SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Sunday, January 15, 2023 9:00am/10:30am GATHERING
PRELUDE
WORDSOFWELCOME
*CALLTOWORSHIP
Leader:Wegatherthisdayfromaweekfilledwithneedsanddemands.
People: We come to find rest and renewal of our spirits.
Leader:OpenyourheartsinlovetohearthevoiceofGod.
People: We want to quietly rest in God’s presence, free from the clamor of the world.
Leader:ThisisthedaythattheLordhasmade.
People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it. AMEN.
*PRAYEROFINVOCATION
*HYMN Here I Am, Lord
*AFFIRMATIONOFFAITH(Apostles’Creed)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost, The holy catholic church, The communion of saints, The forgiveness of sins, The resurrection of the body, And the life everlasting. Amen.
*GLORY BE TO THE FATHERPRAYEROFCONFESSION
Patient Lord, we schedule our lives down to the second. We crowd in as much activity as we can and then wonder why we are so stressed and tired. And when it comes time to be with others, we spend our time worrying about details rather than longing for the visit. Forgive us when we get so caught up in the details that we miss the opportunity to sit at Your feet, learning, listening, growing in our faith. Help us to place ourselves in Your care. Slow us down, so that we can see the wonders You have placed before us, and truly enjoy and share the blessings You have given to us. For we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ASSURANCEOFPARDON(2Corinthians1:21-22)
Leader: It is God who makes us stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore, let us assureoneanotherofGod’spardon.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM
Martha, Mary, Waiting, Weeping HermanG.Stuempfle ChancelChoir;FranckAvril, oboe
Martha, Mary, waiting, weeping, bowed beneath the weight of gloom, kept their watch where Laz’rus sleeping lay within a rock-sealed tomb.
Jesus, late in coming,met them, shed with them compassion’s tear, Martha, sore with sorrow, charged him, “He’d have lived had you been here!”
Jesus spoke to Martha’s grieving, “Resurrection,Life, am I! All who hear my word, believing, live with me, although they die.”
Then to Laz’rus’ tomb He led them, called their brother forth by name. Living, loving,hope exceeding, freed from death, to Christ he came.
Jesus, resurrected,giving life to allYou nameYour own: Help us know in hours of grieving we have not been left alone. Come, when doubt and fear assail us; join our journey toward the grave. There your mercy will not fail us; there you speak with pow’r to save.
PRAYEROFILLUMINATION
Spirit of God, speak once again through the Words of Scripture that our listening ears may hear Your voice. Help us to place Your Word in our minds, treasure it in our hearts, choose it with our wills, and live it through our bodies. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE Luke10:38-42NIV
38 AsJesusandhisdiscipleswereontheirway,hecametoavillagewhereawomannamedMarthaopenedher hometohim. 39 ShehadasistercalledMary,whosatattheLord’sfeetlisteningtowhathesaid. 40 ButMartha wasdistractedbyallthepreparationsthathadtobemade.Shecametohimandasked,“Lord,don’tyoucare thatmysisterhasleftmetodotheworkbymyself?Tellhertohelpme!”
41
“Martha,Martha,”theLordanswered,“youareworriedandupsetaboutmanythings, 42 butfewthingsare needed—orindeedonlyone.Maryhaschosenwhatisbetter,anditwillnotbetakenawayfromher.”
Leader: ThisisthewordoftheLord.
All: Thanks be to God!
*HYMN My Faith Looks up to Thee
