Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost inOrdinary Time
November 13, 2022 | 10:00am
Rev. Alexander Arthurs, Pastor | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself. | C.S. Lewis
GATHERING
Prelude: Voluntary IV | James
Welcome
Call to Worship
Votum
Our Help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
The Lord be with you.
And also with you!
Surely God is our salvation;
we will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is our strength and our might;
God has become our salvation.
Sing praises to the Lord, for God has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: Today We All are Called to Be Disciples
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Majestic Creator,
we fail to believe we carry your image
and we fail to behave as those who belong to you.
Mighty Savior,
we turn from your path of sacrificial love
and we turn toward our personal preferences.
Merciful Spirit,
we forget your call to righteousness
and we forget our need of you.
In our sinfulness, triune God,
we seek now your forgiveness,
praying that you will relieve the burden of our regrets
by the power of your patient love.
leads.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
God is creating new heavens and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered.
They shall not even cross God’s mind.
Be glad and rejoice forever
in what God is creating: newness of life.
In Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God
and to one another.
Alleluia!
The Law of God: Philippians 2:1-4
*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
Anthem It is Well with My Soul | arr. Fettke
Children’s Message
Prayer for Illumination
Father,
may your word be our rule,
your Spirit our teacher,
and the glory of Jesus our single concern.
Amen.
First Reading: Malachi 4:1-2a
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: My Lord! What a Morning
Second Reading: Isaiah 65:17-25
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: “New Creation” | Pastor Alex
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith
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: Sing a New Song to the Lord | Wilson
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 Lord’s Prayer)
Trusting in the power of God to deliver us, let us make our prayers of intercession for all, saying: God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . . Let us not be idle or grow weary, but strengthen us, by your Spirit, as we seek to do the work of the Lord. God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . . Let the waters roar and clap their hands, and let the hills sing together for joy at the coming of your new creation. God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . . Let us live as on your holy mountain, where the wolf and lamb feed together and none will hurt or destroy. God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . . Surround them with your steadfast love. Guard them as the apple of your eye Help them to trust in you and not be afraid. (names read) God our Savior, hear our prayer.
Merciful and mighty God, as you are one, make us one with you through Jesus Christ, whom you have sent to redeem us, and in whose holy name we pray
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: Lead On, O King Eternal
Benediction
Postlude: Rejoice, the Lord is King | Darwell/Page
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, November 13 - Eggs
Sunday, November 20 - Gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, November 27 - Eggs
We are changing our Online Giving System to a more efficient and church-friendly platform. If you would like to continue giving online or would like to set up online payments, please click the “Give Now” button below to set up your online gifts. If you have any questions or need help setting up payments, please contact the church office. We are so grateful for your flexibility as we make this change. Your generosity drives our mission forward!
• Email: office@peapackreformed.org • phone: (908) 234-2733 •
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