Sunday, September 26, 2021
Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost
September 26, 2021
10:15am
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements John Strawbridge
Choral Introit “This is the House of the Lord” (Donald Moore)
This is the house of thee Lord. Come before His presence with thanksgiving.
Call to Worship
L: Sometimes we wonder how we have gotten through some difficult situations.
P: God has been with us, lifting and comforting our spirits.
L: We struggle and worry.
P: God’s loving presence sustains and strengthens us.
L: Listen for God’s call to you.
P: Lord, we are listening and seeking your guidance. Amen.
Opening Hymn “We Are Called” TFWS 2172
1. Come, live in the light
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord
We are called to be light for the kingdom
To live in the freedom of the city of God
REFRAIN: We are called to act with justice
We are called to love tenderly
We are called to serve one another
To walk humbly with God
2. Come, open your heart
Show your mercy to all those in fear
We are called to be hope for the hopeless
So all hatred and blindness will be no more
REFRAIN
Sing, sing a new song
Sing of that great day when all will be one
God will reign and we’ll walk with each other
As sisters and brothers united in love (united in love)
REFRAIN
Prayer of Confession (Unison)
O God,
we live our lives as best we can—dealing with difficult relationships and situations,
putting failures and disappointments behind us,
and moving into each new day
with as much energy, goodwill,
and optimism as we can muster.
But here, right now,
we seldom have the right answers,
we seldom seek your higher wisdom in our lives,
we just move ahead.
Forgive us for not asking for your insight.
Fill us with your wisdom,
that we may live lives
of goodness and peace. Amen.
Words of Assurance
L: When we come before God in humility and honesty, God draws near to us with forgiveness and renewed
blessing.
P: Thanks be to God!
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Lord’s Prayer
Choral Response “Cares Chorus” TFWS 2215
I cast all my cares upon You
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet
And any time I don’t know just what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You.
Gospel Lesson Mark 9:38-50 J.B. Phillips New Testament
38 Then John said to him, “Master, we saw somebody driving out evil spirits in your name, and we stopped him, for he is not one who follows us.” 39-41 But Jesus replied, “You must not stop him. No one who exerts such power in my name would readily say anything against me. For the man who is not against us is on our side. In fact, I assure you that the man who gives you a mere drink of water in my name, because you are followers of mine, will most certainly be rewarded.”42 “And I tell you too, that the man who disturbs the faith of one of the humblest of those who believe in me would be better off if he were thrown into the sea with a great mill-stone hung round his neck!”
43-49 “Indeed, if it is your own hand that spoils your faith, you must cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to keep both your hands and go to the rubbish-heap, If your foot spoils your faith, you must cut it off. It is better to enter life on one foot than to keep both your feet and be thrown on to the rubbish-heap. And if your eye leads you astray, pluck it out. It is better for you to go one-eyed into the kingdom of God than to keep both eyes and be thrown on to the rubbish-heap, where ‘their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched’. For everyone will be salted by fire.”
50 “Salt is a very good thing; but if it should lose its saltiness, what can you do to restore its flavor? You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with each other.”
The Word of God for the people of God…..THANKS BE TO GOD
Sermon “Disciples With Attitude” Rev. Debbie Scott
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “How Lovely Are The Messengers” (Mendelssohn)
How lovely are the messengers
That preach us the gospel of peace.
To all the nations is gone forth
The sound of their words.
Offering Prayer (All)
Gracious God, in your great wisdom you revealed your human face of love in Jesus and he gave further expression to your wisdom by putting no limits or conditions on his love. We show our gratitude by offering these gifts and our lives to be used to love and serve others as Jesus has loved and served us. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen
Closing Hymn “Here I Am, Lord” UMH 593
1. I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
REFRAIN:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart
2. I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
I will speak my words to them
Whom shall I send?
REFRAIN
3. I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
‘Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?
REFRAIN
Benediction
L: Remember one of the secrets of success according to Jesus: “If you want to feel great, be willing to come last and to gladly serve others.” May God give you the faith and love to put this into practice, and the humility to permit others to do the same for you.
P: Amen!
L: Depart from this house of prayer with restored hopes and renewed enthusiasm. And the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, will be with you all, today and evermore.
P: Amen!
Choral Benediction “Amen, Hallelujah” (Eberhard)
Amen, Hallelujah.
Ringing of the Bicentennial Bell
Postlude
We are grateful that you have come to be with us this morning. It is our hope that you experience the love of Christ this morning and his presence during our worship. Please find our contact information below if you would like to reach out to us:
Church Office Number: 410-889-1512
Office Hours: Monday – Friday; 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Please note starting October 4th: The church office hours will be changing due to an educational requirement at Goucher College for Shanna. The office will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM and closed on Monday, Thursday, and Friday).
Email: Lovely.Lane.BCS@gmail.com
Pastor: Rev. Deb Scott
Phone Number: 301-641-4601
Email: revdeb8@aol.com
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