September 17, 2023

Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

10:20AM

Welcome and Announcements

Prelude

Call to Worship

L: Bless God with our whole selves. Praise the Maker of our being!

P: Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.

L: God endows us with many gifts and equips us to do good work.

P: Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.

L: Holy Love entered the world with grace and forgiveness, mercy and compassion, redemption and restoration.

P: We give thanks for the mighty deeds and the good works of our God!

Opening Prayer

*Hymn #619

Praise, My Soul, the God of Heaven

*Call To Confession

*Prayer Of Confession

God of grace, we need your strength in our lives. We confess that we can judge our neighbors, family, and friends. We project our own shortcomings onto others deflecting attention from our mistakes. We withhold and condition forgiveness, mercy, and grace from those who wrong us at the same time we seek it for the wrongs we have done. Even still, we struggle to forgive ourselves. You have shown us the better way. Help us to follow your path–receiving and extending forgiveness in a world in need of your love and grace. In your mercy, O God, hear our prayer, and let us forgive as you forgive. Amen.

*Silent Prayer of Confession

*Assurance of Pardon

*Gloria Patri

Prayer For Illumination

First Lesson

See insert

Romans 14:1-12

Second Lesson

         See insert

Matthew 18:21-35

Meditation

Rev. Marie Bacchiocchi

*Affirmation Of Faith

Apostles’ Creed

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 life everlasting. Amen

*Hymn #435

There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy

Sharing Our Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

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

Offertory

“Lord, For Thy Tender Mercies’ Sake”

R. Ferrant

*Doxology #606

* Prayer of Dedication

Merciful God, receive our offerings as a testimony to your provision and a demonstration of our love. May they be magnified and multiplied for the benefit of our community and all creation. Amen.

*Hymn #315

In the Midst of New Dimensions                                                                               

Benediction

*Choral Amen

Postlude

*Those Who Can, May Stand

Today’s liturgy was adapted from the Ministry Matters, Worship Ways, and the Abingdon Worship Annual.