Worship Guide
July 31, 2022
Eighth Sunday After Pentecost
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “How Great is Our God” Donna
Centering Words:
To be secure in earthly treasure, but not rich toward God, is to be poor indeed.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good.
People: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Make your petitions heard, for God saves us in times of trouble.
People: Christ’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: God satisfies our hunger with good things, and quenches our thirst with living water.
People: The Spirit’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Let us worship as we pray.
ALL: Eternal God, as people raised with Christ, teach us to seek the things that are above, where Christ abides in glory. Even as our true lives remain hidden in you with Christ, grant us a glimpse of our true selves, made pure and whole in your love. Renew your Spirit within us, and make us fit to bear the glory of your image. Amen.
Hymn: “Seek Ye First”
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia
Ask and it shall be given unto you
seek and ye shall find
knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, allleluia
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
We, who have been raised with Christ, are heirs of his glory.
When we store up treasures in heaven, we are rich in God’s blessings, and sealed in the embrace of God’s love.
Glory to God. Amen.
*New Testament Reading: Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Leader: This is the Word of God, for the People of God
People: Thanks be to God!
WORD AND RESPONSE
Special Music: “Psalm 13” Stefanie
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “God Speaks to Me”
Hymn: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
no turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
The world behind me, the cross before me,
no turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
Though none go with me, still I will follow,
no turning back, no turning back.
Sermon: “Cords of Kindness” Hosea 11:1-11
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more I called them,
the more they went from me;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals,
and offering incense to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them up in my arms;
but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with bands of love.
I was to them like those
who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them.
5 They shall return to the land of Egypt,
and Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword rages in their cities,
it consumes their oracle-priests,
and devours because of their schemes.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me.
To the Most High they call,
but he does not raise them up at all.
8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my fierce anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and no mortal,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
10 They shall go after the Lord,
who roars like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling from the west.
11 They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
and like doves from the land of Assyria;
and I will return them to their homes, says the Lord.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “God Will Take Care of You”
Be not dismayed what e'er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path asail,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breats,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
Psalter: Psalm 107:1-9,43
1 O give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose steadfast love endures for ever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom the Lord has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in the desert wastes, finding no way to a city in which to dwell;
5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.
6 Then in their trouble, they cried to the Lord, who delivered them from their distress,
7 and led them by a straight way, till they reached a city in which to dwell.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.
9 For the Lord satisfies those who are thirsty, and fills the hungry with good things.
43 Whoever is wise, give heed to these things; consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Special Music: “We Shall Behold Him” Mike
Prayers of the People Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Special Music:
Hymn: “Love Lifted Me”
I was sinking deep in sin,
far from the peaceful shore,
very deeply stained within,
sinking to rise no more,
but the Master of the sea,
heard my despairing cry,
from the waters lifted me,
now safe am I.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Souls in danger look above,
Jesus completely saves;
he will lift you by his love,
out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea,
billows his will obey,
he your Savior wants to be,
be saved today.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!
Benediction
