Bell Choir Worship Service - September 29, 2019

1. September 29, 2019 Welcome to OPC

2. Bell ChoirIntroit Tone Chimes“An English Change Ring”

3. Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

4. Prelude“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” ~arr. Hopson Lighting of the candles

5. SCRIPTURE READING: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

6. Now this is the commandment – the statutes and the ordinances – that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear theLord our God allthe days ofyour life,

7. and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing withmilk and honey,

8. as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding youtoday in yourheart.

9. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of yourhouse and on yourgates.

10. *CALL TO WORSHIP L: Sisters and Brothers, in our prayers, our singing, our scripture, God speaks to each of us. P: Grant us hearts and ears to hear this day, Holy One.

11. L: God invites us to eat from the tree of life that is in God’s paradise, the tree of God’s love. P: May we continue to be made worthy this day.

12. L: Disciples of Jesus, the call today is to remember and return to your first love. P: Help us, Gracious God, to remember our first love of loving God and our neighbors.

13. L: Let us turn our hearts toward God who loves us; P: May our faces and hearts be warmed by God’s presence. • L: Let us worship God. • P: Let us worship God!

14. *HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues” v.1 O for a thousand tongues to singMy great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King,the triumphs of God’s grace!

15. *HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues” v.2 Jesus, the name that charms our fears,that bids our sorrowscease;‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,‘tis life, and health, and peace.

16. *HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues” v.3 Christ breaks the power of reigning sin,and sets the prisoner free;Christ’s blood can make the sinful clean,Christ’s blood availed for me.

17. *HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues” v.4 My gracious Master and my God,assist me to proclaim,To spread through all the earth abroadthe honors of Thy name.

18. *PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Merciful God, hear our confession as we pray with our deepest hearts and souls. We claim to be faithful, but we do not obey your commandment to love one another.

19. We have given up on our first love, and loved the ways of the world more. Too often we fail to love those around us as you have commanded us, because we are too busy and too selfish.

20. Many times, we do not live out the example you have given us in Jesus the Christ. Forgive our shortcomings, Holy One, as we confess our failings. Fill us again with your mercy and grace,

21. and let our hearts be changed. • Silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer.

22. ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Rejoice Sisters and Brothers! God’s love and Spirit are poured upon each of you. Feel God’s forgiving, healing, and transforming power in your lives and be renewed.

23. ASSURANCE OF PARDON P: Thanks be to God. Amen.

24. CHOIR ANTHEM “God Will Be Exalted” ~Martin

25. Time with Young Christians

26. PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Revelation 2:1-7

27. To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands: ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannottolerate evildoers;

28. you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had atfirst.

29. Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, whichI also hate.

30. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’

31. L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

32. “First Love” Rev. Tedd Pullano

33. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.1 Lord, I want to be a ChristianIn-a my heart,in-a my heart,Lord, I want to be a Christianin-a my heart.

34. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.1 In-a my heart(in-a my heart)In-a my heart(in-a my heart) Lord, I want to be a Christianin-a my heart.

35. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.2 Lord, I want to be more lovingIn-a my heart,in-a my heart,Lord, I want to be more lovingin-a my heart.

36. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.2 In-a my heart(in-a my heart)In-a my heart(in-a my heart) Lord, I want to be more lovingin-a my heart.

37. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.3 Lord, I want to be more holyIn-a my heart,in-a my heart,Lord, I want to be more holyin-a my heart.

38. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.3 In-a my heart(in-a my heart)In-a my heart(in-a my heart) Lord, I want to be more holyin-a my heart.

39. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.4 Lord, I want to be like JesusIn-a my heart,in-a my heart,Lord, I want to be like Jesusin-a my heart.

40. *HYMN #372 “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” v.4 In-a my heart(in-a my heart)In-a my heart(in-a my heart) Lord, I want to be like Jesusin-a my heart.

41. OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Aberystwyth”~Whitney

42. *DOXOLOGY #542, v.4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

43. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Loving God, in Jesus you have revealed that the boundaries of your love are limitless. Through him, you have blessed our lives with amazing teaching and wisdom.

44. In response to such gracious gifts, we offer these gifts, and the service of our lives, as visible and faithful reminders of your radical love and mercy. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

45. RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

46. The Lord’s Prayer (unison) Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

47. 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.

48. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

49. BEARING AND FOLLOWINGTHE WORD INTO THE WORLD

50. *HYMN #2172 “We Are Called” v.1 Come! Live in the light! Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!We are called to be light for the Kingdom, to live in the freedom of the city of God!