August 25, 2019

1. August 25, 2019 Welcome to OPC

2. Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

3. Prelude“Toccata on ‘A Mighty Fortress’” ~Young Lighting of the candles

4. SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah1:4-10

5. Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am onlya body.’

6. But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ Then the Lord put out his hand andtouched my mouth;

7. and the Lord said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.’

8. *CALL TO WORSHIP • L: By faith people chose to try to pass through the Sea, as if it were dry ground. • P: And God went before them, clearing the way.

9. L: Sisters and Brothers, by faith Abraham left all he knew and went, not knowing where he was going. P: And God was ahead of him, giving him strength and courage.

10. L: By faith you have chosen to come here this morning. P: We come trusting that our God goes before us and will receive us in love.

11. L: Trusting God is good. Trusting God is also difficult. P: Help us, Holy God, to trust and follow you, wherever you may lead.

12. L: Let us worship the God who is worthy of our faith. P: Our God is worthy of faith, love, and worship.

13. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.1 • Come sing, O church, in joy!Come join, O church, in song!For Christ the Lord has led us through the ages long!

14. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.1 • In bold accord,come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!

15. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.2 • Long years have come and gone,And still God reigns supreme,Empowering us to catch the vision,dream the dream!

16. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.2 • In bold accord,come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!

17. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.3 • Let courage be our friend,Let wisdom be our guide,As we in mission magnify the Crucified!

18. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.3 • In bold accord,come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!

19. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.4 • Come sing, O church, in joy!Come join, O church, in song!For Christ the Lord has triumphed o’er the ages long!

20. *HYMN #430“Come Sing, O Church...” v.4 • In bold accord,come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!

21. *PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Trustworthy God, we do trust you. Sometimes. Okay, maybe not so much. We confess this hour, with our hearts and souls,

22. that we want to believe and trust in you, Merciful One. But, it can be so difficult and we often falter. It is much easier to trust in ourselves. It is much easier to trust in our money and our things,

23. so we do that. And in doing that, we fail to be the people you call us to be. So, Holy One, forgive us for trusting all the things that are not You. Strengthen us to follow your lead.

24. Give us the courage and the hope to move into the future with you leading us. • (silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer)

25. ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: In faith we call out to a loving and forgiving God, seeking to put aside our old life and trust. God surely answers our prayers. In the name of Christ Jesus, believe your sins are forgiven.

26. ASSURANCE OF PARDON P: In faith we become new people: broken, we are made whole; lost, we are found; forsaken, we are restored to new life. Thanks be to God. Amen.

27. Time with Young Christians

28. PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Hebrews11:29 – 12:2

29. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish withthose who weredisobedient,

30. because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets – who through faith conquered kingdoms, administeredjustice, obtainedpromises,

31. shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to acceptrelease,

32. in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep andgoats, destitute,persecuted,

33. tormented – of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had providedsomething betterso they would not,

34. without us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, lookingto Jesus thepioneer and

35. perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

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

37. “By Faith We Go, Too” ~Rev. Tedd Pullano

38. Begin with the end in mind

39. All things are created twice

40. faith ‘gives substance to’ things hoped for, it offers ‘proving of’ things not unseen.”

41. “faith is the turning of dreams into deeds; it is betting your life on the unseen realities.”

42. *HYMN #522“Lord, When I Came Into this Life” v.1 Lord, when I came into this lifeYou called my by my name;Today I come, commit myself,Responding to Your claim.

43. *HYMN #522“Lord, When I Came Into this Life” v.2 Within the circle of the faithAs member of Your cast,I take my place with all the saintsOf future, present, past.

44. *HYMN #522“Lord, When I Came Into this Life” v.3 In all the tensions of my life,Between my faith and doubt,Let Your great Spirit give me hope,Sustain me, lead me out.

45. *HYMN #522“Lord, When I Came Into this Life” v.4 So, help me in my unbelief,And let my life be true:Feet firmly planted on the earth,My sights set high on You.

46. OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Siciliano” ~J.S. Bach

47. *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.

48. *PRAYER OF DEDICATION(unison) God, we stand before you as a people of faith, investing our lives and our treasures for the glory of your kingdom. Bless these gifts and who gave them.

49. Multiply them to build your glorious kingdom! In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

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