March 3 2019 Welcome to OPC Cambridge Chimes
March 3, 2019 Welcome to OPC
Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell
Prelude “Basse et Dessus de Trompette” ~Clerambault Lighting of the candles
*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Friends, we gather as the faithful of God; we come to hear what God has to say to us. P: God has invited us to this place: may our faces reflect God’s hopes and God’s heart.
L: We are the faithful of God, people of the new covenant of hope and of promise. P: We boldly enter into the awesome presence of God, hoping to be transformed into new people.
L: We are the faithful of God, our fears and worries melting away in the heart of God. P: We come to share in God’s Spirit; we come to praise God’s holy name.
*HYMN #73 “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory” v. 1 Swiftly pass the clouds of glory, Heaven’s voice, the dazzling light; Moses and Elijah vanish; Christ alone commands the height!
*HYMN #73 “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory” v. 1 Peter, James, and John fall silent, Turning from the summit’s rise Downward toward the shadowed valley where their Lord has fixed His eyes.
*HYMN #73 “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory” v. 2 Glimpsed and gone the revelation, they shall gain and keep its truth, Not by building on the mountain any shrine or sacred booth,
*HYMN #73 “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory” v. 2 But by following the Savior through the valley to the cross And by testing faith’s resilience through betrayal, pain, and loss.
*HYMN #73 “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory” v. 3 Lord, transfigure our perception with the purest light that shines, And recast our life’s intentions to the shape of Your designs,
*HYMN #73 “Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory” v. 3 Till we seek no other glory than what lies past Calvary’s hill And our living and our dying and our rising by Your will.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) God of compassion, in Jesus we can find your transforming, healing light; yet, instead, we choose to walk in darkness.
Knowing there is work to do in the world, your work, we would rather stay on the mountaintop and hide. We speak when we should listen; we wait when we should act.
Empower us to live in your light and to walk in your ways for the sake of him who is the light of the world, Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: God the Creator offers you new life; God forgives and redeems you. Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life in the light of Jesus. P: Thanks be to God! Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM “Here at this Table” ~Price/Besig
PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 34: 29 -35
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining,
and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses,
that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 9: 28 -43
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.
They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighted down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him,
Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’– not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.
Just then a mean from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they would not. ’
Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here. ’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
And all were astounded at the greatness of God. L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!
“Thin Places” Rev. Tedd Pullano
*HYMN #462 “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” v. 1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies, Christ, the true, the only light, Sun of Righteousness, arise, Triumph o’er the shades of night;
*HYMN #462 “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” v. 1 Dayspring from on high, be near; Daystar, in my heart appear.
*HYMN #462 “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” v. 2 Dark and cheerless is the morn unaccompanied by Thee; Joyless is the day’s return till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
*HYMN #462 “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” v. 2 Till they inward light impart, Cheer my eyes and warm my heart.
*HYMN #462 “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” v. 3 Visit then this soul of mine; Pierce the gloom of sin and grief; Fill me, radiancy divine; scatter all my unbelief;
*HYMN #462 “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” v. 3 More and more Thyself display, shining to the perfect day.
OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Let Us Break Bread Together” ~Zabel
*DOXOLOGY #542, v. 4 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.
*Prayer of Dedication (unison) In the name and in the spirit of Jesus, we bring these gifts to you, O God. We give them with a ready mind, a willing spirit, and a joyous heart.
We offer you these humble reminders of your goodness and mercy. Receive them with our gratitude, that through us all people may know the riches of your glorious presence in their lives. Amen.
RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE PASTORAL PRAYER
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER All who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are invited to participate in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Table. With parental permission, baptized children are welcome to partake in the Sacrament as well.
*INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE L: This is the feast of the people of God. P: People will come from mountaintops and valleys, and from poor countries and wealthy countries, and sit at the table in the household of God.
*HYMN #516 “Lord, We Have Come” v. 1 Lord, we have come at Your own invitation, Chosen by You, to be counted Your friends;
*HYMN #516 “Lord, We Have Come” v. 1 Yours is the strength that sustains dedication, Ours a commitment we know never ends.
*THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING L: May the God of Moses, Peter, Elijah, Deborah, and Mary be with you. P: And also with you. L: Lift up your hearts! P: We lift them up to the Lord! L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
P: It is right to give God thanks and praise. L: It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, Loving God, for into this troubled world you break forth with the Light of Love. Though we choose to embrace the call of the dark, you come to us with your powerful light and presence. When the Israelites,
the early church and us forget the way of following your Beloved, you never give up on us; instead you send prophets, unexpected angels, and in due time your own Son, Jesus. In sending Jesus the Christ, the obedient one, you revealed to all how your Light works. It works by honoring you. Jesus, your light, honored you by preaching, teaching, restoring, and
redeeming. He brought the Light of Love everywhere he went. For that we are deeply thankful. But not everyone liked it. So they forced him to make a great sacrifice for us. So, here in this holy time of celebration, here at the sacred but solemn feast prepared for us, we would speak of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died for us; Christ rose for us; Christ will come again in glory for us. L: God of love, let your Holy Spirit move in power and love over us and over these earthly gifts of bread and wine. By our sharing of them, may we experience the pain of Jesus’ sacrifice and the power of his love.
By the mystery of the true communion of the body and blood of Christ, may we be strengthened to follow and carry his light to all.
The Lord’s Prayer (unison) 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 and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
*WORDS OF INSTITUTION L: On the night he was arrested, while they were eating, Jesus reached over, took some bread, gave thanks to God. Then he broke it, and gave it to his disciples and told them “Take this and eat it. This is my body, given for you. Do this remembering me and my example. ”
*WORDS OF INSTITUTION In the same way he took the cup from the table, and said, “This cup I have here is the new covenant, new hope, which will be sealed in my blood, which I will shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins. Whenever you drink it, remember me. ”
*WORDS OF INSTITUTION Jesus tells us boldly: “I am the bread of life. If any of you come to me, you won’t be hungry; if any of you believe in me, you will never be thirsty. ” Friends, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the saving death of the risen Lord until he comes –
*WORDS OF INSTITUTION and you experience the grace of God.
SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP Distribution of the Bread (bread is gluten free) (to symbolize our common experience of God’s grace, please retain the bread until all have been served).
SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP Distribution of the Cup (to symbolize our individual experience of God’s grace, please drink the cup as it is served).
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (Unison) God of Light, of mercy and forgiveness, accept our thanks this morning. Your Son sacrificed his life so that we could be made right with you. For that we are truly eternally grateful.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (Unison) Empower us this day to carry his love and light to our needy world. Thanks be to God, Amen.
BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 1 Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heaven to earth come down, Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, all Thy faithful mercies crown!
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 1 Jesus, Thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, enter every longing heart.
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 2 Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast! Let us all in Thee inherit, let us find the promised rest;
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 2 Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 3 Come, Almighty to deliver, let us all Thy life receive; Suddenly return, and never, nevermore Thy temples leave.
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 3 Thee we would be always blessing, serve Thee as Thy hosts above; Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing, glory in Thy perfect love.
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 4 Finish, then, Thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be; Let us see Thy great salvation perfectly restored in Thee;
*HYMN #376 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” v. 4 Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place, Till we case our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise.
*BENEDICTION
Postlude “Concerto No. 2 in G” ~J. S. Bach
- Slides: 74