Worship Guide
October 29, 2023
Twenty-Second 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 & Stefanie
Centering Words:
Answer your greatest call: to love God with all that you are; and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Do this and God will prosper the work of your hands.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: God has been our dwelling place in all generations.
People: Before the mountains were brought forth,
Leader: before the earth and sky were formed,
People: God was from everlasting to everlasting.
Leader: We come to worship this day,
People: that God may gather us in.
Leader: We will be close to God’s heart
People: and we will dwell in God’s grace.
Leader: We will love God fully,
People: and we will love one another well.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: God of Life, your memory is longer than time; your love longer still. Your giving nature amazes us. You have given us yourself. You have given us your work. You only ask for love in return, for you and for the world. You put your ministry into our hands, trusting us to be your hands. Bless the work of our hands and the ministries of our hearts, O God, as we seek to do your will. Amen.
Hymn: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and, armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our strength confide,
our striving would be losing;
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabbaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure,
one little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let good and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
his kingdom is forever.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
When we lose our way; when we are confused and confounded, God waits with compassion, to turn us back to love, to grace, to God’s own face.
Even before we ask for mercy, God has already forgiven us. God sweeps away our mistakes and misdeeds and calls us home.
Thank you Lord. Amen
Special Music: “Amazing Grace” Meagan
*Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 34:1-12
1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the Negeb, and the Plain—that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees—as far as Zoar. 4 The Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” 5 Then Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, at the Lord’s command. 6 He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. 8 The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.
9 Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the Lord had commanded Moses.
10 Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. 11 He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, 12 and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
Special Music: “How Can You Not” Stefanie
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “10 Commandments Test”
Hymn: “More Like You”
More like you, Jesus, more like you.
Fill my heart with your desire
to make me more like You
More like you, Jesus, more like you.
Touch my lips with holy fire
and make me more like you.
Lord you are my mercy.
Lord you are my grace.
All my deepest sins
have forever been erased.
Draw me in your presence.
Lead me in your ways.
I long to bring you glory
in righteousness and praise.
More like you, Jesus, more like you.
Fill my heart with your desire
to make me more like you
More like you, Jesus, more like you.
Touch my lips with holy fire
and make me more like you.
Touch my lips with holy fire
and make me more like you.
Special Music: “The Old Rugged Cross” Meagan
Sermon: “Face to Face” Matthew 22:34-46
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?
45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Special Music: “The Lord’s Prayer” Charles & Stefanie
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus”
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
ye soldiers of the cross;
lift high his royal banner,
it must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry,
his army shall he lead,
till every foe is vanquished,
and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the trumpet call obey;
forth to the mighty conflict,
in this his glorious day.
Ye that are brave now serve him
against unnumbered foes;
let courage rise with danger,
and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
stand in his strength alone;
the arm of flesh will fail you,
ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the gospel armor,
each piece put on with prayer;
where duty calls or danger,
be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
the strife will not be long;
this day the noise of battle,
the next the victor’s song.
To those who vanquish evil,
a crown of life shall be;
they with the King of Glory
shall reign eternally.
Benediction
