Bulletin for Sunday, 9/24/23



The Service for the Lord’s Day
17th Sunday after Pentecost
September 24, 2023


*When people are prompted to stand, those for whom standing is difficult may remain seated.

Pastor: Rev. Rebecca Gillespie


Guest Preacher: Judy Wilson


Director of Youth & Families Grant Hartsell

Church Admin: Tara Melton-Miller

Organist: Mary Warner

Music Director: Shannon Spier

Sexton: Rick Will

Liturgist: Derek Reavis

Nursery: Alisha Ross


Order of Worship

During the Prelude, silence or turn off cell phones and other electronic devices and enter a period of silent meditation. You may view our 10:00 a.m. service live via the web at Facebook Live or fvpc.sermon.net.

Prelude
That’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Hayes

Minute for Mission — Stewardship Season

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship (Standing*)
Leader: O give thanks to the Lord! The Lord hears the cries of the people.
All: Give thanks to the Lord.
Leader: The works of the Lord are great. Remember what God has done.
All: Give thanks to the Lord.
Leader: God has done miracles, and the Lord always remembers God’s covenant.
All: Give thanks to the Lord. Glory and praise is due to the Lord!

Peace (Standing*/Unison)
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
All:  And also with you.
The people may exchange with one another signs of peace and reconciliation.

Hymn

Call to Confession
Holy siblings, trusting God’s mercy, let us confess our sins before God and one another.

Prayer of Confession (Unison)
Gracious God, we have sought after things, but we have not sought after you. We have expected generosity, but we have not shown generosity. We have not been gracious or grateful. We forget all you have done. Forgive us and fill our hearts with gratitude. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
The steadfast love of God never ends. We are forgiven and free.

All: Thanks be to God!

Gloria Patri
Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me, and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me, and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

Affirmation of Faith


The Confession of 1967 (excerpt)(Standing*/Unison)
In Jesus Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself. Jesus Christ is God with humankind. He is the eternal Son of the Father, who became human and lived among us to fulfill the work of reconciliation. He is present in the church by the power of the Holy Spirit to continue and complete his mission. This work of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the foundation o fall confessional statements about God, humanity, and the world. Therefore, the church calls all people to be reconciled to God and to one another. To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as God’s reconciling community. This community, the church universal, is entrusted with God’s message of reconciliation and shares God’s labor of healing the enmities which separate people from God and from each other. Christ has called the church to this mission and given it the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now to him who by the power within us is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Conversation with Young Disciples
As the children come forward, please join the choir in singing “Jesus Loves Me.” (Hymn #652)

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory
Christ, Be Our Light
Kim

Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known:  Creator, Word, and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Prayer of Dedication (Standing*/Unison)
God of salvation, we know it is time to turn away from selfishness. In response to your generosity, we offer now, our time, our talents, and our resources to be used for your good purposes and all for love’s sake. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Special Music

Sharing of Joys and Concerns/Prayers of the People/Lord’s Prayer

Proclamation of the Word

First Reading
Exodus 16:2-15
Pg. 55
Second Reading
Matthew 20:1-16
Pg. 801

The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon
Judy Wilson

Hymn
Days of Elijah
Pg. 289

Charge and Benediction

Postlude
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Forrest

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 and ever.
Amen