WELCOME
PRELUDE- Come Christians Join to Sing- Hayes
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged. How sweet are your words to my taste.
Let us worship God!
*HYMN: Open My Eyes, That I May See (451)
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
O God, our Judge and Redeemer, we confess that we have failed in our ministry to others. We listen for teachings to our own liking. We yearn for doctrines that boost our egos. We follow those who flatter us. We seek comfort and not challenge from our confessions of faith. Renew a right spirit within us, O God, and train us in righteousness as you forgive our sin. Amen.
SILENT CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
PASSING THE PEACE (you are invited to share the Peace of Christ as you feel comfortable doing)
MUSICAL INTERLUDE Christ Is Alive! #246
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 20:16 and Exodus 23:1-9
16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
1You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness. 2You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice; 3nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.
4When you come upon your enemy’s ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.
5When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.
6You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits. 7Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty.
8You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and
subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
9You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
MUSICAL INTERLUDE We Praise You, O God #612
SCRIPTURE: Luke 23: 1-5, 13-25
1Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. 2They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.” 3Then Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He answered, “You say so.” 4Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no basis for an accusation against this man.” 5But they were insistent and said, “He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.”
13Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, 14and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. 15Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16I will therefore have him flogged and release him.” 17Now he was obliged to release someone for them at the festival.
18Then they all shouted out together, “Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!” 19(This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) 20Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; 21but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” 22A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.” 23But they kept
urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 24So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. 25He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
PRE-SERMON PRAYER
SERMON: Commandments IX: The Whole Truth
POST-SERMON PRAYER
ANTHEM Fairest Lord Jesus -Holcombe
Lisa Iceman, flute soloist
* LITANY OF AFFIRMATION: (from Westminster Shorter Catechism, 7.076-.079)
What is the Ninth Commandment?
The Ninth Commandment is, “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
What is required in the Ninth Commandment?
The Ninth Commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbor’s good name, especially in witness-bearing.
What is forbidden in the Ninth Commandment?
The Ninth Commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbor’s good name.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
(Joys): Lord, we praise you. Thanks be to God.
(Concerns): Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE/THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO SHARE:
OFFERING/MUSICAL INTERLUDE Son of God, Whose Heart Is Peace #425
*DOXOLOGY
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*HYMN: O Christ, Surround Me (543)
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*CHORAL RESPONSE
*POSTLUDE Badinerie from Suite in B Minor – Bach
Lisa Iceman, flute soloist
*- those who can stand are invited to stand
CCLI #4220373