Welcome and Call to Worship
God has set this day before us,
A day set apart, a day of rest and praise.
God has set our lives before us,
A span of years in which we love, and learn, and serve.
God has set God's seal upon our hearts,
So that we might be fully alive, tinged with awe and wonder, replete with love.
With joy, let us worship our God together.
Gathering Song
Bright Morning Stars Appalachian Spiritual
Call to Confession
As God's beloved children, we are invited to come to God with the fullness of our lives, to admit our love and our hate, our faith and our fear, our hope and our despair. Trusting in God's mercy, let us make our confession together, first in silent prayer.
Prayer of Confession
Vulnerable God, we open our hearts to you in this fall season, and offer the truth of our lives: the fear that stifles us, the worry that blinds us, the judgment that hobbles us, the doubt that plagues us, the loneliness that wearies us. Help us, we pray, that we will find courage in unlikely places, see the world with new and gracious eyes, move to those places where love is needed, have faith that you are with us always. Renew us for your service. Give us resilience and hope. Help us to be the church in this tumultuous time. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Assurance of God's Pardon
Friends, our God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God is always making all things new - overcoming death with life, hatred with love, fear with hope. This is the good news of the gospel.
Thanks be to God for the good news of the gospel! Amen.
Sharing the Peace of Christ
Our Common Life
Scripture
2 Corinthians 13:11-13 and Matthew 28:16-20
Sermon
"Together While Apart: Communion with God" Rev. Jeff Lehn
Hymn of Response No. 529, verses 1 & 3
Draw Us in the Spirit's Tether
Ordination and Installation of New Church Officers
Elders: Bob Bobesink, John and Jack Hairston, Sal Karrotki, Jeff Miller and Jane Rankin
Deacons: Grianne Bailey, Sam Bennett, Bob Brown, Wendy Lundgren and Jennifer Mullman
Affirmation of Faith
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of the People and The Lord's Prayer
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.
Call to Offering
On this day, we are invited to participate in the kingdom emerging all around us. May we offer ourselves to God with glad and generous hearts, freely giving our tithes and offerings to the ministry of this congregation. In lieu of passing the plate, we invite you to give through our church website, our smartphone app, by texting the word "Wilmette" to the number 77977, or by sending a check to the church office. As we gather our gifts together and offer them to God, may we do so in gratitude and praise.
Doxology No. 606
Prayer of Dedication
Sending Song
Go Now in Peace
Go now in peace, go now in peace
May the love of God surround you everywhere, everywhere you may go.
Charge and Benediction
Postlude
Amazing Grace John Newton, arr. Anderson & Kramlich
