13TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Worship Order of Service
PENTECOST 13 Coronavirus
08-30-2020 10:00AM Worship
(Welcome / Greeting by the Pastors)
OPENING SONG: “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” Timyk Hillsman
THE OPENING RITE: Lydia & Tony Henson
L – Welcome to worship. Brothers and sisters, we all want Jesus to be our Savior, and we all say that he is our Lord, but we aren’t always willing and able to be his faithful followers. Our time of confession is an opportunity for us to be honest with God and with each other.
C – Gracious God,
I hear your call to follow, to “lose my life”, and to “take up my cross”, but I don’t always want to go there.
I confess that sometimes I look for an easier gospel, a lighter cross, a less demanding Savior, and a cheaper ticket to heaven.
I confess that faithful living and fervent loving is not always who I am or try to become.
I confess that I am setting my mind not on divine things but on human things.
I confess what you already know, that I am a sinner, wrong and weak.
Today I am asking for the grace of forgiveness, for the power of your Holy Spirit, and for another chance.
Forgive me, renew me, and use me for your mission activity. Amen.
L – What would it profit us to gain the whole world and lose our life? Our God is in the life-saving business! While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and God raised him up from death so that we too might walk in the newness of life. My sister, my brother, your sins are forgiven, and your future is as bright as the promises of God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Lydia & Tony Henson
Let us pray.
O Lord, let our love be genuine.
May we hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good, serve the Lord, rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer, and bless those who persecute us.
We ask that we may never be overcome by evil, but that we might overcome evil with good. Amen.
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 51:15-21 [God’s abiding love is tough enough for your complaints. But is your faith humble and obedient enough for God’s commands?] Read by Cecil Webb
15:15 O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult.
15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.
15:17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation.
15:18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.
15:19 Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.
15:20 And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD.
15:21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
SONG SELECTION: “It Is Enough” Ronald Johnson
SECOND READING: ROMANS 12:9-21 [The Christian community is called to live lovingly in an unfriendly world of evil and rejection. It begins right here but reaches out to all people.] Read by Amanda Bond
12:9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
12:10 Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
12:11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.
12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.
12:18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
12:20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”
12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
GOSPEL VERSE: “More About Jesus” Justine Patterson
“More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show,
More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me.
MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS… MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS…
MORE OF HIS SAVING FULLNESS SEE, MORE OF HIS LOVE WHO DIED FOR ME.
More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my Teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 16:21-28 [Find your life by losing your life in Christ. You don’t have to go around looking for crosses to bear. Just start loving, serving, and sacrificing right where you are!] Read by Dorrian Maddox
16:21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.”
16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
16:25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.
16:26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
16:27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
16:28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
THE SERMON: The Rev. David Maddox II
SONG SELECTION: “How Great is Our God” Linda Crawford
OFFERING PRAYER: Katrina Whittaker
Lord God, thank you for making a way out of no way in my life! During this summer may I dedicate my leisure and my work, my rest and my travel, my service and my spending, my health and my wealth, my worship and my witness – all that I am and have and seek – to glorify You and to extend your Kingdom to others. Someone somewhere is in need of your Good News. Amen.
MUSIC SELECTION Dennis Fortune
THE PRAYERS: Micah Gillum
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SONG SELECTION: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” Charlotte Webb
THE BENEDICTION:
My friends,
what the world has to offer is nothing in comparison to the life that Christ offers.
But the only way to this life is under the burden of a cross and following behind Jesus.
Instead of chasing after the glistening glitter of fading treasures and the gyrating glamour of fleeting pleasures, may you seek true life in faithful living and fervent loving as you bear the name, the spirit, and the mission of (+) Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen and Amen!