Worship for the Whole People of God

First Presbyterian Church

Worship for the Whole People of God

We Gather in God’s Presence

ATHERING MUSIC J.S. Bach

Have Mercy Upon Me, O Lord God

Lighting of the candles – Stephen Hallberg, acolyte

As the worship leaders and acolyte process,

let us pause as we begin our worship.

OUR LIFE TOGETHER…

During the announcements, please fill out the “Welcome Sheets” and any prayers you would like to share this morning. Pass them to the outside of your pew to be collected by the ushers during the Gathering Song.

SILENCE Be still and aware ofGod’s presencewithin and all around.

GATHERING SONG Congregation and choir singing together as the ushers

collect the “Welcome Sheets.”

Gather us, O God, body, spirit,soul and mind.

Gather us, O God, one in unionnow with you.

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 98

Sing to the Lord a new song,

for God has done wonderful deeds

I will joyfully sing out to God.

The Almighty has made salvation known,

and justice revealed to all.

I will joyfully sing out to God.

The Eternal One has been faithful and loving.

I will joyfully sing out to God.

Sing in your joy before the Lord.

I will joyfully sing out to God

+ signifies, those who are able, please stand

+HYMN No. 796 We Come to You for Healing, LordLand of Rest

+PRAYER OF PRAISE AND CONFESSION

Because of Your extravagant nurture, we find a safe place in You, O God. You gave us Your breath and Your image; You spoke the name of each child and wrapped us in the warm embrace of Your love.

We believe in You, O God. In our words we praise You, and in our doings we long to imitate You. Forgive us when we rob others

of safety and care.

Because of Your extravagant invitation, we find wholeness in You, O God. You became as we are in flesh and experience; You shared our suffering in body, mind and spirit; You rescued us from death and gifted us with life.

We believe in You, O God. In our hearts we celebrate You, and in our relationships we long to give as You do. Forgive us when we ignore the pain of others and when we make it harder for them to love You.

Because of Your extravagant generosity, we find abundance in You, O God. You made us - each one and together - a home for Your Spirit;

You filled us with a vision of hope and community which helps us make sense of life;

You cause each moment to be pregnant

with the potential for love and healing.

We believe in You, O God.

In all that we are we seek to please You,

and in all that we do we seek to mirror You.

Forgive us when life in this world causes us to forget the life and love we find in You;

When we isolate ourselves and others,

and when we let our brokenness have

the last word.

Enable us to make one - what we believe,

what we say, and what we do.

For the sake of the One who is our life.

Amen.

+ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE

Friends, we have called to God, and confessed the struggles on our hearts.

Now, believeGod’s promise to be with us in our troubles, and to rescue us.

In Christ we are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

+RESPONSE Congregation and choir singing together

Don’t be afraid, my love is stronger,

my love is stronger than your fear.

Don’t be afraid, my love is stronger

And I have promised,

promised to be always near.

+PASSING THE PEACE

Since God has forgiven us in Christ,

let us forgive one another.

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you

And also with you.

We Grow as We Listen to God’s Word

MESSAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN Congregation and choir singing together

This, this is where children belong, welcomed as part of the worshiping throng.

Water, God’s word, bread and cup,prayer and song:

This is where children belong.

– James Ritchie

Following the message, children 4 years old to 4th grade may go with their teachers to their Children’s Church. Nursery care is available for our youngest children.

PRAYER BEFORE THE READING

Let us pray:

When we ask our questions

You hear us.

When we speak to you

You listen to us.

When we seek you out

You show yourself to us.

When we do not understand

You tell us again.

FIRST READING: 2 Kings 5:1-15 (OT page 336)

Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him theLordhad given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.3She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”4So Naamanwent in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said.5And the king of Aram said, “Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.”He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments.6He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”

8But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.”9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house.10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.”

11But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of theLordhis God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy!12Are not Abanaand Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and beclean?” He turned and went away in a rage.13But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”14So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.15Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.”

The word of the Lord,

Thanks be to God.

ANTHEM If I Forget, Yet God Remembers!Robert Browning/Daniel Pederson

If I forget, if I forget, yet God remembers!

Yet God remembers!

If these hand of mine cease from their clinging,

Yet the hands divine hold me so firmly

that I cannot fall, I cannot fall.

If I forget, if I forget, yet God remembers!

Yet God remembers!

If these hand of mine cease from their clinging,

Yet the hands divine hold me so firmly that

I cannot fall, I cannot fall.

And if sometimes I am too tired

to call for God to help me,

Then God reads the prayer unspoken

in my heart, and lifts my care.

GOSPEL READING: Luke 17:11-19 (NT page 80)

On the way to Jerusalem Jesuswas going through the region between Samaria and Galilee.12As he entered a village, ten lepersapproached him. Keeping their distance,13they called out, saying, “Jesus,Master, have mercy on us!”14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean.15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.16He prostrated himself at Jesus’feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan.17Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”19Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

The word of the Lord,

Thanks be to God.

THE SERMON

+AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

Please stand and with the church,

let us profess our faith.

I believe in God, the Creator who created a world of beauty for us to love, care for, and enjoy.

I believe that God sent Jesus Christ to live among us, teaching us how to live the way God wants us to live. I believe that Christ died on the cross to save us from our sins.

I believe that Jesus Christ is my savior.

I believe that the Living Spirit lives among us, caring for us and guiding us, always with us.

I believe that I am God’s child, created in God’s image which is good.

I believe in the Creator, in Christ, and in the Living Spirit. Amen.

+HYMN No. 301 Let Us Build a HouseTwo Oaks

We Give in Response to God’s Love

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS

Offertory Aria Flor Peeters

+Doxology No. 608 Praise God

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Christ, all people here below;

Praise Holy Spirit evermore;

Praise Triune God, whom we adore.

+PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Let us pray. Grateful for the restoration of body, mind, and spirit this day, we come to offer you our gratitude and gifts, Gracious God.

May the giving we do now mimic

your own generosity.

May the living we do embody a continual openness to you and all people.

May we be made whole in the likeness

of Christ. Amen

+THE LORD’S PRAYER (“…and forgive us our debts…”)

We Go to Serve God’s World

+HYMN No 653 A Grateful HeartRockingham

+BLESSING

May God show you kindness and mercy

and fill your heart with thanks.

Amen.

Go in peace being a church of Good Neighbors to everyone you meet,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thanks be to God.

+CHORAL RESPONSESpirit Divine, Attend Our Prayers

Nun Danket All Und Bringet Her

*POSTLUDEFantasy in C Major J.S. Bach

Worship Leaders this morning

Acolyte: Stephen Hallberg

Liturgist: Jim Babcock

Greeters: Craig Butler (PL), Pat Kinney (S)

Ushers: Joanne Nelson, Barb Potter,

Anne and Paul Hedin