Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 25, 2024 | 10:00am
Elder Linwood Bagby, Guest Preacher| Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: “In the end what matters is not how good we are but how good God is. Not how much we love Him but how much He loves us. And God loves us whoever we are, whatever we’ve done or failed to do, whatever we believe or can’t.” | Archbishop Desmond Tutu
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude Minuet 3 | Bach
Call to Worship
Votum
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving!
How good it is to sing praises to our God.
For God is gracious, healing the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.
God’s understanding is beyond measure. Praise the Lord!
Opening Sentences
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O God, most gracious host.
My soul longs, indeed it faints,
for the household of God.
Even the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest
at your table of grace, O homemaking God.
Our hearts and our flesh sing for joy
to you, the living God.
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Emanuel, God with us, you desire for us to abide in you as you abide in us.
But we are restless and turn back from following you
because the way of wisdom,
the way of sacrifice,
the way of gratitude,
the way of interdependence
is more difficult than we expected.
May we proclaim with Peter,
“You have the words of eternal life,” and with the psalmist,
“A day in your house is better than a thousand elsewhere.”
May we linger with you at table rather than driving through to other destinations,
finally present with you, with each other, and with our own spirits.
This we pray through the gracious invitation
of the one who set the table for us,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Friend. Amen.
*Hymn of Praise Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!
Call to Confession
God our Creator knows us each by name and knows our hearts.
Let us confess our sins before our God, who desires to save us and set us free.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God,
it’s tempting to give up and give in,
to hide from the injustices of the world,
to protect ourselves and our own,
to turn off the evening news full of bad news.
Forgive our sins of escape, of ignoring,
of turning our backs on those in need.
Forgive our sins of apathy when you call us to action.
Renew us, Holy God, by your grace.
Strengthen us to follow Christ’s call.
Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting.
Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
The Law of God:
*Gloria Patri | #579
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Prayer for Illumination
Faithful God, how blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Sanctify us by your Word and Spirit so that we may glorify you in the company of the faithful; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Listen to the word of the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:6
First Reading: Matthew 7:7-12
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.
*Hymn: Wonderful Words of Life
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. Listen to the word of the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:6
Second Reading: Psalm 120
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God..
Sermon: “Journey To Worship” | Elder Bagby
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering Hunter’s Choice | Weber
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen!
Prayer of Dedication
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with the Lord’s Prayer)
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
*Hymn Fight the Good Fight
Benediction
Congregational Response
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. The cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring. Love drowned in death, shall never die.
Christ is alive, and comes to bring, Good news to this and every age,
Till earth and sky and ocean ring. With joy, with justice, love and praise.
Postlude Joy Eternal |Parker
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Mark your calendars now to pick up these important items
and bring to church by the dates listed:
Sunday, August 18 - eggs
Sunday, August 25 - gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, September 1 - eggs
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED