BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH January 28, 2024 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

PRELUDE Debbie Harris
GATHERING WORDS:
Leader: This is the day the Lord has made
People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Leader: May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
People: And also with you
OPENING SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

* CALL TO WORSHIP:
Leader: Come away from the valleys of misplaced loyalty. Come, seeking to meet the God of all worlds.
People: We have come to praise God and give thanks. We believe God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: We come together that our faith might be strengthened. We seek the strength to live by all we profess.
People: God’s awesome deeds saved our ancestors. Surely God’s steadfast love continues with us.
Leader: God continues to deliver us in times of confusion. God’s steadfast love endures forever.
People: We rejoice that God is near and available to us. We hear God welcoming us to this time of worship.

*OPENING PRAYER
*OPENING HYMN: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name #132

Be Seated

CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
You invite us to your feast, O God, and we do not come. You beg us to give thanks for life, and we fail in our thanksgiving. (moment of silent confession). Forgive us for what we have done and for abandoning the pathway you desire for us. Be our guide and conscience. Turn our feet and hands to your will, that all we do might give glory to you. In the grace of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: Hear and believe the good news of the Gospel
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.

GLORIA PATRI #546
PSALM READING: Psalm 78:1-8
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

Stand and wave hello to those around you as the children go back to their seats.
PASTORAL PRAYER
SCRIPTURE READING
Old Testament Lesson: Exodus 32:1-6
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord
All: Thanks be to God
Take a minute to think about what this scripture says to you.
SERMON The Wedding Banquet


THANK YOU TO OUTGOING ELDERS - Lorne Cook
Patty Templeton


ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF ELDERS - Sonya Cook
Ronnie Bass

*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
*DOXOLOGY #544
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION God of compassion and generous love, we give your thanks for the riches of Earth, which sustain our lives and which you have created for our joy. We thank you for Jesus, whose life, death, resurrection and ascension renews our strength and revives our hope. We give you thanks for the Holy Spirit, who comes among us, invites us to dine with each other and with you, and keeps us in faith. Bless these gifts for the sake of those in need and the work of your church. In peace, we pray our thanksgiving. Amen.


*CLOSING HYMN: O Jesus I Have Promised #307

*CHARGE
Leader: And now, go out to serve the God who is alive and well and active in this world.
People: We go to live a life of faithfulness and service, the life to which we are called.


BENEDICTION

*CHORAL BENEDICTION: Take My Life V1 #310