Worship Guide - Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost

Worship Guide

October 30, 2022

Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost

Fifth Sunday

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: “Before I Knew Jesus” Stefanie

 

Centering Words:

 

Stand at your watchpost and wait for the Lord. A vision has been promised at the appointed time. It speaks of the end and does not lie. Stand at your watchpost and wait.

 

*Call to Worship:

 

Leader:   When we need to climb a tree to look for help, Christ proclaims,

People:  “I am coming to your house today.”

Leader:   When we feel lost and have nowhere to turn, Christ assures us,

People:  “I am coming to your house today.”

Leader:   Christ is coming. Christ is with us even now. Worship the Lord with joy and praise as we pray.

 

ALL: Righteous One, hear our cries in the bitter watches of the night. We come before you with zeal in our hearts, ready to stand at our watchposts, ready to receive the vision you promise your people. We come seeking justice for the weak, hope for the downtrodden, and healing for the afflicted. In times of trial, we yearn to see your face, and behold the glory of our salvation. Be the vision we need, that we may find the courage to persevere, that salvation may come to our homes this day, through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Hymn: Rescue the Perishing”

 

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;

Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,

Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

 

Though they are slighting Him,

still He is waiting,

Waiting the penitent child to receive;

Plead with them earnestly,

plead with them gently;

He will forgive if they only believe.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

 

Down in the human heart,

crushed by the tempter,

Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;

Touched by a loving heart,

wakened by kindness,

Chords that were broken

will vibrate once more.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

 

Rescue the perishing, duty demands it;

Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide;

Back to the narrow way patiently win them;

Tell the poor wand’rer a Savior has died.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

 

PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD

 

Words of Assurance

 

When all hope seemed lost, Christ came to save the weak and the outcast.

When justice lagged and righteousness ebbed, Christ came to save the hopeless and despondent.

Today, salvation has come to this house of worship, for in Christ, we are renewed and made whole, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All thanks be to God. Amen.

 

Special Music: “Worthy is the Lamb of God” Mike

 

*Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4

 

1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

2  O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,

          and you will not listen?

   Or cry to you “Violence!”

          and you will not save?

3  Why do you make me see wrongdoing

          and look at trouble?

   Destruction and violence are before me;

          strife and contention arise.

4  So the law becomes slack

          and justice never prevails.

 

   The wicked surround the righteous—

          therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

2:1 I will stand at my watchpost,

          and station myself on the rampart;

   I will keep watch to see what he will say to me,

          and what he will answer concerning my complaint.

2  Then the Lord answered me and said:

          Write the vision;

   make it plain on tablets,

          so that a runner may read it.

3  For there is still a vision for the appointed time;

          it speaks of the end, and does not lie.

   If it seems to tarry, wait for it;

          it will surely come, it will not delay.

4  Look at the proud!

          Their spirit is not right in them,

   but the righteous live by their faith.

 

Leader:   This is the Word of God, for the People of God

People:  Thanks be to God!

 

WORD AND RESPONSE

 

Special Music: “Redeemed” Charles

 

Time with Young Friends:  “Jesus Loves Me”

 

Children’s Message: “Zacchaeus”

 

Special Music: “There is a Redeemer” Donna

 

Sermon: “Man Out on a Limb” Luke 19:1-10

 

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

 

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

 

Hymn: “Great Is the Lord”

 

Great is the Lord, he is holy and just;

by the power we trust in his love.

Great is the Lord, he is faithful and true;

by his mercy he proves he is love.

 

Great is the Lord and worthy of glory!

Great is the lord and worthy of praise.

Great is the Lord; now lift up your voice,

now lift up your voice:

Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

 

Great is the Lord, he is holy and just;

by the power we trust in his love.

Great is the Lord, he is faithful and true;

by his mercy he proves he is love.

 

Great is the Lord and worthy of glory!

Great is the lord and worthy of praise.

Great is the Lord; now lift up your voice,

now lift up your voice:

 

Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

Great are you, Lord, and worthy of glory!

Great are you, Lord, and worthy of praise

Great are you, Lord; I lift up my voice,

I lift up my voice:

Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!

 

Prayers of the People:  Joys and concerns

Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer   

 

Special Music: “Rescue” Meagan

 

SENDING FORTH

 

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