Prelude: Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
Atkinson
Welcome & Call to Worship
[Isaiah 30]
In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.
The Lord waits to be gracious to you; he will rise up to show mercy.
Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more.
When you turn to the right or to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Let us worship the LORD!
God of Grace and God of Glory (Hymn 420)
Fosdick/Hughes
God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power;
Crown Thine ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo! The hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways!
From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days,
For the living of these days.
Cure Thy children’s warring madness; bend our pride to Thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.
Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be
Armored with all Christlike graces, pledged to set all captives free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor Thee,
That we fail not them nor Thee!
Confession
Compassionate God, we often wonder, “If you are with us, why have these difficult and painful things happened in our nation or community?” Forgive us when we do not recognize that we may be part of the solution you are sending. Even though we have received your call, we are afraid to act. Thank you for meeting our doubts with reassurance. Help us find willingness to engage with fear in order to move towards love. Trusting Jesus’ life in us, may we find courage in the midst of our vulnerability and do your work in the world. Amen.
Silence
Hear My Prayer, O Lord
Owens
Hear my prayer, O Lord, from the ends of the earth, I cry.
Your peace will lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
(repeat)
For You have been my strength in times of trouble, a tower above my enemies;
And, Lord, I will abide with You forever in the shelter of Your wings.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, from the ends of the earth, I cry.
Your peace will lead me to the Rock that is higher than I,
The Rock that is higher than I.
[Psalm 61]
Forgiveness in Jesus Christ
Peace
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Doxology (Hymn 592)
Ken/Genevan Psalter
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Readings
Steve Blewett
Old Testament: Judges 6:11-24
New Testament: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12
God Is My Strong Salvation (Hymn 179)
Montgomery/Vulpius
God is my strong salvation; what foe have I to fear?
In peril and temptation my light, my help, is near.
Though hosts encamp around me, firm to the fight I stand;
What terror can confound me, with God at my right hand?
Place on the Lord reliance, my soul, with courage wait;
God’s truth be thine affiance, when faint and desolate.
God’s might thy heart shall strengthen, God’s love, thy joy increase;
Mercy thy days shall lengthen; the Lord will give thee peace.
Sermon: Vulnerability and Wholeheartedness
Scott Starbuck
Focus: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. I felt fear myself more times than I can remember, but I hid it behind a mask of boldness.” — Nelson Mandela
Response: Response: Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart (Hymn 326)
Croly/Atkinson
Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth, through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art,
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.
Has Thou not bid us love Thee, God and King;
All, all Thine own: soul, heart, and strength, and mind?
I see Thy cross, there teach my heart to cling.
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!
Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.
Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The baptism of the heaven-descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.
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
…for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on. -Luke 21:4
Sending: Guide My Feet (Hymn 354)
African-American spiritual
Guide my feet while I run this race, (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race in vain! (race in vain!)
Hold my hand while I run this race, (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race in vain! (race in vain!)
Stand by me while I run this race, (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race in vain! (race in vain!)
Search my heart while I run this race, (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race in vain! (race in vain!)
Charge & Benediction
Postlude: If You Will Trust in God to Guide You
Bach
OneLicense# A-727502
CCLI# 283345
