July 23, 2023

Starling Avenue Baptist Church Eighth Sunday after Pentecost July 23, 2023 ╬ 11:00 a.m.

TheWorshipofGod

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

July 23, 2023 ╬ 11:00 a.m.

*We invite you to stand as you are able.

Gathering at God’s Invitation

Welcome AngelaZimmerman

CalltoWorship AngelaZimmerman

Praise God for seeds and sunshine!

Praise God for weeds and rainfall!

Praise God for singing birds and crawling bugs!

Praise God for towering trees and wispy clouds!

As sunflowers stretch their roots downward and their necks skyward, Yearning to follow the arc of the sun, So too we yearn to deeply ground ourselves in, and follow the Divine!

Hold us steadfastly rooted in your love, Lead us to flourishing, growth, Bless us with your radiance Holy One. Shine upon us in this time of gathering and worship.

LightingoftheChristCandle StanleyBiggs

We light the Christ candle as a reminder that Christ is the one who has drawn us to this place, abides with us now, and is with us to the end of the age.

Prelude Be Still, My Soul

JeanSibelius

CindyBerry

LifeoftheCommunity KathyLong

Offering Ourselves to God

*Hymn#641

Higher Ground

ScriptureReading Romans8:12-25

The Word of God for the People of God

Thanks Be to God.

HIGHERGROUND

AngelaZimmerman

PrayerofConfession KathyLong

Merciful God,

You plant each of us like seeds in the same field. Together we are nourished and nurtured by the sun

We sway in the wind and are refreshed by the rain. We are blessed by the knowledge that you want us to grow towards what you call us to be.

When we deprive others of that same opportunity, forgive us.

When we want to uproot those whom we believe do not belong in our part of the field, forgive us.

When we label others as good or bad rather than accept them for who they are, forgive us.

When we are reluctant to acknowledge that we ourselves are a mixture of weeds and wheat, forgive us.

When we are afraid to look into the fields of our own lives to see what is growing there, forgive us.

O God, you know us inside and out, through and through. You search us out and lay your hand upon us.

You know what we are going to say even before we speak. So we pray that you will help us to reach out to the uprooted and rejected, the lonely and the outcast, and to develop and grow the good in ourselves, in others, and in the world. Amen.

AssuranceofPardon KathyLong

Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

*Hymn#665

Because I Have Been Given Much SEMINARY

GivingourTithesandOfferings

OffertoryPrayer JohnScott

Offertory Theme of the Blessed Spirit

*Doxology(Hymn#706)

C.W.vanGluck

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.

Listening to God

TheChurchatPrayer&TheLord’sPrayer

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Anthem In My Heart There Rings a Melody

*ScriptureReading Mathew13:24-30,36-43

EltonM.Roth

AngelaZimmerman

For the Word of God in Scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us. Thanks be to God

Sermon

“ThosePeskyWeeds”

Responding to God’s Word

DisciplineofSilence

AngelaZimmerman

To be in God’s presence is to be changed. During this moment of silent reflection, consider the change God wishes to make in you.

*Hymn#633 All the Way My Savior Leads Me ALLTHEWAY

If you sense God calling you today, we invite you to respond during this time of invitation.

If God is calling you to follow Jesus for the first time, to rededicate yourself as a Christ-follower, or as a faithful Christian, to join the fellowship of our church, we encourage you to come forward to speak to our pastor during this closing hymn.