Worship Guide - Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Worship Guide

September 11, 2022

Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World

 

ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE

 

Greetings:

 

Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

People: And also with you!

 

Special Music: “Old Rugged Cross” - Charles

 

Centering Words:

 

Return to God, no matter how long you’ve been away. Come home, no matter how far you’ve wandered. But if you don’t return on your own, don’t be surprised if God comes and finds you anyway. That’s what we call grace.

 

*Call to Worship:

 

Leader:   From our wanderings and wonderings,

People:  we are welcomed home by God.

Leader:   Lost on the highway or trapped on a cliff,

     People:  God comes to rescue and return us to safety.

Leader:   Come to be found,

People:  for all are welcome here.

Leader:   Let us pray.

 

ALL: Shepherding God, gather us into your presence, as we come to worship this day. Transform us into your people through the mighty power of your Spirit. Rescue us with your endless patience, that we may become instruments of mercy and grace to help others find their way home. In your mercy and grace, we pray. Amen.

 

Hymn: My Hope Is Built”

 

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

but wholly lean in Jesus’ name.

 

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

 

When darkness veils his lovely face,

I rest on his unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale,

my anchor holds within the veil.

 

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

 

His oath, his covenant, his blood,

support me in the whelming flood.

When all around my soul gives way,

he then is all my hope and stay.

 

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

 

When he shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh may I then in him be found.

Dressed in his righteousness alone,

faultless to stand before the throne.

 

On Christ the solid rock I stand,

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

 

Words of Assurance

 

Rejoice, God has changed our circumstances for the better!

Christ’s mercy and grace redeem us and bring us home. We who are lost have been found.

Amen

 

*Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28

 

11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse— 12 a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them.

22     “For my people are foolish,

they do not know me;

they are stupid children,

they have no understanding.

They are skilled in doing evil,

but do not know how to do good.”

23     I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void;

and to the heavens, and they had no light.

24     I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking,

and all the hills moved to and fro.

25     I looked, and lo, there was no one at all,

and all the birds of the air had fled.

26     I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert,

and all its cities were laid in ruins

before the Lord, before his fierce anger.

27 For thus says the Lord: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.

28     Because of this the earth shall mourn,

and the heavens above grow black;

for I have spoken, I have purposed;

I have not relented nor will I turn back.

 

Leader:   This is the Word of God, for the People of God

People:  Thanks be to God!

 

WORD AND RESPONSE

 

Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”

 

Children’s Message: “Scrabble Letter ‘Y’ ”

 

Hymn: Grace Greater than Our Sins”

 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,

there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,

threaten the soul with infinite loss;

grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,

points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.

What can avail to wash it away?

Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,

brighter than snow you may be today.

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

freely bestowed on all who believe!

You that are longing to see his face,

will you this moment his grace receive?

 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

grace, grace, God’s grace,

grace that is greater than all our sin.

 

Sermon: “Finding the Lost”  Luke 15:1-10

 

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

 

8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

 

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

 

Hymn: “Amazing Grace”

 

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found

was blind, but now I see.

 

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

and grace my fears relieved.

how precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed.

 

Through many dangers, toils, and snares

I have already come.

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far

and grace will lead me home.

 

The Lord has promised good to me,

his word my hope secures;

he will my shield and portion be

as long as life endures.

 

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

and mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the veil,

a life of joy and peace.

 

When we've been there ten thousand years

bright shining as the sun,

We've no less days to sing God's praise

than when we'd first begun.

 

The Apostle’s Creed

 

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

   creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

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.

 

Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns

Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer

 

SENDING FORTH

 

Hymn: “Marching to Zion”

 

Come, we that love the Lord,

and let our joys be known;

join in a song with sweet accord,

join in a song with sweet accord

and thus surround the throne,

and thus surround the throne.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

Let those refuse to sing,

who never knew our God;

but children of the heavenly King,

but children of the heavenly King

may speak their joys abroad,

may speak their joys abroad.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

The hill of Zion yields

a thousand sacred sweets

before we reach the heavenly fields,

before we reach the heavenly fields,

or walk the golden streets,

or walk the golden streets.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

Then let our songs abound,

and every tear be dry;

we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,

we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,

to fairer worlds on high,

to fairer worlds on high.

 

We’re marching to Zion,

beautiful, beautiful Zion;

we’re marching upward to Zion,

the beautiful city of God.

 

Benediction