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Join us for a worship service focused on being people of generous and abundant gifts for others. We will listen to God's words of life, hope, and peace, and sing hymns of praise.
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September 2, 2018 Welcome to OPC
Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell
Prelude“Grand Jeu” ~Guilain Lighting of the candles
*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Sisters and brothers, every generous act of giving is a tribute to God’s love for us. P: Lord, help us be people of generous and abundant gifts for others.
L: We must be ready to listen and slow to react in anger. P: Lord, that is a difficult challenge, so please prepare us to be peaceful people.
L: Keep your hearts and spirits ready to serve the Lord. P: Today we open our hearts to hear and respond to God’s words of life, hope, and peace.
*HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues…” v.1 O for a thousand tongues to singmy great Redeemer’s praise,The glories of my God and King,the triumphs of God’s grace!
*HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues…” v.2 Jesus, the name that charms our fears,that bids our sorrows cease;‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,‘Tis life, and health, and peace.
*HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues…” v.3 Christ breaks the power of reigning sinand sets the prisoner free;Christ’s blood can make the sinful clean,Christ’s blood availed for me.
*HYMN #466“O For a Thousand Tongues…” v.4 My gracious Master and my God,Assist me to proclaim,To spread through all the earth abroadthe honors of Thy name.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION(unison) God of justice and righteousness for everyone, you call us to live faithful lives, to turn from wickedness, to walk in your ways. Yet it is so easy to turn aside:
to speak a thoughtless word, to ignore those in need, to strike out in anger, to forget your ways. Forgive us. Write your word in and on our hearts, and cleanse us from all evil.
By the power of your love, renew our minds and our souls that we might faithfully serve you by loving everyone we meet. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Forgiveness and love have been poured out upon you. You are blessed, and called to enjoy God’s good news of mercy. P: Alleluia! Thanks be to God, Amen.
PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Deuteronomy 4:1-2,6-9
So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nortake away anythingfrom it,
but keep the commandments of the Lord your god with which I am charging you. You must observe them diligently, for his will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, willsay, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!’
For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today? But take care and watchyourselves closely,
so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.
SCRIPTURE READING: James 1:17-27
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father or lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we wouldbecome a kind offirst fruits of hiscreatures.
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, andwelcome with meekness the
implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves, and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, theirreligion isworthless.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!
“Doers” Rev. TeddPullano
*HYMN #418“God Bless Your Church…” v.1 God, bless your church with strength! Wherever we may be, Upbuild Your servants as we work in common ministry.
*HYMN #418“God Bless Your Church…” v.1 Urge us from fledgling faith to venture and to soarThrough open skies, to sing the praise of Christ whom we adore.
*HYMN #418“God Bless Your Church…” v.2 God, bless Your church with life! May all our branches thrive,Unblemished, wholesome, bearing fruit, abundantly alive.
*HYMN #418“God Bless Your Church…” v.2 From You, one holy vine, in freedom may we grow;Sustain us in our mission, Lord, Your love and peace to show.
*HYMN #418“God Bless Your Church…” v.3 God, bless your church with hope! Despite chaotic days,May we in chaos shine to light a pathway through life’s maze.
*HYMN #418“God Bless Your Church…” v.3 May justice be our aim, and kindness ours to share,In humbleness O may we walk, assured our God is there!
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Nocturne” ~Mendelssohn
*DOXOLOGY #594 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) God of light and beauty, every gift is from you, even our ability and desire to give. This day we offer you what we have and what we are.
Use our gifts to create a world of peace and hope where none are in need and where all draw close to you. Amen.
RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE SACRAMENT OF THELORD’S SUPPER All who trust in Jesus Christas Lord and Savior areinvited to participate inthe Sacrament of theLord’s Table. With parentalpermission, baptized children are welcometo partake in the Sacrament as well.
*INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE • L: Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I invite you to come to the joyful feast of the Lord. This Table is about love, unconditional love, which laid down its life for us.
*HYMN #516“Lord, We Have Come” v.1 Lord, we have come at Your own invitation,Chosen by You, to be counted Your friends;Yours is the strength that sustains dedication,Ours a commitment we know never ends.
*THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING L: May the god of Generosity be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts. P: We offer them to the One who fills us with compassion for all.
L: Holy God, we are deeply grateful that you created each of us and love each of us. We are grateful for your call to be doers of your Word. Unfortunately, over the ages, we haven’t always accepted that call; too often we haven’t shared your generous, life-giving love. But younever stopped calling us orloving us --
you called us through your prophets and teachers, and your love delivered us from sin. Since the beginning you loved everyone. So with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: • P: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of love and hope,
heaven and earth are full of your glory and compassion. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. • L: We are also grateful that yousent your son, Jesus the Christ.He truly was a doer of the Wordwhen he revealed the depth of
your love, loving saints and sinners. For all he did for all your people, we are deeply thankful. • P: Praise to you, Lord Jesus: By dying, you destroyed sin and death; by rising, you offer us resurrection life. LordJesus, come again.
L: God of giving and hope, let your Holy Spirit move over us and over these earthly gifts of bread and wine. By our sharing of them may we experience the mystery of true communion of the body and blood of Christ, and may we become one in him.
The Lord’s Prayer (unison) Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.