve as a powerful witness to this world in need. Guide us as we administer the gifts that you have given us for the building of your kingdom. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. You are invited to bring your offering and/or light a candle at the front or back of the sanctuary. Offertory Folk Song Organ Stanley E. Saxton *SONG OF WORSHIP: HOW GREAT THOU ART (Hymn #21) (VERSE 1) O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
thy power throughout the universe displayed. (VERSE 2) When through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze. (VERSE 3) And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in, that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin. (VERSE 4) When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, and there proclaim, My God, how great thou art. BENEDICTION Rev. Peter Blank POSTLUDE God of Our Fathers Organ Gilbert M Martin * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the pulpit today: Rev. Peter Blank is Knox s Temporary Supply Pastor. He and his wife Diana arrived in Spokane in August 2017 to help take care of Diana s aging father. Peter previously served congregations in central California, rural Nevada and NW Oregon. Peter has become bi-vocational he is both our pastor and a licensed Home Inspector for the Spokane area. Peter has a passion for learning and discipleship training. He is graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. With Diana, they have 5 grown children in their blended family scattered along the west coast; as pet lovers, they have two dogs and a cat. They love the Spokane area for outdoor hikes and lakeside fun. Today s Lectionary Readings Proverbs 1:20 33 James 3:1 12 Psalm 19 Mark 8: 27 38 Questions for Reflection How do you seek God s wisdom in your life? What are the signs and symbols of God s presence that surround your everyday life? Household Prayer: Morning As I open my eyes, I can see the heavens that tell of your glory. Allow me to be part of this creation that proclaims your handiwork and your real presence in the world. Amen. Household Prayer: Evening As the day winds down, allow me to find satisfaction in the thought that I have taken my cross and followed you. Allow me to find rest in the knowledge
that I did not act as if I was ashamed of you. And if I failed you, forgive me and allow me to find solace in the new mercies of the morning. Amen. The Morning & Evening Household Prayers and Questions for Reflection are reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. 2015