Sunday, September 19th, 2021
LORD, you are the hope of Israel;
all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust… ~ Jeremiah 17:13
PRELUDE
Rebecca Nelson, Organ/Piano
WELCOME FROM THE PULPIT
CALL TO WORSHIP
Nedy Tovera (Liturgist, 11:00am)
L: Come, let us celebrate the wondrous gifts that God has given us.
P: Throughout all our lives, God has blessed us with love and hope.
L: Praise be to God who provides for us.
P: May our hearts be truly grateful, and may we show our gratitude by the ways in which we live and care for others.
L: Hallelujah!
P: AMEN.
HYMN
Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness TFWS 2120
Refrain:
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness calling and free;
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, Wind, Wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters, you called to the deep, then you coaxed up the mountains from valleys of sleep; and over the eons you called to each thing: wake from slumbers and rise on your wings. Refrain
You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand, and you goaded your people with a law and a land; and when they were blinded with their idols and lies, then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. Refrain
You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill, then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still; and down in the city you called once again, when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind. Refrain
You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes, from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams, our women see visions, our men clear their eyes, with bold new decisions your people arise. Refrain
CHILDREN’S TIME (11:00)
PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER
Our God 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 trepasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever…Amen.
PRAYER RESPONSE
HEBREW SCRIPTURE
Nehemiah 8:13–18 ~ Nedy Tovera (Liturgist, 11:00am)
On the second day the heads of ancestral houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to the scribe Ezra in order to study the words of the law. And they found it written in the law, which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the people of Israel should live in booths during the festival of the seventh month,and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem as follows, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”So the people went out and brought them, and made booths for themselves, each on the roofs of their houses, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them; for from the days of Jeshua son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing.And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the festival seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
HYMN
Colorful Creator Ruth Duck, 1992
GOSPEL READING
John 8:2-11 ~ Nedy Tovera (liturgist, 11:00am)
Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.”
L: This is the word of the Lord.
P: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
“Mistakes Were Made” ~ Pastor Mark Cordes
WORSHIP WITH TITHES & OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY
Rebecca Nelson, Organ/Piano
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow UMH #94
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise God, all creatures here below:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
HYMN
The Summons TFWS #2130
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
Will you love the “you” you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name!
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
Rebecca Nelson, Organ/Piano
FLOWERS
The flowers on the altar are given by Ken and Gayle Riley in honor of their 35th wedding anniversary on September 20th.
Pastor Mark’s Playlist for this week can be found at Rogue Saint Stockton on Spotify.