You can view or download the full weekly bulletin below.
WELCOME
Greeting & Announcements
Prelude - Grand Jeu, Jean Adam Guilain (1680-1739)
Call to Worship
Whether we are sure of God’s work in the world
or still waiting for a sign,
let us worship the Lord,
encouraging one another in hope.
Whether we are confident
in what the future will bring
or carry more questions than answers,
let us worship the Lord,
strengthening one another in faith.
+ Hymn 837 - What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession - Stewardship Poem, Unknown, Adapted for Worship
I am more and more convinced, every day, that the world is spinning faster; do you feel it? There are a million and one things that pull on my attention, that distract and discourage; so in the fast moving blur of it all, my gut tells me I am missing something. I hear my Creator gently whispering to me, reminding me to breathe, inviting me to remember who I am.
So on Sundays, I reorient myself. I pull prayers from my pockets and give them to God, because my fear is less when it is out in the light of day. I pull money from my pockets and give it to God because cynicism cannot grow when it is met with hopeful action. I pull the uncertainties from my pockets and give them to God because misgivings met with love cannot stay where they started.
And bit by bit, I move to holy ground. The world is spinning slower now.
This ritual of giving reorients me, in an off-kilter world, it helps me see. I give and am returned to the center of me, to the center of God, to a place that is free. Thanks be to God for the reorienting. Thanks be to God, again, on repeat.
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
Open us, Holy One, to your Word and your Way. Clear our minds of daily distractions. Fill our hearts with the humility we need to hear and sreceive the message you intend for us today. Amen.
Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 4.7-11, NT pg. 234
The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
ANTHEM - Do Not I Love Thee?, Dwight Gustafson, Chancel Choir
Scripture Reading - Mark 13:1-8, NT pg. 50
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
SERMON - “Maintain A Constant Love” Rev. Matt Falco
Statement of Faith - From the Barmen Declaration
As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures.
We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords—areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body [is] joined and knit together.” (Eph. 4:15–16.)
+ HYMN 711 - Lord of All Good
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer (Debts/Debtors)
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - They’ll Know We are Christians by our Love, arr. Peter Scholtes
• 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
One: Creator of all, the earth is yours, the world and all who live in it.
All: You have entrusted us with gifts—time, talent, energy, money—
and asked us to use them to build your kingdom.
With thanks and praise we respond to your call.
One: We bring these gifts you have given, returning your generosity, paying it forward.
All: We offer ourselves, our lives, our hopes and fears, our dollars and our hours.
We commit ourselves to work for your world, to love and serve wherever you call.
One: We ask your blessing on this, your church,
as we seek to follow you with heart, mind, and soul.
All: Bless also these gifts, our investment in your future,
that they may multiply in faith, hope, and love. Amen.
+ HYMN 352 - My Lord, What a Morning
Charge and Benediction
Benediction Response - 372 - O for a World vs. 1 and 5
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 - Fanfare, Douglas E. Wagner (b. 1952)
Greeting & Announcements
Prelude - Grand Jeu, Jean Adam Guilain (1680-1739)
Call to Worship
Whether we are sure of God’s work in the world
or still waiting for a sign,
let us worship the Lord,
encouraging one another in hope.
Whether we are confident
in what the future will bring
or carry more questions than answers,
let us worship the Lord,
strengthening one another in faith.
+ Hymn 837 - What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine
+ Call to Confession
+ A Prayer of Confession - Stewardship Poem, Unknown, Adapted for Worship
I am more and more convinced, every day, that the world is spinning faster; do you feel it? There are a million and one things that pull on my attention, that distract and discourage; so in the fast moving blur of it all, my gut tells me I am missing something. I hear my Creator gently whispering to me, reminding me to breathe, inviting me to remember who I am.
So on Sundays, I reorient myself. I pull prayers from my pockets and give them to God, because my fear is less when it is out in the light of day. I pull money from my pockets and give it to God because cynicism cannot grow when it is met with hopeful action. I pull the uncertainties from my pockets and give them to God because misgivings met with love cannot stay where they started.
And bit by bit, I move to holy ground. The world is spinning slower now.
This ritual of giving reorients me, in an off-kilter world, it helps me see. I give and am returned to the center of me, to the center of God, to a place that is free. Thanks be to God for the reorienting. Thanks be to God, again, on repeat.
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
Open us, Holy One, to your Word and your Way. Clear our minds of daily distractions. Fill our hearts with the humility we need to hear and sreceive the message you intend for us today. Amen.
Scripture Reading - 1 Peter 4.7-11, NT pg. 234
The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
This is the written testimony to the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God
ANTHEM - Do Not I Love Thee?, Dwight Gustafson, Chancel Choir
Scripture Reading - Mark 13:1-8, NT pg. 50
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
SERMON - “Maintain A Constant Love” Rev. Matt Falco
Statement of Faith - From the Barmen Declaration
As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures.
We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords—areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body [is] joined and knit together.” (Eph. 4:15–16.)
+ HYMN 711 - Lord of All Good
Prayers of the People & The Lord’s Prayer (Debts/Debtors)
Offering
• INVITATION
• Offertory - They’ll Know We are Christians by our Love, arr. Peter Scholtes
• 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
One: Creator of all, the earth is yours, the world and all who live in it.
All: You have entrusted us with gifts—time, talent, energy, money—
and asked us to use them to build your kingdom.
With thanks and praise we respond to your call.
One: We bring these gifts you have given, returning your generosity, paying it forward.
All: We offer ourselves, our lives, our hopes and fears, our dollars and our hours.
We commit ourselves to work for your world, to love and serve wherever you call.
One: We ask your blessing on this, your church,
as we seek to follow you with heart, mind, and soul.
All: Bless also these gifts, our investment in your future,
that they may multiply in faith, hope, and love. Amen.
+ HYMN 352 - My Lord, What a Morning
Charge and Benediction
Benediction Response - 372 - O for a World vs. 1 and 5
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 - Fanfare, Douglas E. Wagner (b. 1952)