Bulletin for September 11, 2011. Click below to read more.

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WORSHIP SEPTEMBER 11, 2011
24th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME / COMMUNION

THE GATHERING Joe Ballay
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

THE PRELUDE Sonatina in E-flat Major (Cantata #106) J.S. Bach
Walter Huff, organist

THE INTROIT Psalm 31 (O Lord, You Are My God) arr. Hal Hopson
Men’s Ensemble

* THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever,
People: with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
Leader: I declare that your steadfast love is established forever,
People: your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
Leader: Let us worship the Lord our God, who creates, redeems and sustains us.
- Psalm 89:1-2

* THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN 262 God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand

THE CALL TO CONFESSION

THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of love, you made us for love. You reached to us from across the abyss of our
sin to make known to us the depth of your love for us. And yet, despite these profuse
declarations, we live as though you did not love us. We live as though we were not
created for love. We sin, and our hearts are not right within us. Forgive us, we pray;
turn our hearts and change us into the loving disciples you call us to be. We pray this
in the name of love incarnate, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE (for examination of conscience and personal prayers of confession)

THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: What has come into being in Christ was life, and the life was the light of all people.
People: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Leader: Believe the promise of the Gospel:
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. - John 1:3b-5

*THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (Hymn 210)
Before the hills in order stood, or earth received its frame, from everlasting Thou art
God, to endless years the same.

* THE PEACE OF CHRIST
(Children ages 3-11 are invited to leave after the Peace of Christ for special classes. Three through five-yearolds in Room 011; K-1st grade in Room 001; 2nd-3rd grade in Room 003; 4th-5th are in worship.)

THE CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH
(Visitors and members are invited to sign the blue friendship register pad and pass it down the pew.)

THE FIRST LESSON Matthew 2:13-23 (page 2 in the pew Bible, NT)

THE ANTHEM Agnus Dei (from Requiem) Gabriel Fauré
(sung in Latin)
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, give them rest. Let eternal light shine upon them,
together with thy saints. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

THE SECOND LESSON Revelation 12:1-6 (page 237 in the pew Bible, NT)

THE SERMON “When the Dragons Win” Baron Mullis

* THE HYMN Be Still, My Soul (see insert-verses 1 and 3)

THE OFFERTORY Psalm 23 (from Chichester Psalms) Leonard Bernstein
(sung in Hebrew)
Eric Sturniolo, boy soprano
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies, Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

* THE DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Hymn 592)

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts!
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give thanks and praise.
Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy (Chancel Choir) Merbecke, arr. Willan
Communion of the People (The communion bread is gluten free.)
Sarabande (Suite #1 in G Major) J.S. Bach
Charae Krueger, cellist
Prayer after the Meal
Response In Every Age Janet Whitaker
Tami Giusto and Linda Rozakis-soloists

* THE HYMN 564 O Beautiful for Spacious Skies

* THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* THE CHORAL RESPONSE The Canticle of the Turning Rory Cooney
Tami Giusto, Eric Sturniolo, and Brandon Odom-soloists
My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great; my spirit sings of the wondrous
things that you bring to the ones who wait. You fixed your sight on your servant's plight, my weakness you
did not spurn. So from east to west shall your name be blessed. Could the world be about to turn?
Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me, and your mercy will last from the depths
of the past to the end of the age to be. Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for
you yearn, you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.
Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast: God's mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror's crushing grasp. This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us
bound, 'til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around. My heart shall sing of
the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn. Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.