BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH August 25, 2024 21st 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: Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come now and know the presence of the Lord of Hosts!
People: We once pleaded for God to send us a savior to lead us into life.
Leader: And God heard our plea and sent the Christ to be our salvation.
People: From the humblest of beginnings the Lord lifted up our savior.
Leader: For the world would not hear the words of the prophets of old.
People: Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

*OPENING PRAYER
*OPENING HYMN: O God Our Help In Ages Past #111 (Red)

Be Seated

CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION O Lord, even though we know you were born in humble circumstances and your life and teachings proclaimed the importance of using all that we are and have to serve you and others, we have instead sought to focus on our own wisdom to better our own lives and situations. (moment of silent confession) Forgive us, Lord, and restore our spirits, that we might once again be your faithful servants. We pray in the name of the one who was born for us, your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen



ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: Hear and believe the good news of the gospel People: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!

GLORIA PATRI #546
PSALM READING: Psalm 15
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
PASTORAL PRAYER with LORD’S PRAYER SCRIPTURE READING Epistle Lesson: Revelation 11:15-17
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:34-40
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 Prophet Micah

*PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS *DOXOLOGY #544 *PRAYER OF DEDICATION You deliver us, O God, from exile, separation and despair into communion with each other, with you and with your good news. We thank you for all that draws us close together, astounding us with lives transformed by gratitude. Accept our gifts as signs of our gratitude for what you give us every day and as honor to your presence in our world. Amen.

*APOSTLE’S CREED

*CLOSING HYMN: Dear Lord and Father of Mankind #416 (Red)

*CHARGE
Leader: Blessed are you when you open your hearts to Jesus.
People: We go forth as the poor in spirit, the meek and the humble, the merciful and the pure.
Leader: Go forth hungering and thirsting for righteousness.
People: We are blessed by God!

BENEDICTION

*Choral Benediction: My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less V1 #368 (Red)