PRELUDE For the Beauty of the Earth
Conrad Kocher / Marilynn Ham
CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 99)
Praise God above all, the giver of life!
The mountains may tremble, the oceans may roar,
but God’s presence is more powerful than the earth itself.
Come into God’s presence, for God is among us now.
O God, show us your glory; we seek your ways.
Come to the Rock, the God of life,
for God is present now.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Holy, Holy, Holy God, we give you thank and praise,
that you have strengthened us for the work of faith,
the labor of love, and the steadfastness of hope.
We are thankful!
That you have made us imitators of your saints and disciples,
We are thankful!
That through our example others would be encouraged and helped,
We are thankful!
That through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,
we are given new life of peace and joy,
We are thankful!
ANTHEM We’re Marching to Zion
Robert Lowry / Bill Wolaver
MOMENT OF STEWARDSHIP
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Your, Word, O God, brings grace and peace.
Let your holy Spirit open our minds to your words,
for we know your holy Word heals and reconciles your people.
THE EPISTLE 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
The Word of God for the People of God!
Thanks be to God
SERMON Love’s Labor
SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
PASTORAL PRAYER
We always give thanks to you, O God, for the Church.
Empower us for works of faith and labors of love.
Give to us steadfast hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Inspire us by the Holy Spirit.
We pray for Trinity and the church universal.
(Silent prayer)
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Holy One, May our community know and experience your presence.
May we be good stewards of all you have created.
May we be gracious with all people.
We pray for the people in the places we live, work, play, and study.
(Silent Prayer)
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Great Lord, May all people know justice.
Guide us to hear the voices of the weak and the wronged.
Cover the sick and the sorrowful with your healing hand.
We pray for our country and all peoples of the world.
(Silent prayer)
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
In this prayerful silence, we lift to you our joys and our needs.
In this prayerful silence, we listen to your voice.
(Silent Prayer)
Lord in your mercy, Hear our 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 trespasses as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
HYMN (Non-Singing!) Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty
Words: Reginald Heber / Music: John B. Dykes
Holy, holy, holy! Lord, God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons blessed Trinity
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God Almighty
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy Merciful and mighty
God in three persons blessed Trinity
*BENEDICTION
Go from this place with the confidence that you are God’s beloved children.
We go, to labor in love with all we meet.
Go out into the world with steadfast hope and good works of faith.
We go, remembering our faithful God, who goes before us.
In God’s love, the Spirit’s power, and the peace of Christ, go now in peace