The Church on the Hill
June 23, 2013 11:00 A.M.
* All who are able, please stand.
Reminder: Jesus won’t call you on your cell phone, please turn it off. Thanks.
PRELUDE: Sheep May Safely Graze and Pasture J. S. Bach
Prelude on 'Mercy' Gordon Young
WELCOME
* CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The God of creation makes us one in body!
People: Let us join hearts and voices in praise of the Lord!
Leader: The God of Christ makes us one in the Spirit!
People: Let us join hearts and voices in praise of the Lord!
* HYMN No. 77 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Across the barriers that divide race from race: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross. Across the barriers that divide rich from poor: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross. Across the barriers that divide people of different cultures: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross. Across the barriers that divide Christians: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross. Across the barriers that divide men and women, young and old: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross. Confront us, O Christ, with the hidden prejudices and fears that deny and betray our prayers. Enable us to see the causes of strife, remove from us all senses of superiority. Teach us to grow in unity with all God’s children. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SALUTATION
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
* Gloria Patri (pew card)
ANTHEM: Lord, keep Us Closer to You Don Besig
In the quiet of this moment, here in this holy place, help us feel Your presence, Lord; help us know Your grace. Renew each spirit, heal every soul. Come and touch us with Your love and make us whole.
In this fellowship together, friendship and love have grown. Keep us ever faithful, Lord; claim us as Your own. Grant us Your mercy, calm every fear. There is peace within our hearts when You are near. Lord, as we turn to You, humbly we pray. Help us to trust in You; show us Your way. O, Lord, in all we say and do, keep us, our whole life through, closer to You.
In the troubled world around us, help us to share Your light. Walk along beside us, Lord; keep us in Your sight. Guide every footstep; help us be true. Draw us closer every day. Give us strength to live in faith and follow You.
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: Rejoice in the Lord Alway Henry Purcell
The Chamber Choir
Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice! Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your reques be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord.
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer response Louis Lewandowski
How good it is to thank the Lord, to praise Thy name, O Thou Most High; to tell Thy kindness through the day, Thy faithfulness when night draws nigh. With joyous psalms and with the harp, will I Thy marvels gladly sing; Thy works have made my heart rejoice; I triumph in Thy work, my King!
* HYMN No. 517 The Solid Rock
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Philippians 1:3-11 Pew Bible, pg. 953
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God’s grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 4:1-9 Page 955
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
THE SERMON Whatever is Good... Rev. Justin J. Meyers
WORSHIP OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Offering
Offertory: God and God Alone arr. Tom Fettke
God and God alone created all these things we call our own, from the mighty to the small, the glory in them all is God's and God's alone.
God and God alone reveals the truth of all we call unknown. And all the best and worst of man won't change the Master's plan it's God's and God's alone.
God, our sovereign God and God alone is fit to take the universe's throne. Let everything that lives reserve its truest praise for God and God alone.
God and God alone will be the joy of our eternal home. He will be our one desire. Our hearts will never tire of God and God alone.
God and God alone is fit to take the universe's throne. Let everything that lives reserve its truest praise for God and God alone.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
* Apostles’ Creed (pew card)
SERVICE OF FAREWELL AND GODSPEED
FOR PASTOR AND CONGREGATION
Pastor: I thank you, my sisters and brothers, for the love, kindness, and support shown me these past six years. I am grateful for the ministry we have shared together. With joy I recall what we accomplished with God’s help, and with sadness those dreams not fulfilled. I ask your forgiveness for mistakes made and expectations not met.
People: We offer our forgiveness and celebrate all that God has accomplished among us. We are grateful for your ministry and for your influence on our lives. We ask your forgiveness for mistakes made and for expectations not met.
Pastor: I receive your gratitude and forgive your shortcomings. And I release you from the vows and promises made at my installation.
People: We release you from your promises to us, and we offer you our blessing as you leave to minister elsewhere.
* HYMN No. 519 It Is Well with My Soul
* BENEDICTION
Response Tom Fettke
May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, and inhabit the throne of your being; and whatever you do, and whatever you say, do it all in the name of Jesus, do it all in the name of the Lord. Giving thanks, unending thanks; giving thanks to God through Christ, the Lord. Giving thanks unmeasured thanks, giving thanks to the Living Word.
POSTLUDE: Hymn to Joy arr. Gordon Young
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OUR ROSES are given by the the Consistory in appreciation of Justin, Stephanie, Gavin and Collin Meyers.
A SPECIAL COFFEE HOUR is hosted by the Consistory and WCC to bid farewell to the Meyers family. Please join us in the celebration.
OUR APPRECIATION FOR TODAY’S VOLUNTEERS:
Van Drivers: Royce Gothelf (AM), Buck Kellaway (PM)
Greeters: Joan Dwyer, Angela Edward
Ushers: Sally Ann Castle, Marilyn Cooney, Carol Stark, Dorothea Zelnick;
Head Usher, Jerry Good
Childcare: Silvania Markantonis
PRAYER REQUESTS: Ruth Bailey, Letty Delgado, Ed Diercks, Dombrowski Family, Edythe Durney, Sandeep Edward, Alfred Gessner, Lisa Gessner, Robert Keller, Ann Martin, John Molino, Gloria Scrivano, Janice Serra, Mary Wainwright.