WELCOME
PRELUDE Rejoice, The Lord Is King – Darwell / Berry
*CALL TO WORSHIP ( adapted from Psalm 36:5-9)
Leader: The steadfast love of the LORD extends to the heavens, and God’s faithfulness reaches
above the clouds.
People: God’s righteousness is as majestic as the mighty mountains, for God saves humans
and animals alike.
Leader: How precious is God’s steadfast love! All people can refuge in the shadow of God’s
wings.
People: Through God’s grace, we are able to drink from the river of God’s delights.
Leader: With God is the fountain of life; in God’s light, we see light.
People: As we gather, let us worship the One is almighty, victorious, and whose great name
we praise.
*HYMN OF PRAISE Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise #263
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 as leaves on the tree,
And 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!
PRAYERS OF CONFESSION (Unison)
Merciful God, while You welcome us as Your people, we often fail to demonstrate Your
openness and equality.
We have been influenced by money and power;
we have been impressed with our own self-importance;
and we have allowed the world to remain an inhospitable place for too many people.
Forgive us, Lord, for our poor decisions, and have mercy upon us for our lack of compassion.
Redeem us from our sin, and fill our emptiness with Your grace and humility,
so that we would share Your inclusive love with everyone we meet,
for we ask it in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. (Silent)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (adapted from Psalm 130:3-4)
Leader: If the LORD should mark iniquities, who could stand?
People: But there is forgiveness with the LORD, so that the LORD may be revered.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
People: Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
MINUTE FOR MISSION
SCRIPTURE Psalm 84:1-12
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her
young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah
5 Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers
it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.
10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in
the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the
LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.
SCRIPTURE Luke 19:1-10
1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was
a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
MEDITATION From a Tree to the Table
ANTHEM Precious Lord, Take My Hand – Dorsey / Smith
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from A Brief Statement of Faith
In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage
to pray without ceasing,
to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,
to unmask idolatries in church and culture,
to hear the voices of peoples long silenced,
and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit,
we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives,
even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, Come, Lord Jesus!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO GIVE
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Unison)
Loving God, whose immeasurable grace is extended to all of Your children,
as we seek to embody Your attributes of joy and generosity,
grant that our offerings would reveal our gratitude for the gifts You have shared with
us.
Utilize the financial and human resources that we bring
to impact the greater mission of the church,
to convey the kindness and care that You taught,
and to demonstrate the life-changing love of Jesus Christ our Lord,
in whose name we pray. Amen.
*HYMN How Firm a Foundation #361
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
*BENEDICTION
*CHORAL RESPONSE
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place; I can feel His mighty power and His grace
I can hear the brush of angel’s wings, I see glory on each face.
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
POSTLUDE Lord, I Know I Been Changed – Spiritual / Shackley