What Do You Want Me To Do for You?

August 20, 2023
Pastor Jacob Lee
Worship

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Service of Worship

Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness
Margaretha Christina de Jong
© 2022 Wayne Leupold Editions, Inc.
Used with Permission. ONE LICENSE # A-401420

Welcome and Call to Worship

Leader: Beloved disciples, welcome! We gather as people reconciled to one another and God through grace, a gift freely and lovingly given that we do not earn or deserve. We receive the marvelous work of grace in our lives, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”
People: No! God’s grace is not fair, but a gift of God’s mercy.
Leader: We gather as neighbors who have experienced difficulties of every kind. We feel uncertain, fearful, and overwhelmed, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”
People: No! Our difficulties are not fair, and God’s grace meets our uncertainty with mercy and love.
Leader: We gather as a community that knows the suffering of our neighbors. We look at the effects of poverty, food insecurity, and trauma in our neighborhoods, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”
People: No! The suffering of our neighbors is not fair, and God’s grace calls us to respond to suffering with mercy and justice.
Leader: We gather as people who question how to live into God’s abundance and flourishing in a world built on scarcity and greed, and we wonder, “Is it fair?”
People: Yes! God’s life of abundance and flourishing is fair, because it is merciful. May God’s grace form us into people of mercy, justice, compassion, and truth-telling as we gather today. Amen.

(Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries)

Opening Hymn — #160 “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” (v. 1-3, 5)

1. Rejoice, ye pure in heart;
rejoice, give thanks, and sing;
your glorious banner wave on high,
the cross of Christ your King.

Refrain
Rejoice, rejoice,
rejoice, give thanks and sing.

2. Your clear hosannas raise,
and alleluias loud;
whilst answering echoes upward float,
like wreaths of incense cloud.

Refrain

3. Yes, on through life’s long path,
still chanting as ye go;
from youth to age, by night and day,
in gladness and in woe.

Refrain

5. Praise God who reigns on high,
the Lord whom we adore,
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
one God forevermore.

Refrain

Rejoice Ye Pure In Heart (Marion)
Arthur Henry Messiter | Edward Hayes Plumptre
Public Domain

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 – Rev. Jacob Lee

The Lord’s Prayer
Albert Hay Malotte
© 1935 G. Schirmer
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

Creator and architect of the universe, we want to believe that your love for us means you will go before us on life’s path and clear the way, making it easy to travel, but our experience doesn’t always bear that out. We know you see a bigger picture than we do. As we bring you our offerings this day, we affirm your presence with us in the pits of despair as well as in the palaces of plenty. We give with gratitude, in Christ’s holy name. Amen.

(Gen 45:1-15)

Scripture Readings — Luke 18:35-43 (NRSV)

35 As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazaretha is passing by.” 38 Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” 42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” 43 Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.

The Word of the Lord:
Thanks be to God.

Congregational Choral Anthem — #369 “Blessed Assurance”

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

Refrain

Blessed Assurance
Fanny Jane Crosby | Phoebe Palmer Knapp
Public Domain

Sermon — Rev. Jacob S. Lee
“What Do You Want Me To Do for You?”

Closing Hymn — #397 “I Need Thee Every Hour” (v. 1, 3, 5)

1. I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like thine can peace afford.

Refrain
I need thee, O I need thee;
every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

3. I need thee every hour, in joy or pain;
come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

Refrain

5. I need thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son.

Refrain

I Need Thee Every Hour (I Need Thee)
Annie Sherwood Hawks | Robert Lowry
Public Domain

Benediction

Postlude – Hani