Blessed to be a Blessing

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Service of Worship

Andante Religioso from Organ Sonata No.4
Felix Mendelssohn
Public Domain

Opening Prayer
Generous God,
you gave us our voices, no two the same.
As you did with Abraham and Sarah,
you take and touch our lives and they can become extraordinary.
And in your Church you have gathered us,
in your community of common folk and complainers,
prophets and puzzled people,
you have called us and made a place for us.
So let what we say and do here,
what we ponder and decide here,
be real for us and honest to you,
as you prepare us for the life of the world in which you are praised. Amen.

Opening Hymn — #92 For the Beauty of the Earth (v. 1, 5)

1. For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

5. For thy church, that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For The Beauty Of The Earth (Dix)
Conrad Kocher | Folliott Sandford Pierpoint
Public Domain

Scripture Reading – Genesis 12:1-4 (NRSV)

1 Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Special Music – Gavin

Courante in D from Bach’s Dance Suite in G major
J.S. Bach

Children’s Time with Ms Becky

Joys and Concerns — Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Great God who calls us to belonging,
Who delights in curiosity, invention, ingenuity.
Praise be for minds that bend and flex despite restriction,
for bodies that signal love by staying apart.
Praise be for neighbors talking across fences,
calling from balconies, waving through windows,
for greetings that cross the space between us.
Praise be for strangers, careful on footpaths,
for children asking their questions,
for truth tellers who earn our trust and speak to our fear.
Praise be for friends who warn and chide and encourage,
for human warmth in time of distance.
Praise be to God, amen.

Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.

Offertory – Garrett

Beautiful Things
Lisa Gungor | Michael Gungor
© 2009 http://worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Used with Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
Public Domain

Offertory Prayer

Generous God, your good gifts to us are too many to name! We have been so blessed, not so that we might hide away these blessings, but to use them so that the blessings might be multiplied. As we give from our blessing stockpile, help it to multiply and grow. May our gifts empower multiple acts of mercy and compassion, and may your love pour over this world like a flood. If we have buried these gracious blessing, may today be the day we dig them up and put them to work, so that we might be seen as your faithful servants! Amen.

Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
Blessed to be a Blessing

Closing Hymn Count Your Blessings (v. 1, 4)

1. When upon life’s billows
You are tempest tossed
When you are discouraged
Thinking all is lost
Count your many blessings
Name them one by one
And it will surprise you
What the Lord hath done

Refrain
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God hath done
Count your blessings
Name them one by one
Count your many blessings
See what God hath done

4. So amid the conflict
Whether great or small
Do not be discouraged
God is over all
Count your many blessings
Angels will attend
Help and comfort give you
To your journey’s end

Refrain

Count Your Blessings
Edwin Othello Excell | Johnson Oatman Jr.
Public Domain

Benediction