My Shot

September 5, 2021
Pastor Stacy Dickson
Worship

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Service of Worship

Flute Piece
William Hine
Public Domain

Opening Prayer
Strength is commanding
the wind and sea to obey,
Strength is wielding
a slingshot in the face of a raging giant.
Strength is accepting vulnerability
from inside the boat,
Strength is standing in solidarity
with the powerless.
Strength is turning a cheek,
Strength is loving an enemy.
We come to worship
a God who redefines our vision of strength.
Amen.

Opening Hymn — #140 O Come, O Come Emmanuel (v. 1, 5-7)

1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee,
O Israel.

5. O come Thou Key of David come
And open wide our heavenly home
The captives from their prison free
And conquer death’s deep misery

Refrain

6. O come Thou Dayspring come and cheer
Our spirits by Thy justice here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight

Refrain

7. O come Desire of nations bind
All peoples in one heart and mind
From dust Thou brought us forth to life
Deliver us from earthly strife

Refrain

O Come O Come Emmanuel (Veni Emmanuel)
Henry Sloane Coffin | Laurence Hull Stookey | Thomas Helmore
© Words: 1940, 1943, 1981, 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
Used by Permission. CCLI License # 656051

Scripture Reading — 1 Samuel 17 (selected) (NRSV)

Children’s Time with Ms. Becky

Joys and Concerns, Pastoral Prayer

Pastoral Prayer
Our faith in your power and your providence, O God, is strengthened today in our reflection upon the experience of David in his encounter with the giant Goliath. You remind us that there is nothing in all creation that is more powerful than your word in all its two-edged glory. By it Jesus calmed the storm; by it he healed and made people whole—and by it we too are sustained from day to day and from minute to minute. Help us, O God, to cling to your living word—and to root ourselves in it—that we may be a people who overcome all the trials and tribulations that come upon us.
Lord hear our prayer….

We are reminded today, O God, of how the strong can be defeated by the weak, of how the exalted and the mighty can be overcome by those who are humble and lowly—and we thank you for this. We pray, O God, for all those today who are oppressed, as Israel was oppressed in Egypt, we pray for those who must contend with forces greater than they—grant them faith and in faith, grant them courage; act for them, and in them, to bring about their liberation.
Lord hear our prayer….

We pray today, O God for all those who live in fear and insecurity—for those who need encouragement, for those who need our help and the help of their neighbors and their communities if they are to know life in its fullness.
Lord, hear our prayer…

We ask it through Jesus Christ our Lord—saying together the prayer he taught us:

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.

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 — Hani

Amazing Grace
Arr. Fred Bock
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # M-401420

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 all good gifts, you have provided all that we need for full lives, and yet we don’t stop there – we continue to fill our lives with things in an elusive search for security. As we bring gifts to you this day, remind us that only deeper faith will bring peace, and good works—caring for others through generous giving—will help us know the joy of full lives. We pray this in the name of Christ, who gave all out of love for all your children. Amen.

Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
My Shot

Closing Hymn — #338 Where He Leads Me

1. I can hear my Savior calling
I can hear my Savior calling
I can hear my Savior calling
Take thy cross and follow follow Me

Refrain
Where He leads me I will follow
Where He leads me I will follow
Where He leads me I will follow
I’ll go with Him with Him all the way

2. I’ll go with Him through the garden
I’ll go with Him through the garden
I’ll go with Him through the garden
I’ll go with Him with Him all the way

Refrain

3. I’ll go with Him through the judgment
I’ll go with Him through the judgment
I’ll go with Him through the judgment
I’ll go with Him with Him all the way

Refrain

4. He will give me grace and glory
He will give me grace and glory
He will give me grace and glory
And go with me with me all the way

Refrain

Where He Leads Me (Norris)
Edward W. Blandy | John Samuel Norris
Public Domain

Communion Blessing and Benediction

Children of God,
It’s time to take off your shoes,
Step out of your comfort zone, and
Wade with trust into the stream of God’s mercy.
Stand still for a moment, barefoot, on holy ground.
Let the healing waters wash your feet.
Take a deep breath as Love soaks into your soul.
Be silent and listen for God’s word to us today.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Now go and do not miss your shot. Amen.

Postlude – Hani

Grand Toccata
Gerald Peterson
Used by Permission. ONE LICENSE # M-401420