The Celebration of Christian Worship

Celebrating 175 Years of Faith & Hope

July 6, 2008                               Eighth Sunday after Pentecost                                    10:00 a.m.

Prayer of the Day

You are great, O God, and greatly to be praised.  You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.  Grant that we may believe in you, call upon you, know you, and serve you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

  Prelude – “Amazing Grace”                                                                           David M Cherwin

  Announcements

OUR APPROCH TO GOD

  Passing of the Peace 

  Votum

  Sentences – Psalm 145 – Green #27

*Hymn #231 – “Jesus Shall Reign”

  Salutation

  Summary of the Law

  Prayer of Confession

Sometimes behind our smiles, there is resentment.  Occasionally our behavior may meet the expectations of others, but we know we have not acted joyously.  Regularly, we do good things, but we have done them for suspect reasons.  We know our secret lusts, our concealed angers, and our hidden self-absorptions.  Our actions may fool the world, but they do not fool you.  Before you, our hearts are an open book.  Accordingly, dear God, we know it is not enough to ask for your help in doing good things.  We need you to refashion our inner-most beings.  Help us to love more authentically, so that the good things we do may not be what hides our souls but reveals them.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

  Words of Assurance

*Gloria Patri

THE WORD OF GOD

  Prayer for Illumination

  Scripture Lessons:      Romans 7:15-25a

                                    Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

            Leader:             This is the Word of the Lord.

            People:            Thanks be to God.

  Children’s Minute

      The children are invited to come forward for the children's message.  After the message, children can go to the basement of Cook Hall.

*Hymn #202 – “Amazing Grace”

  Sermon – Carry that Weight

  Prayer for Blessing on the Word

OUR RESPONSE TO THE WORD

*The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.  He descended into hell.  The third day he rose again from the dead.  He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.  From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

  Offering  

  Offortory - Two American Folk Hymns                                                                 Alice Jorden

*The Doxology: (Hymn #556):                          Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

                        Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

  Prayer of Dedication

You have said that you love a cheerful giver, O God, and we know how much more satisfying it is when our gifts are given freely and joyfully, rather than out of a sense of obligation.  Put such gladness in our hearts that whenever we stand before your altar with our gifts, we may appear with smiles on our faces.  Receive these gifts and bless them, so that our joy may translate into the care and joy of your people.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

  Sacrament of Holy Communion                                                                           See Pew Card

  Family Prayers & Lord’s Prayer        

*Hymn #175 (Green) – “I Believe in God Almighty”

*Benediction & #572 – “America, the Beautiful”

*Postlude – “Pisgah”                                                                                                  Dale Wood