You can view or download the full weekly bulletin below.
WELCOME
Announcements
Prelude - Pastorale, Ovid Young (1940-2014)
Call to Worship - based on Psalm 19
In the heavens, the Lord has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them;
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the celestial sphere proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be
Pleasing unto you, O Lord, Our Rock and Our Redeemer.
+ Hymn 401 - Here In this Place (Gather Us In)
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
O Lord our God, you call us to proclaim the gospel, but we remain silent in the presence of evil. You call us to be reconciled to you and one another, but we are content to live in separation. You call us to seek the good of all, but we fail to resist the powers of oppression. You call us to fight pretensions and injustice, but we sit idly by, endangering the lives of people far and near. Forgive us, O Lord. Reconcile us to you by the power of your Spirit, and give us the courage and strength to be reconciled to others; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior. Hear now our silent prayers of confession…
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581 Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen, amen.
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Testify to us, O God, by the voice of your Spirit. Put your law in our hearts, write your word in our minds, and show your will in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Proverbs 1:20-33 (OT pg. 584)
Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
when panic strikes you like a storm,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
would have none of my counsel,
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.
For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
ANTHEM - There Is a Balm in Gilead, arr. Wächter, Chancel Choir, Loren Tice, piano
Text in hymnal No. 792
Scripture Reading - James 3.1-12 (NT pg. 230)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue-a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Sermon - Wise Words - Rev. Matt Falco
**Statement of Faith - from a portion of the Confession of 1967 (9.20)
God the Holy Spirit fulfills the work of reconciliation in humanity. The Holy Spirit creates and renews the church as the community in which persons are reconciled to God and to one another. God enables them to receive forgiveness as they forgive one another and to enjoy the peace of God as they make peace among themselves. In spite of their sin, God gives them power to become representatives of Jesus Christ and his gospel of reconciliation to all humanity.
+ HYMN 722 - Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer (Debts/Debtors)
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 693 - Though I May Speak
Charge and Benediction
Benediction Response - 372 - O for a World (vs. 1 and 4)
O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways, where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.
O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace, where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.
Postlude - Toccata in G Major, William Hieronymous Pachelbel (1685-1764), son of the more well known, Johann Pachelbel
Announcements
Prelude - Pastorale, Ovid Young (1940-2014)
Call to Worship - based on Psalm 19
In the heavens, the Lord has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them;
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the celestial sphere proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;
Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be
Pleasing unto you, O Lord, Our Rock and Our Redeemer.
+ Hymn 401 - Here In this Place (Gather Us In)
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession
O Lord our God, you call us to proclaim the gospel, but we remain silent in the presence of evil. You call us to be reconciled to you and one another, but we are content to live in separation. You call us to seek the good of all, but we fail to resist the powers of oppression. You call us to fight pretensions and injustice, but we sit idly by, endangering the lives of people far and near. Forgive us, O Lord. Reconcile us to you by the power of your Spirit, and give us the courage and strength to be reconciled to others; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior. Hear now our silent prayers of confession…
• Assurance of Pardon
• Response to Forgiveness: Hymn 581 Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen, amen.
Passing of the Peace
Children’s Message
Prayer for Openness
Testify to us, O God, by the voice of your Spirit. Put your law in our hearts, write your word in our minds, and show your will in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Proverbs 1:20-33 (OT pg. 584)
Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused,
have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
and because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when panic strikes you,
when panic strikes you like a storm,
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
would have none of my counsel,
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way
and be sated with their own devices.
For waywardness kills the simple,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but those who listen to me will be secure
and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
ANTHEM - There Is a Balm in Gilead, arr. Wächter, Chancel Choir, Loren Tice, piano
Text in hymnal No. 792
Scripture Reading - James 3.1-12 (NT pg. 230)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue-a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Sermon - Wise Words - Rev. Matt Falco
**Statement of Faith - from a portion of the Confession of 1967 (9.20)
God the Holy Spirit fulfills the work of reconciliation in humanity. The Holy Spirit creates and renews the church as the community in which persons are reconciled to God and to one another. God enables them to receive forgiveness as they forgive one another and to enjoy the peace of God as they make peace among themselves. In spite of their sin, God gives them power to become representatives of Jesus Christ and his gospel of reconciliation to all humanity.
+ HYMN 722 - Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer (Debts/Debtors)
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory
• Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
• Prayer of Dedication
+ HYMN 693 - Though I May Speak
Charge and Benediction
Benediction Response - 372 - O for a World (vs. 1 and 4)
O for a world where everyone respects each other’s ways, where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.
O for a world preparing for God’s glorious reign of peace, where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.
Postlude - Toccata in G Major, William Hieronymous Pachelbel (1685-1764), son of the more well known, Johann Pachelbel