Service for the Lord's Day

ORDER OF WORSHIP



Gathering and Centering Ourselves for Worship

Welcome



Prelude

Be Still, My Soul - arr. Chuck Marohnic



Call to Worship

One:

Our lives, O God, feel disturbed and discouraged

by the signs of death which surround us. 

Many:

But the Spirit of God will bring connection and continuity to our lives.

One:

The Spirit of God breathes hope into each one of us.

Many:

The Spirit of God challenges us to be people of faith.

One:

Open our hearts, Lord, and bring us to your light.



Many:

Open to us the life you offer, Lord,

and break us free from doubt and fear.

Hymn

Be Still, My Soul

FINLANDIA

The Prayer of Confession

in unison

Lord, you placed us in the world to be its salt. We were afraid of committing ourselves, afraid of being stained by the world. We did not want to hear what ‘they’ might say and our salt dissolved as if in water. Forgive us, Lord Jesus.

Lord, you placed us in the world to be its light. We were afraid of the shadows and the dark places where sorrow, pain, and oppression take place. We did not want to know ‘difficult’ people, and our light slowly faded away. Forgive us, Lord Jesus.

Lord, you placed us in the world to live in community. Thus you taught us to love, to share in life, to struggle for bread and for justice, your truth incarnate in our lives.

The Assurance of Forgiveness



One:

Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel.

Many:

In Christ, we are all forgiven.

Passing of the Peace

Announcements

Minute for Mission

Judy Robinett

Proclaiming the Word

A Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures

Exekiel 37:1-14

The Word of the Lord - Thanks be to God.

Anthem

My Song Is Love Unknown - arr. Donald Busarow

My song is love unknown, my Savior's love to me, love to the loveless shown, that they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake the Lord should take frail flesh and die? He came from his blest throne salvation to bestow, but such disdain! So few the longed-for Christ would know! But oh, my friend, my friend indeed, who at my need his life did spend! Sometimes they crowd his way and his sweet praises sing, resounding all the day hosannas to their King. Then “Crucify!” is all their breath, and for his death they thirst and cry. Why? What has my Lord done? What makes this rage and spite? He made the lame to run, he gave the blind their sight. Sweet injuries! Yet they at these themselves displease and 'gainst him rise. Here might I stay and sing; no story so divine, never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine. This is my friend, in whose sweet praise I all my days could gladly spend!

A Time for All God's Children

A Reading from the Gospels

John 11:1-45

The Word of the Lord - Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Take the Stone Away

Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton

Our Response to the Word



Affirmation of Faith

from The Confession of Belhar

in unison

We believe that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, [which] will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world.               

Hymn

In Deepest Night

ROSE MARY

The Church at Prayer

The Lord be with you. And also with you.



The Lord’s Prayer

(in unison)



Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Presentation & Dedication of Our Gifts

Offertory

Prelude on "Southwell" - George Theophilus Miles

Offertory Response

What Shall I Render to the Lord

MARTYRDOM

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

(in unison)

O God, accept and bless these gifts which we offer in response to the gracious gift of your life-giving Spirit to us. May these offerings and our lives be used to further your love and justice, mercy and peace, as they are revealed in and through Jesus Christ. In the name of the One who is our life. Amen. 

Going Forth into the World to Live the Gospel

Hymn

We Cannot Measure How You Heal

YE BANKS AND BRAES

Benediction & Response

Farewell, Good Friends!

SHALOM, CHAVERIM

Postlude

Fantasy in g minor - Johann Pachelbel

Susan Mitts, liturgist

Kerm Dyer & Lyle Wilke, audio/visual

SOUTHMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH STAFF



Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton, Pastor (Transitional)

Joshua G. Hearn, Director of Music Ministry

Denise Dillon-Gruber, Office Manager

Resources for worship taken from: Peggy M De Cuehlo, in Harvest Prayers, posted on the Christian Aid website.

Kyrie | Tune: Ronald A. Nelson, © 2006 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726989. All rights reserved.

In Deepest Night | Text: Susan Palo Cherwien; Tune: David Schwoebel, Text: © 1995 Susan Palo Cherwien; Tune: © 2008 Celebrating Grace, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726989. All rights reserved.

We Cannot Measure How You Heal | Text: John L. Bell & Graham Maule; Tune: Scottish melody arr. John L. Bell, © 1989 WGRG, Iona Community. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726989. All rights reserved.