August 18 Order of Service and Announcements

9:00am/10:30am Services August 18, 2024

MORE PEOPLE MORE LIKE CHRIST

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY Sunday, August 18, 2024 9:00am & 10:30am PLEASE SILENCE OR PLACE YOUR CELL PHONE ON VIBRATE.

GATHERING PRELUDE WORDS OF WELCOME MINUTE FOR MISSION

Transportation Ministry

Ed Nichols

*CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader:

Come, with undivided attention, to meet God, who calls you away from old routines.

Our souls wait for God in silence. Our hope is in God, our rock and our salvation.

Come without anxiety or fear, for God cares for you.

We come with devotion to our Lord, in whom time is fulfilled and life has meaning.

Let us seek the Lord in prayer.

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION *HYMN

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (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 FATHER

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Life is messy, Lord. It isn’t always in straight, neat rows or without its share of weeds. Forgive us when we become angry with the world; when in our frustration we give up on the people who mean the most to us; for the times when we throw up our arms and walk away. Open our eyes to see Your Spirit at work in the messiness of life. Help us to catch a glimpse of Your creative work, that we may become inspired to try again. May we never give up. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (John 3:16-17) Leader: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Therefore, let us assure one another of God’s pardon.

All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

ANTHEM

On Eagle’s Wings Summer Choir The congregation is invited to join in singing the refrain, as directed.

Michael Joncas arr. Douglas Wagner

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord Who abide in His shadow for life Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!” Refrain The snare of the fowler will never capture you And famine will bring you no fear Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield. Refrain You need not fear the terror of the night Nor the arrow that flies by day Though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come. Refrain

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION 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 Leader: All:

Psalm 124

Page 887 Pew Bible

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

CARING PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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 forever. Amen.

*HYMN

Abide with Me

OFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE OFFERTORY

On Eagle’s Wings

Susan Constance and Jeffrey Anthony, piano

*DOXOLOGY

arr. Mark Hayes OLD HUNDREDTH

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

GROWING SCRIPTURE SERMON

Esther 9:1-17 “Had the Lord not been on our side”

Page 714 Pew Bible Rev. Jim Noble

*HYMN

Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

GOING *BENEDICTION & RESPONSE

*POSTLUDE

Now unto Him