July 30 2017 Welcome to OPC Chimes Welcome

July 30, 2017 Welcome to OPC

Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP L: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. P: Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

L: Glory in his name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. P: Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

L: Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, P: you his servants, the descendants of Abraham, his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

L: He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. P: He remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations,

L: the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. P: He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:

L: “To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit. ” P: Let us praise and worship our God!

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 1 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 1 What more can be said than to you God hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 2 “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 2 I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand. ”

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 3 “When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 3 For I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. ”

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 4 “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, allsufficient, shall by thy supply;

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 4 The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine. ”

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 5 “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not desert to its foes;

*Hymn # 361 “How Firm a Foundation” v. 5 That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never forsake. ”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION ALL: God who is both Mother and Father to us, forgive us for missing what you need us to see in this world.

Forgive us for not acting on what we see. And forgive us for closing our eyes. Help us to remember that through you, we can do all things

and create again the harmony you once showed us in Eden. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Silence is observed for individual prayer and reflection).

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: In the name of the Infinite Divine who is the source of all Light and Love, we are all forgiven. P: Thanks be to God.

Time With Young Christians “It’s Really Tiny”

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 8: 26 -36

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit,

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be

conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?

Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered. ’

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 13: 31 -32 (read responsively)

L: The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed; When it is sown in the earth, it is the smallest seed. P: It is like the kingdom of God and a mystery.

L: For when it is sown, it grows into the largest plant, greater than all of the herbs, and grows into a tree. P: It is like the kingdom of God and a mystery.

L: It grows so birds can rest inside its crown of leaves, deep in its shadows, away from any evil prey. P: It is like the kingdom of God and a mystery.

L: And so we can liken it to seeds which make a tree larger than all of the trees from just the smallest seed. P: It is like the kingdom of God and a mystery.

L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Mustard isn’t the Only Thing” Rev. Darla Bair

*Hymn # 414 “As Those of Old their Firstfruits…” v. 1 As those of old their firstfruits brought of vineyard, flock and field To God, the giver of all good, The source of bounteous yield,

*Hymn # 414 “As Those of Old their Firstfruits…” v. 1 So we today our firstfruits bring, The wealth of this good land: Of farm and market, shop and home, Of mind and heart and hand.

*Hymn # 414 “As Those of Old their Firstfruits…” v. 2 A world in need now summons us To labor, love, and give, To make our life an offering To God that all may live.

*Hymn # 414 “As Those of Old their Firstfruits…” v. 2 The church of Christ is calling us To make the dream come true; A world redeemed by Christ-like love, All life in Christ made new.

*Hymn # 414 “As Those of Old their Firstfruits…” v. 3 With gratitude and humble trust We bring our best to You, Not just to serve Your cause, But share Your love with neighbors too.

*Hymn # 414 “As Those of Old their Firstfruits…” v. 3 O God who gave Yourself to us In Jesus Christ Your Son, Help us to give ourselves each day Until life’s work is done.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD OFFERTORY INVITATION Offertory

DOXOLOGY #592 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) To You, O Creator, we offer our daily lives, our comings and goings, our monetary gifts, our talents. Help this money be like the mustard seed and to grow into something

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) bigger than we can imagine. With all that is Holy, we say, Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE PASTORAL PRAYER

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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil,

for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn # 2284 “Joy in the Morning” v. 1 There’ll be joy in the morning on that day,

*Hymn # 2284 “Joy in the Morning” v. 1 For the daylight will dawn when the darkness is gone, There’ll be joy in the morning on that day.

*Hymn # 2284 “Joy in the Morning” v. 2 There’ll be peace and contentment evermore,

*Hymn # 2284 “Joy in the Morning” v. 2 Every heart, every voice on that day will rejoice, There’ll be peace and contentment evermore.

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*Hymn # 2284 “Joy in the Morning” v. 3 There’ll be love and forgiveness everywhere,

*Hymn # 2284 “Joy in the Morning” v. 3 And the way of the Lord will that day be restored, There’ll be love and forgiveness everywhere.

Postlude