A Home for Distressed Soul and a Shelter for Searching Spirit

August 6, 2023
General
Worship

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Service of Worship

In Heavenly Love Abiding
Arr. Carolyn Hamlin
© 1997 Fred Bock Music Company
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420

Welcome and Call to Worship and Prayer of the People

Leader: Beloved disciples, welcome. Some of us come weary and hungry, while others come rested and content. Still others come ready to wrestle with the questions that keep us up at night. No matter how you enter this space, we say,
People: Come, let us worship God together!
Leader: Together, we notice the fatigue we carry, the exhaustion that comes from our hunger for care and connection with one another and with God. Yet, when God says to feed one another, we answer,
People: We have nothing but…
Leader: Together, we feel the unrest and turmoil of grappling with the unknown, unsure whether we are fighting for everyone’s wellbeing or merely our own stability. Yet, when God tells us to start by loving God and our neighbors, we answer,
People: We have nothing but…
Leader: Together, then, let us wrestle with our hungers that we may be transformed into people who seek and find God all around us, so that when God calls us to feed the hungry and struggle for those in need of help, we answer,
People: In you, we have everything. Use us as you will. Amen.

(Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries)

God, You have called us into a whole-hearted relationship with You. You’ve asked us to leave behind all we possess and live out our faith with passion and integrity. We thank You for the deep love You have shown toward us. Forgive us when we take our relationship with You for granted, when we let the fire of our early commitment cool, and allow other things to take priority in our lives. Give us strength to hold on to You no matter what comes our way. Give us courage to wrestle honestly with the things we don’t understand; to continually work out our salvation with fear and trembling, to grapple daily with what it means to faithfully follow You. We are Your people, chosen and named by You. Grant us Your continued blessing and mark us with Your love, as we seek to live as Your disciples in the world. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

(Posted on the re:Worship blog)

Opening Hymn — #73 “O Worship the King” (v. 1, 2, 5)

1. O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love;
our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

2. O tell of God’s might, O sing of God’s grace,
whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is God’s path on the wings of the storm.

5. Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;
thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

O Worship The King (Lyons)
Johann Michael Haydn | Robert Grant
Public Domain

Holy Communion — p. 15 “A Service of Word and Table III”

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

…The pastor concludes:
And so,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ’s offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

The pastor concludes:
All honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.
now and for ever.

Amen.

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 – Jonathan

Be Thou My Vision (Slane)
Carlton Raymond Young | Eleanor Henrietta Hull | Mary Elizabeth Byrne
Music: © 1964 Abingdon Press
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

God of power and glory, as we bring our tithes and offerings to be dedicated to the building of your kingdom here on earth, we are reminded of all the blessings we have received. As we hear again the story of Jacob wrestling with the stranger to receive his blessing, remind us that the best blessings come when we are working hard, breaking a sweat, getting our hands dirty working for justice, compassion, and mercy for all your children. Steer us away from being content with the blessings that require little effort. In Christ, we pray. Amen.

(Gen 32:22-31)

Scripture Readings — Psalm 46:1-7 (NRSV)

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.

The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Congregational Choral Anthem — #377 “It Is Well With My Soul” (v. 1, 4)

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

4. And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

It Is Well With My Soul
Horatio Gates Spafford | Philip Paul Bliss
Public Domain

Sermon — Rev. Richard Navarro / Rev. Alma Navarro
“A Home for Distressed Soul and a Shelter for Searching Spirit”

Presentation Video

Closing Hymn — #569 “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” (v. 1, 4)

1. We’ve a story to tell to the nations,
that shall turn their hearts to the right,
a story of truth and mercy,
a story of peace and light,
a story of peace and light.

Refrain
For the darkness shall turn to dawning,
and the dawning to noon day bright;
and Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth,
the kingdom of love and light.

4. We’ve a Savior to show to the nations,
who the path of sorrow hath trod,
that all of the world’s great peoples
might come to the truth of God,
might come to the truth of God.

Refrain

We’ve A Story To Tell To The Nations (Message)
Henry Ernest Nichol
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Hani