September 15 2019 Welcome to OPC Cambridge Chimes

September 15, 2019 Welcome to OPC

Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude “Holy, Holy” ~arr. Hopson Lighting of the candles

SCRIPTURE READING: Jonah 3

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you. ’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across.

Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything.

They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind;

he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish. ’ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

*CALL TO WORSHIP L: Friends, when the lost are found, P: There is joy! L: When hope overcomes despair, P: There is love!

L: When we seek and find God’s faithfulness, P: There is peace! L: In the spirit of love, joy and peace, let us worship God. P: Let us worship God with all our heart and soul!

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 1 Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might; Thy justice like mountains high soaring above

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 2 Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 3 To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small; In all life Thou livest, the true life of all; We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 3 Then wither and perish; but naught changeth Thee.

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 4 Thou reignest in glory, Thou rulest in light, Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight; All praise we would render; O help us to see

*HYMN #263 “Immortal, Invisible God…” v. 4 ‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 15: 1 -10

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. ’ So he told them this parable:

‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninetynine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors,

saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost. ” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance. ‘Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them,

does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost. ” Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner who repents. ’

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Merciful God, your joy reflects a love so broad that it embraces all people. It is a love that despairs when people, for whatever reason,

lose their way in life and feel lost and rejected. Forgive us when we contribute to that despair by not seeking out and saving the lost, when we hold on to judgmental attitudes and

neglect people we believe do not measure up to our standards; when we falter in our commitment to support those in our society weakened by poverty and illness;

and when we fail to welcome or reach out to the stranger. Forgive us for not loving unconditionally as you did, and as we are called to do.

Silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: The mercy and grace of God overflows in Jesus Christ, “who came into this world to save sinners, ” and so we rejoice that in Jesus Christ we are found, forgiven, and loved.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON P: Thanks be to God for mercy and grace!

SPECIAL MUSIC REBECKA RESCH

Time with Young Christians

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Timothy 1: 12 -17

I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy,

so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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

“More” Rev. Tedd Pullano

“grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus”

15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. ”

Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be Let that goodness like a fetter Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it Prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it Seal it for Thy courts above

*HYMN #223 “O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer” v. 1 O my soul, bless your Redeemer; All within me bless God’s name; Bless the Savior, and forget not All God’s mercies to proclaim;

*HYMN #223 “O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer” v. 2 God forgives all your transgressions; All diseases gently heals; God redeems you from destruction, And with you so kindly deals.

*HYMN #223 “O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer” v. 3 Far as east from west is distant, God has put away our sin; Like the pity of a father Has the Lord’s compassion been.

*HYMN #223 “O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer” v. 4 As it was without beginning, So it lasts without an end; To their children’s children ever Shall God’s righteousness extend:

*HYMN #223 “O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer” v. 5 Unto such as keep God’s covenant And are steadfast in God’s way; Unto those who still remember The commandments and obey.

*HYMN #223 “O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer” v. 6 Bless your Maker, all you creatures, Ever under God’s control, All throughout God’s vast dominion; Bless the Lord of all, my soul!

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Amazing Grace”

*DOXOLOGY #542, v. 4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Gracious and loving God, we thank you for these gifts and ask that they be used to help the needy in our community and throughout the world.

As we offer you these gifts, we offer ourselves as well, that together we might transform the world with your grace and love. Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN #280 “Amazing Grace” v. 1 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

*HYMN #280 “Amazing Grace” v. 2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!

*HYMN #280 “Amazing Grace” v. 3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

*HYMN #280 “Amazing Grace” v. 4 The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.

*HYMN #280 “Amazing Grace” v. 5 When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.

BENEDICTION

Postlude “Nachtspiel” ~Bruckner