ORDER OF WORSHIP
September 17, 2023 10:30 AM
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE. ”Once to Every Man and Nation” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 103)
Leader: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
PEOPLE: Bless the LORD, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your
diseases,
Leader: who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and
mercy,
PEOPLE: The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in
steadfast love.
Leader: He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
PEOPLE: He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according
to our iniquities.
Leader: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love
toward those who worship him;
PEOPLE: as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions
from us.
INVOCATION
As we gather to give you our praise, help our ears to open to your angels singing hosannas, and listening attentively for your words which bring us wisdom. We wait to express once again our allegiance in faith. Make your face to shine upon us, dear Lord, and to be pleased with our worship. Amen.
**OPENING HYMN: “How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely” Red #333
CALL TO CONFESSION
We sometimes see our God as a distant figure, other times as a close friend. Know that our Lord can be everything to everyone as we look for understanding and we come together in Prayer.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty and all-merciful God, we confess to you our tendency to hold our image of you as an intimate friend, and to forget your role as sovereign of the universe. Forgive us we pray and fill us with an appropriate sense of awe and wonder at your power and creative majesty. As we draw nearer to you in understanding, let us worship and know you for who you are, not for what we may want you to be. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
(a moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
By the Good News of the Gospels, through the Love of our heavenly father, in the name of Jesus, we are forgiven. Amen.
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven” Red #26
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles Creed (Traditional)
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.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
We pray that in the power of the Holy Spirit, You would open our hearts and our minds to all that is written in Your Word of grace. Guide us into all truth and may our ears be ever open to hear Your still small voice. May our eyes be ever watchful for the lessons that You would have us learn and may our hearts be ever receptive to all that You would teach us. Amen
SCRIPTURE READINGS
OLD TESTAMENT READING Exodus 15: 1-11, 20, 21 Theresa Cotanche
GOSPEL READING Matthew 18: 21-25
SERMON MESSAGE A Postcard Perfect Tuesday Morning John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught to pray, saying:
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
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We give freely from the bounty we have been given by our Gracious God. May what we offer in these moments help to become the very blessing and hope that others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “Great is the Lord, Our God”
**DOXOLOGY (Traditional)
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
**CLOSING HYMN “Lord, Let Us Now, Depart in Peace” Red #842
BENEDICTION
Go into the world with the love of God, returning no one evil for evil, but by spreading the good news of eternal life in our lives through Christ our Lord. Amen.
POSTLUDE “Jesus Paid it All” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955

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