Before the worship service begins, please turn off your cell phone. God may be calling YOU, but probably not on your cell phone. Please turn off your cell phone, or put it on vibrate.

We are so glad you are here! Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

When in Our Music God Is Glorified Prelude: When in Our Music God Is Glorified arr. Mark Hayes

A lie goes halfway round the world before the truth can get its pants on. Winston Churchill  

Truth exists; only falsehood has to be invented. Georges Braque, Painter  

The most casual student of history knows that, as a matter of fact, truth does not necessarily vanquish…Truth does not carry within itself an antidote to falsehood. The cause of truth must be championed, and it must be championed dynamically. William F. Buckley Jr., Journalist

You don’t have to chop with the sword of truth You don’t have to chop with the sword of truth. You can point with it too. Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird  

Respect for the vulnerability of human beings is a necessary part of telling the truth, because no truth will be wrested from a callous vision or callous handling. Anais Nin

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. St. Augustine

The pursuit of truth rightly implies that a gap exists between ourselves and truth. But what’s hidden and evasive? Is it we or truth? Maybe it is we who evade truth’s quest for us. William Sloan Coffin

If the gospel isn’t good news for everybody, then it isn’t good news for anybody. Rob Bell, Preacher  

O God, help me to believe the truth about myself no matter how beautiful it is! Macrina Wiederkehr

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

HYMN When in Our Music God Is Glorified # 264, in the Blue Hymnals

When in our music God is glorified, and adoration leaves no room for pride, it is as though the whole creation cried: Alleluia!

How often, making music, we have found a new dimension in the world of sound, as worship moved us to a more profound Alleluia!

through centuries of wrong, borne witness to the truth So has the church, in liturgy and song, in faith and love, through centuries of wrong, borne witness to the truth in every tongue: Alleluia!

utmost evil strove against the light? Then let us sing, And did not Jesus sing a psalm that night when utmost evil strove against the light? Then let us sing, for whom he won the fight: Alleluia!

Let every instrument be tuned for praise! Let all rejoice who have a voice to raise! And may God give us faith to sing always: Alleluia!

Prayer for Forgiveness (in unison) Adapted from Lancelot Andrewes, 1555-1626

Lord, complete in us all that is lacking of your gifts: of faith, to increase it; of hope, to strengthen it; of love to rekindle it: and make us fear one thing only — that we should honor anything more than you, our Father, our Savior, and our Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A Time for Silence You may use this time for silent prayer, meditation, or simply to rest in the presence of God.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

A TIME WITH THE Children

The News of the Community

Following worship, please join us on the patio for Visitors, to First Church! Following worship, please join us on the patio for Juice and coffee.

Please date, fill out, and pass the red Friendship Register to your neighbor.

Monday, September 11th, 9:00 a.m. – Noon Friday, September 15th, 9:00 a.m. – Noon

Good News Kidz OPEN HOUSE Due to Hurricane Irma, the Good News Kidz has been postponed. Please contact James Potts, Director of Family Ministries, for information. OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, September 17th, 4 p.m Location: TBA

(A four-hour session, with lunch included.) Let us know Sunday, September 24th (11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) (A four-hour session, with lunch included.) Let us know if you need child care.

How Can I Keep from Singing? Robert Lowry/arr. Craig Courtney ANTHEM — How Can I Keep from Singing? Robert Lowry/arr. Craig Courtney The Anthem is a prayer. Please, no applause.

Living into the Joy of Being a Child The Truth Vs. the Lie

Thanksgiving for the Word

O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.

Scripture Reading— 1 John 2:18-23 (New Testament, Page 239 in pew Bible)  

Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

Who is the liar. It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.  No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Living into the Joy of Being a Child The Truth Vs. the Lie

* This We Believe (In unison) Romans 8:1, 28, 38-39 This We Believe (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the -dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *Hymn of Commitment - Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized # 70 The News of the Community (Sing 2 times) Holy Spirit, come to us, Kindle in us the fire of your love. Holy Spirit, come to us. Holy Spirit, come to us. Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer - (Debtors version) (front of Hymnal, pg. 16) Response - Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

We believe there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; and we know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. This We Believe (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the -dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *Hymn of Commitment - Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized # 70 The News of the Community (Sing 2 times) Holy Spirit, come to us, Kindle in us the fire of your love. Holy Spirit, come to us. Holy Spirit, come to us. Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer - (Debtors version) (front of Hymnal, pg. 16) Response - Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

We are sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This We Believe (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the -dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *Hymn of Commitment - Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized # 70 The News of the Community (Sing 2 times) Holy Spirit, come to us, Kindle in us the fire of your love. Holy Spirit, come to us. Holy Spirit, come to us. Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer - (Debtors version) (front of Hymnal, pg. 16) Response - Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

HYMN Jesus Loves Me! # 304, in the Blue Hymnals

Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. This We Believe (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the -dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *Hymn of Commitment - Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized # 70 The News of the Community (Sing 2 times) Holy Spirit, come to us, Kindle in us the fire of your love. Holy Spirit, come to us. Holy Spirit, come to us. Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer - (Debtors version) (front of Hymnal, pg. 16) Response - Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

Jesus loves me! This I know, As He loved so long ago, Taking children on His knee, Saying, "Let them come to Me.” Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. This We Believe (in unison) The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the -dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father; from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *Hymn of Commitment - Christ, When for Us You Were Baptized # 70 The News of the Community (Sing 2 times) Holy Spirit, come to us, Kindle in us the fire of your love. Holy Spirit, come to us. Holy Spirit, come to us. Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer - (Debtors version) (front of Hymnal, pg. 16) Response - Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

The Prayers of the People

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace.

Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer (Debtors version)

Our Father, who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name, 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 Forgive us our debts As we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Amen.

Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Melt me, Response Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me; Fall afresh on me; Melt me, mold me, Fill me, use me. Fall afresh on me.

OFFERING OUR TITHES AND GIFTS (Visitors, in the pew rack you will find a Guest Information card. Please complete the card, then Place it in the offering plate.)

Offertory Anthem A Hymn of Praise to the Creator Eric Thiman

from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; The Response of Praise Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Offering of Prayer (in unison) Adapted from Brother Roger of Taizé

O Christ, tirelessly you seek out those who are looking for you and who think that you are far away; teach us, at every moment, to place our spirits in your hands. While we still are looking for you, already you have found us.

However poor our prayer, you hear us far more than we can imagine or believe. May we live in the assurance of that seeking and listening love. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

*Hymn Hear the Good News of Salvation # 355 in the Blue Hymnal

Hear the good news of salvation: Jesus died to show God's love Hear the good news of salvation: Jesus died to show God's love. Such great kindness! Such great mercy! Come to us from heaven above.

Jesus Christ, how much I love You! Jesus Christ, You save from sin! How I love You! Look upon me. Love me still and cleanse within.

All the sins I have committed To my Savior now I bring All the sins I have committed To my Savior now I bring. I bow down with tears of anguish; Christ forgives and so I sing:

I love You! Jesus Christ, You save from sin! How Jesus Christ, how much I love You! Jesus Christ, You save from sin! How I love You! Look upon me. Love me still and cleanse within.

Congregational Response: * CHARGE AND BLESSING - Congregational Response: God be with you till we meet again; Loving counsels guide, uphold you, With a Shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again. *Charge and Blessing Congregational Response: God be with you till we meet again; Loving counsels guide, uphold you, With a Shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again. *Postlude - Morning Has Broken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. H. Royce Eckhardt ~ ~ ~ Lay Reader - Marilyn McIntosh The flowers in the sanctuary are given by Jerry & Judy Gensel in memory of Jerry’s brother, Phil. LAST WEEK’S VITAL STATISTICS: Attendance: 146 AMOUNT RECEIVED AMOUNT NEEDED Offering: Operations $2,810 $5,361 Additional Income: Christmas Offering 275 Deficit 5 Major Repairs 100

Postlude Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Dale Wood