Sunday Worship Service
July 27, 2025
Prelude: An Improvisation by J. Washington – James Washington, pianist
Greetings
Announcements
Hymn: “To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love”
Opening of the Word
Responsive Invocation: from Psalm 103
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens
are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion
on those who fear him;
For he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
The wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
With those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
The Lord has established
his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will,
praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
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!
Sung Response: Sanctuary
Lord, prepare me to be sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.
Scripture Readings: Leviticus 10: 1-3; Acts 5: 1-11; Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture, no. 51 (Swedenborg)
Children’s Message
Spiritual Message: Our God is a God of Love – Rev. Dr. Devin Zuber
Solo: “There is a Balm in Gilead”, African American Spiritual, arr. J. Washington
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: An Improvisation
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: “Holy, Holy, Holy”
Benediction
Closing of the Word
Sung Response: A Holy Hush
A holy hush is in the air as though the Spirit’s essence here has been distilled, and entered all who stand within these sacred walls. The song is sung, the word is read, the lesson heard, the prayer is said; go now on wings of peace unfurled, and share these blessings with the world.
Postlude: An Improvisation