Sunday Worship Service
September 18, 2022
Prelude: Ludus tonalis, excerpt by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) – James Washington, keyboardist
*Greetings
Announcements
Wise Words from John Gaul
*Hymn: “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian”
*Opening of the Word
*Responsive Invocation:
My heart overflows with a goodly theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
In your majesty ride on victoriously
for the cause of truth and to defend the right;
let your right hand teach you dread deeds.
Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity;
you love righteousness
and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
your robes are all fragrant
with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
*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 27:20-21, Matthew 25:1-13, Arcana Coelestia # 9780 (Swedenborg)
Children’s Message
Solo: “Come to Me”, Adapted from Matthew 11:25, 28-29, 2 Corinthians 6:18, and 1 John 3:1 by Dan Forrest – Heather Garland, soloist
Spiritual Message: The Significance of Oil – 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: Ludus tonalis, excerpt by Paul Hindemith
*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: “O God, our dwelling place”
*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: Ludus tonalis, excerpt by Paul Hindemith