October 22, 2017
Order of Worship on Sunday, October 22, 2017
Worship Leader – Mark Dewey
Music Leader – Alex Thomas
For Meditation and Reflection
“If we are absolutely grounded in the love of God, which protects us from nothing even as it sustains us in everything, then we can face all things with courage and tenderness, and we can touch the hurting places in others and ourselves with love.”
– Richard Rohr
Welcome, Announcements, and Introduction
Responsive Call to Worship: Isaiah 45 and Psalm 96
Leader: Thus says the Lord:
All: I will go before you and level the mountains;
Leader: I will break through the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron;
All: I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places;
Leader: So you may know that it is I, The Lord, who calls you by your name.
All: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it.
Leader: Let the field exult, and everything in it.
All: Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy!
Leader: And let us sing with joy and thanksgiving for the love of God which protects us from nothing, even as it sustains us in everything.
Opening Hymn: #421 – We Gather Together
Today’s Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Pastoral Prayer
Sermon by Mark Dewey: “So, What Belongs to Caesar?”
Reflective Hymn: #257 – Alleluia, Sing to Jesus
Responsive Sharing
Prayers of Joys and Concerns
Lord’s Prayer (Traditional with “debts”)
Offertory Prayer
The Offerings and Offertory Music
Doxology:
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 of Thanksgiving
Closing Hymn: #77 – Lord, Dismiss Us With Your Blessing
Blessing and Sending
Go out into the world in peace. Have courage. Hold onto what is good. Return no one evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted. Support the weak. Help the suffering. Honor all persons. Honor all creation. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And may the love of God, the Light of Christ, and the power and communion of that Spirit be with us all. Go in peace. Amen.
Sharing the Peace as we go…….And we hope you will join us for post-worship coffee and conversation in Fellowship Hall.
Announcements:
Sunday, October 29th – On this third and final “fifth Sunday” of this calendar year, we will be visiting with Jefferson UCC. Their service begins at 10:45 and they are located at 3837 Jefferson Pike, Jefferson, MD. For more information see their website, http://www.jeffersonucc.org/
Our beautiful new St. James t-shirts are available to all of our members, (with a suggested, but not required, donation of $20.00 per shirt) and are available for sale at that price to those who are friends of St. James. All sizes are currently available in the middle Sunday School room of Fellowship Hall.
Mobile Hope, whose director spoke at our worship service in August to educate us about their very worthwhile programs for homeless and struggling young adults, has sent a Facebook message that their shelves are becoming pretty bare. Anyone interested in a food drive for their benefit? And perhaps doing a service project of putting together toiletry kits with travel-sized items that would be useful for these teenagers and young adults in need?
FOR OUR VISITORS: Since the retirement of our longtime pastor in January, we at St. James have been on a journey of discernment……re-evaluating our worship and our direction and mission as a congregation. During this process, we have welcomed a number of visiting ministers to share their messages from our pulpit, several of whom are, or have become, active friends of St. James. We have had speakers and members share their messages of faith and service, and have had several open forums to discuss the needs of the congregation and the community. We plan to continue this process through this calendar year, although we are calling more often on those pastors whose messages fit most closely with our values. We always welcome input from visitors and those who are new to our community.