July 13, 2025
Prelude: Be Thou My Vision
Irish melody/Wood
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Psalm 27]
The Lord is our light and our salvation; whom shall we fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of our life; of whom shall we be afraid?
When evildoers assail us, they shall stumble and fall;
though war rise up against us, yet we will be confident.
We believe that we shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Let us worship the LORD!
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (Hymn 263)
Welsh Folk Melody/Smith
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above,
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
Then wither and perish; but naught changeth Thee.
Thou reignest in glory, Thou rulest in light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All praise we would render; O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee!
Confession
God our light, you call us to live in sincere faith, in good times and bad. Amid conflict and chaos, forgive us when we struggle to find a sense of your presence. Forgive us when we strive to be strong on our own, without turning to your grace or connecting to community. May we take courage in your company and follow your example, using the gifts and power we have to build others up. Our strength is in you. Amen.
Silence
A Shield About Me
Thomas/Williams
Thou, O Lord are a shield about me.
You’re my glory, You’re the lifter of my head.
(repeat)
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
You’re the lifter of my head.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
You’re the lifter of my head.
[Psalm 3:3]
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Gloria Patri (Hymn 579)
Greatorex
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
Word without end. Amen, Amen.
All People That on Earth Do Dwell (Hymn 220)
Bourgeois/Kethe
All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell, come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed; without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise, approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always, for it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good, his mercy is forever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Alida Gowan
Old Testament: Psalm 27:1-6, 13-14
New Testament: 2 Timothy 2:1-7
Sermon: "Be Strong"
Rev. Woody Garvin
Response: Be Thou My Vision (Hymn 339)
Irish ballad/Ancient Irish poem
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.
Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
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, and deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Call to Stewardship
Gary Guenther
God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. -Genesis 1:29-30
Sending Song: Be Strong in the Lord
Johnson/Fettke
Be strong in the Lord, and be of good courage;
Your mighty Defender is always the same.
Mount up with wings, as the eagle ascending;
Victory is sure when you call on his name.
Refrain:
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord,
And be of good courage for he is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord,
And rejoice for the victory is yours.
So put on the armor the Lord has provided,
And place your defense in his unfailing care.
Trust him for he will be with you in battle,
Lighting your path to avoid every snare.
(Refrain)
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: Toccata on OLD HUNDREDTH
Bourgeois/Burkhardt
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