ORDER OF WORSHIP

Gathering and Centering Ourselves for Worship

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude

Affirmation - Eugene Butler

The Bells of Peace

Call to Worship 

One:

In the beginning, before time, before people, before the world began,

Many:

God was.

One:

Here and now, among us, beside us, clearer than air, closer than breathing,

Many:

God is.

One:

In all that is to come, when we have turned to dust,

and human knowledge has been completed,

Many:

God will be.

One:

Not despairing the earth, but delighting in it, not condemning the world,

but redeeming it through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit,

Many:

God was, God is, God will be.

One:

This is the day the Lord has made,

Many:

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hymn of Praise

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

UNSER HERRSCHER

The Prayer of Confession

in unison

O God, gladly we live and move and have our being in You. Yet always in the midst of this creation-glory, we see sin’s shadow and are consumed by fear and darkness: around us in the earth, sea and sky, the abuse of matter; beside us in the broken, the hungry and the poor, the betrayal of one another; and often, deep within us, a striving against Your Spirit.

O Trinity of love, forgive us that we may forgive one another, heal us that we may be people of healing, and renew us that we also may be makers of peace, joy, laughter, and love. 

The Assurance of Forgiveness

One:

Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel

Many:

In Christ we are all forgiven.

Assurance Response

God Is Here Today

DIOS ESTÁ AQUÍ

Affirmation of Community | Passing of the Peace

Proclaiming the Word

A Reading from the Old Testament

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28

The Word of the Lord - Thanks be to God.

Sue Smith Memorial Acknowledgment

Annehara Tatschl, Bells of Peace

Musical Offering

Litany - Euguene Butler

The Bells of Peace

A Time for All God's Children

A Reading from the Gospels

Luke 15:1-10

The Word of the Lord - Thanks be to God.

Sermon

"Soul Searching"

Rev. Julianna Whitson

Hymn

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

ST. COLUMBA

Our Response to the Word

The Invitation to Discipleship and Life in the Church

The Church at Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

The Sharing of Joys and Concerns - Lord, hear our prayer.

Anthem

Spared - Howard Goodall

text by Wendy Cope

The Southminster Choir

It wasn't you, it wasn't me, up there, two thousand feet above a New York street. We're safe and free, a little while, to live and love, imagining what might have been: the phone-call from the blazing tow'r, a last farewell on the machine, while someone sleeps another hour, or worse, perhaps, to say goodbye and listen to each other's pain, send helpless love across the sky, knowing we'll never meet again, or jump together, hand in hand, to certain death. Spared all of this for now, how well I understand that love is all there is.

The Lord’s Prayer

(in 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.

The Presentation & Dedication of Our Gifts

Offertory

St. Columba - arr. Daniel Q. Kane



Offertory Response

I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

I'M GONNA LIVE

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

(in unison)

Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness You have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions.

Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love; through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, Amen.      

Going Forth into the World to Live the Gospel

Sending Hymn

O God, Our Creator, Your Work Every Day

ST. DENIO

Benediction & Response

We Are the Church

PORT JERVIS

Postlude

Fughetta on "Unser Herrscher" - David Cherwein

The flowers for today’s worship service are given by Mitch and Susan Fiser to the Glory of God in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary.

The rose on the communion table celebrates the birth of

Oliver Thomas Robinett, born September 3, 2022 to proud parents

Charlie and Kathryn Robinett and grandparents Bill and Judy Robinett.

Tom McKee, liturgist

Bryan Johnson & Rick Newkirk, audio/visual

The Bells of Peace

Bob Baker, Jacob Burgoon, Cherryl Cox, Ginny Cuppage,

Kärin Forsburg, Stephanie Henry, Amy Knudsen, Linda Milligan,

Hugh Smith, Annehara Tatschl, Katie Thompson, Jenny Troutman, and Marilyn Lake, director

SOUTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF

Rev. Karen Wright, Associate Pastor

Joshua G. Hearn, Director of Music Ministry

Denise Dillon-Gruber, Office Manager

God Is Here Today | Text & Tune: Raúl Galeano, © 1999 Choristers Guild. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726989. All rights reserved.

I'm Gonna Live So God Can Use Me | Tune: arr. Wendell P. Whalum, Tune arr. © 1984 Estate of Wendell P. Whalum. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726989. All rights reserved.

O God, Our Creator, Your Work Every Day | Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, © Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Reprinted with permission by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.

We Are the Church | Text & Tune: Avery & Marsh, © 1972 Hope Publishing Co. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726989. All rights reserved.