Sunday Worship Bulletin - Fourth Church

Bulletins are posted on the day prior.

Sunday, September 7
9:30 a.m. Worship Service

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PRELUDE

Master Tallis’s Testament
Herbert Howells
O Rest in the Lord from Elijah
Felix Mendelssohn

INTROIT
This Is the Day
Anonymous (sixteenth-century English)
This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Happy are they
All: who do not follow the advice of the wicked.
One: Blessed are they
All: whose delight is in the Lord.
One: The Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
All: but the way of the wicked will perish.

HYMN
“Sing Glory to the Name of God”

Sing glory to the name of God, whose holy splendor shines abroad. Alleluia, alleluia! Enthroned above the crashing waves, the God of grace and glory saves. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The name of God is full of might: resounding thunder, flashing light. Alleluia, alleluia! The wilderness cannot contain the echoes of the great refrain: Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The name of God is wild and free, awhirl in holy mystery. Alleluia, alleluia! A secret wrapped in smoke and fire, still chanted by the temple choir: Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

May God forever be our peace; may hymns of glory never cease: Alleluia, alleluia! Let all the faithful people come; sing praise to God, the Three-in-One: Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy God, like children long indulged, we are quick to presume your pardon, your sanction of the way we live. We turn away from neighbors in need, sharing fragments that remain only after our cravings have been met. Merciful Maker, you created us for better use; remake us now. Where we are distorted recenter and reshape us, bring us low and raise us up. Then fire our hearts until we shine with your glory and find our place in your purpose. Amen.

DECLARATION OF PARDON
One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Leader: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.

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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIRST LESSON
Psalm 1
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

One: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

SECOND LESSON
Luke 14:25–33
Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

One: The grass withers, and the flower fades,
All: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

SERMON
Rocky Supinger

HYMN
“How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord”

How clear is our vocation, Lord, when once we heed your call to live according to your word and daily learn, refreshed, restored, that you are Lord of all and will not let us fall.

But if, forgetful, we should find your yoke is hard to bear; if worldly pressures fray the mind and love itself cannot unwind its tangled skein of care: our inward life repair.

We marvel how your saints became in hindrances more sure: whose joyful virtues put to shame the casual way we wear your name, and by our faults obscure your power to cleanse and cure.

In what you give us, Lord, to do, together or alone, in old routines or ventures new, may we not cease to look to you: the cross you hung upon, all you endeavored, done.

OFFERING

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OFFERTORY ANTHEM
Let the People Praise Thee, O God
William Matthias
Let the people praise thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the nations rejoice and be glad: for thou shalt judge the folk righteously and govern the nations upon earth. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the world shall fear him. God be merciful unto us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us, that thy way may be known upon earth; thy saving health among all nations. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

OFFERTORY RESPONSE
Praise we in songs of victory that love, that life which cannot die, and sing with hearts uplifted high: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

INVITATION

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We will lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PRAYER
Leader: It is right to give our thanks and praise. . .
. . . We join with angels in singing your praise:

SANCTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power, God of 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, hosanna in the highest.
Leader: . . . Great is the mystery of faith:

MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION (sung)
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. (repeat)

THE 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

THE COMMUNION

COMMUNION ANTHEM

“Love Divine”
Howard Goodall

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav’n, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling; all thy faithfull mercies crown. Jesu, thou art all compassion; pure unbounded love thou art; visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart. Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all thy life receive; suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love. Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be; let us see thy great salvation: perfectly restored in thee.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Loving God, you have given us a share in the one bread and the one cup and made us one with Christ. Help us to bring your salvation and joy to all the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN
“We Will Walk with God”

We will walk with God, my brothers; we will walk with God. We will walk with God, my sisters; we will walk with God. We will go rejoicing till the kingdom has come. We will go rejoicing till the kingdom has come.
(Repeat)

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

CHORAL BENEDICTION

Go Now in Peace
Robert Lau
Go now in peace, and may God’s peace go with you. Believe, and trust God’s holy Word. Amen.

POSTLUDE
Allegro from Concerto in B-flat Major
George Frideric Handel

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