God’s Choice

February 19, 2023
Pastor Jacob Lee
Worship

Save

Service of Worship

Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
Arr. Anthony Giamanco
© 2000 Art Master Studios, Inc., assigned to Lorenz Publishing Company
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # M-401420

Welcome and Call to Worship

(inspired by Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, Luke 9:28-36, 2 Peter 1:16-18)

Leader: Beyond our busyness, above the cold winter floor there is a glory rising, born of heaven and reaching out to each one of us
People: A light that shines through the clouds, an invitation seeking all of who we are that transfigures the world
Leader: That transforms darkness into hope that brings life from a cross where old life ends and new life is born
People: In glory Jesus meets us here raising us from depths of valley to the height of the mountain carrying the weight of our humanity to the heights of heaven’s glory.
Leader: Let us worship from the mountain and hear again, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

(Rev. Rob Smith, From Discipleship Ministries)

Opening Hymn — #103 “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

1. Immortal, invisible,
God only wise,
in light inaccessible
hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious,
the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious,
thy great name we praise.

2. Unresting, unhasting,
and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting,
thou rulest in might;
thy justice like mountains
high soaring above
thy clouds which are fountains
of goodness and love.

3. To all, life thou givest,
to both great and small;
in all life thou livest,
the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish
as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish,
but naught changeth thee.

4. Thou reignest in glory;
thou dwellest in light;
thine angels adore thee,
all veiling their sight;
all laud we would render:
O help us to see’
tis only the splendor
of light hideth thee.

Immortal Invisible God Only Wise (St. Denio)
Walter Chalmers Smith
Public Domain

Pastor’s Time With the Children – Rev. Jacob Lee

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer, 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and glory forever. Amen.

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 – Joshua

You Raise Me Up
Brendan Graham | Rolf Lovland
© 2002 Universal – Polygram International Publishing, Inc.
Used by 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

Creator God of infinite patience, we see you in every plant that grows and blossoms, every creature that runs or flies, in mountains and sunsets and in every drop of rain that falls. Creation is not something that happened, but something that is happening every day. As we share our tithes and offerings today, we pray you, through Jesus, will continue the work of creation in us, that we might become more tolerant, more forgiving, more generous, and more loving. In that name, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, we pray. Amen.

(Matthew 17:1-9)

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NRSV)

26 Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Response
The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Anthem — Chancel Choir

Lord, I Stretch My Hands to You
Jay Althouse
© 1992, 2004, 2018 Hope Publishing Company
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Sermon — Rev. Jacob Lee
“God’s Choice”

Closing Hymn — #731 “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” (v. 1, 2, 4)

1. Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God; God,
whose word cannot be broken,
formed thee for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

2. See, the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.

4. Blest inhabitants of Zion,
washed in our Redeemer’s blood;
Jesus, whom our souls rely on,
makes us monarchs, priests to God.
Us, by his great love, he raises,
rulers over self to reign,
and as priests his solemn praises
we for thankful offering bring.

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
John Newton
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Hani

Fanfare
Theodore Dubois
Public Domain