Sunday, October 3, 2021, at 11 a.m.

PRELUDE Adagio Brad Slocum,

by Edward Elgar Organist

CALL TO WORSHIP Allyson Sage

Praise be to God who has called us together.

Open your hearts to God’s redeeming love.

HYMN OF PRAISE Blest Be the Tie That Binds

Blest be the tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love.

The fellowship of kindred minds

is like to that above.

We share our mutual woes;

our mutual burdens bear.

And often for each other flows

the sympathizing tear.

From sorrow, toil, and pain,

and sin we shall be free;

and perfect love and friendship reign

through all eternity.

CALL TO CONFESSION Rev. Rola Al Ashkar

We have sinned with our lips and in our hearts. Let us approach God who promises

to redeem us and forgive us with humility and trust.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Rola

THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS

God heals our wounded souls and restores hope and compassion to our

relationships and hope to our troubled world.

PASSING CHRIST’S PEACE

As our Lord gives peace to us, let us share this peace with

each other saying, “The peace of Christ be with you.”

Let us exchange words and signs of peace.

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Rola

CHILDREN’S TIME TO SHINE Betsy Nix

SUNG BLESSING FOR OUR CHILDREN #80 Trees of the Field (Isaiah 55:12)

You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace.

The mountains and the hills will break forth before you.

There'll be shouts of joy and all the trees of the field will clap, will clap their hands.

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. *clap-clap*

The trees of the field will clap their hands. *clap-clap*

The trees of the field will clap their hands *clap-clap*

while you go out with joy!

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION Allyson Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit,

that in your light we may see light,

in your truth find wisdom,

and in your will discover your peace.

SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 145:1-9

I will extol you, my God and Ruler, and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the lord, and greatly to be praised, and God's greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. The lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The lord is good to all, and God’s mercy is over all that God has made.

Words of Holy Scripture.

ANTHEM Let Us Break Bread Together African Spiritual

arr. Craig Carnahan Katie Thorpe, soprano; Monica Serrano, alto; Don Tarnasky, tenor;

Brandon Anderson, bass Let us break bread together on our knees. When I fall to my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. Let us drink wine together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. Let us praise God together on our knees. When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. Let us break bread together, let us drink wine together, let us praise God together on our knees.

SCRIPTURE READING Genesis 12:1-9 Rola

Old Testament page 10 in the pew Bible

SERMON What Did God Promise? Rola

Communion With the World

PRAYERS FOR WESTMINSTER & THE WORLD Allyson

THE LORD’S PRAYER (contemporary ecumenical version)

MOMENT FOR MISSION Peace and Global Witness Offering

Judi Valleley

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING Rola

OFFERTORY Drop Down, Ye Heavens

by Jeanne Demessieux

RESPONSE Now Thank We All Our God (first verse)

Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices,

who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices;

who, from our mother’s arms, hath blessed us on our way

with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION Rola

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Rev. Richard Pearson

May the God of steadfast love be with you!

Lift your hearts to God.

Sing glad praises to God.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION & PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

(All who have faith or seek faith are invited to share of this bread and cup. )

A MOMENT FOR REFLECTION

PRAYER FOLLOWING COMMUNION

HYMN In an Age of Twisted Values

In an age of twisted values

we have lost the truth we need.

In sophisticated language

we have justified our greed.

By our struggle for possessions

we have robbed the poor and weak.

Hear our cry and heal our nation;

your forgiveness, Lord, we seek.

We have built discrimination

on our prejudice and fear.

Hatred swiftly turns to cruelty

if we hold resentments dear.

For communities divided

by the walls of class and race,

hear our cry and heal our nation;

show us, Lord, your love and grace.

When our families are broken,

when our homes are full of strife,

when our children are bewildered,

when they lose their way in life,

when we fail to give the aged

all the care we know they need,

hear our cry and heal our nation;

help us show more love, we plead.

BENEDICTION Rola

CHARGE Allyson

People of God,

stand in the shadow of the prophets,

cry out for justice and peace,

have courage,

move beyond yourselves,

stand up and speak out for the least and the lowest,

be a people of reconciliation.

POSTLUDE Allegro from Organ Concerto in D Minor

by G.F. Handel

Midge Bacher, Connie Brown, Joyce Ruthrauff, Don Tarnasky, and Gordon Zerkel

Today’s flowers are from Patty Bonnstetter.

In loving memory of Gene.