Sunday Worship Service
October 16, 2022
Prelude: Ave Verum Corpus by W.A. Mozart (1765-91) – Charles Calhoun, keyboardist
*Greetings
Announcements
Wise Words from John Gaul
*Hymn: “God of the Fertile Fields” – vs. 1, 2, & 4
*Opening of the Word
*Responsive Invocation:
I call upon you, O Lord; come quickly to me;
give ear to my voice when I call to you.
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you
and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with those who work iniquity;
But my eyes are turned toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
*Invitation to Prayer:
O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Amen.
O Lord, our heavenly Creator, whose great love holds a forgiveness for all who desire and seek it: we thank thee for thy gracious assurance that thou art always near and ready to forgive. Pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness and truth, and bring us into everlasting life; for thy mercy’s sake. Amen.
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.
O Lord, open thou our lips:
And our mouths shall show forth thy praise.
*Praise ye the Lord!
The Lord’s name be praised!
*The Sanctus
Holy, holy, holy; Lord God of hosts: Heav’n and earth are full of thy glory. Amen.
Scripture Readings: Exodus 30:1-10; Luke 1:5-12, Arcana Coelestia #10177 (Swedenborg)
Children’s Message
Solo: Hear My Prayer, O Lord from Biblical Songs by Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) – Celeste Winant, soloist
Spiritual Message: The Altar of Incense – Rev. Junchol Lee
Silent Meditation
*Affirmation of Faith
Great Spirit, Christ, the Compassionate One, Light of the World, You are that which sustains and nurtures our spirit. You draw us closer to Heaven and to each other. Your Divine Love and Wisdom flows into every living soul. You dwell among us and warm every human heart. We acknowledge our need to be fed by your Sacred Spirit, to share in the beauty of life, and to build a Holy City on Earth by giving of ourselves, yet knowing that all that is good and true flows into us from You. Amen.
Prayer of the People/Pastoral Prayer
Invitation to the Offering
Offertory: Prayer by Flor Peeters (1903-86)
*Doxology
Praise God the Source of life and birth
Praise God the Word who came to earth
Praise God the Spirit, holy flame
All glory, honor to God’s name. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
*Hymn: “How Blessed is This Place, O Lord”
*Benediction
*Closing of the Word
*Sung Response: Aaronic Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you; the Lord be gracious to you, and give you peace, and give you peace. Amen.
Postlude: March by Benjamin Yarnold (1728-87)