PRELUDE Nathalie Wang, organist
SALUTATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
* PASSING OF THE PEACE
* SANCTUS (pew card)
* CALL TO WORSHIP Patrick Mahowald
How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Blessed are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
* HYMN No. 304 Come Down, O Love Divine
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, you pardon all who truly repent and turn to you. We humbly confess our sins and ask your mercy. We have not loved you with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness, or walked humbly with you, our God. Have mercy on us, O God, in your loving-kindness. In your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin. Restore to us the joy of your salvation and sustain us with your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
* KYRIE (pew card)
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
* SUMMARY OF THE LAW
Herein is wisdom.
Glory be to God.
* GLORIA PATRI (pew card)
JUNIOR SERMON
ANTHEM: Requiem Eliza Gilkyson
Blessed Jesus, full of grace, awaken. All our homes are gone, our loved ones taken. Taken by the sea - Blessed Jesus, calm our fears, have mercy. Drowning in a sea of tears, have mercy. Hear our mournful plea. Our world has been shaken, we wander our homelands, forsaken.
In the dark night of the soul, bring some comfort to us all - Oh, blessed Jesus, come and carry us in your embrace; that our sorrows may be faced.
Jesus, fill the glass to overflowing. Illuminate the path where we are going. Have mercy on us all. In funeral fires burning, each flame to your mystery, returning.
In the dark night of the soul, your shattered dreamers, make them whole - Oh, blessed Jesus, help us to behold your gentle face, lead us to a higher place.
In the dark night of the soul, our broken hearts you can make whole - Oh, blessed Jesus, come and carry us in your embrace; let us see your gentle face, Jesus.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord’s Prayer (pew card)
Prayer Response Lead Me Lord Samuel Wesley
* HYMN No. 523 Trust and Obey
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Joel 2:23-32 p. 741
2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 p. 968
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON Restoring our Faith Rev. Blaine Crawford
* CONFESSION OF FAITH: Belgic Confession, Article 1
We all believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths that there is a single and simple spiritual being, whom we call God—eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, unchangeable, infinite, almighty; completely wise, just, and good, and the overflowing source of all good.
OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS
Offertory Anthem: Lord, It Belongs Not to My Care Carl Schalk
Lord, it belongs not to my care whether I die or live; to love and serve thee is my share, and this thy grace must give. If life be long, O make me glad the longer to obey; if short, no laborer is sad to end his toilsome day. Christ leads me through no darker rooms than he went through before; he that unto God's kingdom comes must enter by this door. Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet thy blessed face to see: for if thy work on earth be sweet, what will thy glory be! Then I shall end my sad complaints and weary sinful days, and join with the triumphant saints that sing my Savior's praise. My knowledge of that life is small, the eye of faith is dim; but 'tis enough that Christ knows all, and I shall be with him.
* The Doxology (pew card)
* Prayer of Dedication
* HYMN No. 692 Faith of Our Fathers
* BENEDICTION
Response May the Light of God Don Besig
May the peace of God be with us today. May the peace of God be with us today. May it guide us and protect us, as we go our separate ways, May the peace of God be with us, May the love of God live in us, May the light of God shine on us today, and everyday!
POSTLUDE
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Announcements
Today, a special offering will be taken for victims of Hurricane Matthew. The RCA is partnering with World Renew Disaster Response Services and World Vision to serve people in Haiti, Cuba, and Florida. Make checks payable to COTH.
THE FLOWERS are given by Reeta and Ted Dombrowski to celebrate their 17th Wedding Anniversary.
We thank Nathalie Wang for serving as our organist today. Nathalie studied organ at the Royal Academy of Music in London at the Juilliard School of Music. She has performed in recitals in Shanghai, London, Denmark and New York.
BIBLE STUDY Tuesday evenings, 7:30 P.M., Folensbee Lounge