Worship Guide
October 22, 2023
Twenty-First 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: “Oh My Soul” Charles
Centering Words:
Seek God’s presence, that God’s goodness, mercy, and grace may bless and strengthen you. Who knows if the Lord may tuck you into a safe place and give you a glimpse of God’s glory?
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Come, Holy God, draw near.
People: We long to see you.
Leader: Come, God of justice, be present today.
People: We need your grace in our world.
Leader: Come in this hour.
People: Show us your love.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Holy God, we long to sense your presence and be assured that you have drawn near. Awaken us with your love and grace and show us your possibilities for our lives. Assure us that we are not alone and that you walk with us always. For this we offer you our thanks and praise. Amen.
Hymn: “His Name is Wonderful”
His name is wonderful,
his name is wonderful,
his name is wonderful,
Jesus my Lord.
He is the mighty King,
Master of everything;
his name is wonderful,
Jesus my Lord.
He's the great Shepherd,
the Rock of all ages,
almighty God is he;
bow down before him,
love and adore him,
his name is wonderful,
Jesus, my Lord.
His name is wonderful,
his name is wonderful,
his name is wonderful,
Jesus my Lord.
He is the mighty King,
Master of everything;
his name is wonderful,
Jesus my Lord.
He's the great Shepherd,
the Rock of all ages,
almighty God is he;
bow down before him,
love and adore him,
his name is wonderful,
Jesus, my Lord.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
When we cry out to you, O God, you answer us.
You receive us, forgive us, and show us your love.
Thank you Lord. Amen
*Old Testament Reading: Exodus 33:12-23
12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”
17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” 21 And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23 then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Trick Question”
Hymn: “Honor and Praise”
Righteous and holy in all of your ways;
we come before you with honor and praise.
Here to adore you for all of our days,
we come before you with honor and praise
Lord of the heavens, how faithful you are.
Shine down upon us, oh bright Morning Star.
Righteous and holy in all of your ways;
we come before you with honor and praise.
Filling the temple, the work of your grace;
we come before You with honor and praise.
Here to adore you for all of our days,
we come before you with honor and praise.
Lord of the heavens, how faithful you are.
Rise in our spirits, oh bright Morning Star.
Righteous and holy in all of your ways;
We come before You with honor and praise.
Sermon: “The Things that are God’s” Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21 They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”
Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning
our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons
blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy!
All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns
around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim
falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and
evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy!
Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man
thy glory may not see,
only Thou art holy;
there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity
Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name,
in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy!
Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons
Blessed Trinity.
Psalter: Psalm 99
1 The Lord reigns; let the people tremble!
The Lord sits enthroned upon the cherubim;
let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion,
and is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and wondrous name!
Holy is the Lord!
4 Mighty Ruler, lover of justice,
you have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Extol the Lord our God.
Worship at the Lord's footstool!
Holy is the Lord!
6 Moses and Aaron were among God's priests,
Samuel also was among those who called on God's name.
They cried to the Lord, who answered them,
7 who spoke to them in the pillar of cloud.
They kept God's testimonies,
and the statutes God gave them.
8 O Lord, our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrong doings.
9 Extol the Lord our God,
and worship at his holy mountain.
Surely the Lord our God is holy!
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
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
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “He Is Exalted”
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high;
I will praise him.
He is exalted, forever exalted
and I will praise his name!
He is the Lord, forever his truth shall reign;
heaven and earth rejoice in his holy name.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high;
I will praise him.
He is exalted, forever exalted
and I will praise his name!
He is the Lord, forever his truth shall reign;
heaven and earth rejoice in his holy name.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
He is exalted, the King is exalted on high.
Benediction
