July 8, 2018 Welcome to OPC

Welcome and Announcements Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” ~Hopson Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Sisters and brothers, let us each be awake to the Spirit of God! P: Holy Spirit, fill and surround us this hour and help us to receive God’s word.

L: Friends, hear and accept the power and goodness of God’s grace! P: Let our hearts, voices, and actions be filled with grace, mercy, and love.

L: People of God, rejoice together, for now is the time to worship. P: Open our eyes, our hearts, and our spirits to your kingdom, Gracious God.

*HYMN #2012 “Let Us With a Joyful Mind” v.1 Let us with a joyful mind Praise the Lord who is so kind, rich with mercies that endure, ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #2012 “Let Us With a Joyful Mind” v.2 New-made earth was filled with light through God’s all commanding might, rich with mercies that endure, ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #2012 “Let Us With a Joyful Mind” v.3 Dazzling bright the sun obeys God who shines with brighter rays, rich with mercies that endure, ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #2012 “Let Us With a Joyful Mind” v.4 Stars and moon that spangle night all depend on heaven’s light, rich with mercies that endure, ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #2012 “Let Us With a Joyful Mind” v.5 Creatures of the sea and land all are fed by God’s own hand, rich with mercies that endure, ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #2012 “Let Us With a Joyful Mind” v.6 Therefore with a joyful mind, praise our God forever kind, rich with mercies that endure, ever faithful, ever sure.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Merciful God, forgive us when we forget about your grace, which strengthens us to do that which we cannot do.

Forgive us when we are paralyzed by confusion and doubt Forgive us when we are paralyzed by confusion and doubt. Strengthen our faith, that we may not only believe, but may be filled with the power to help and heal.

Help us to be forgiving and grace-filled when others reject or refuse our ministry, and not be angry. Grant us the courage to accept the painful things that cannot be changed, so that

we may be freed from anger and resentment we may be freed from anger and resentment. Forgive us when our disappointment clouds our wisdom and confuses our actions. Guide us on this path of life and ministry, that we may be filled

(silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer) with the joy of your grace. (silence is observed for individual reflection and prayer)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Friends, God’s grace is sufficient for all our needs, covering all our sins. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, just as Christ redeems our lives and reconciles us fully and completely to God. Know you are forgiven.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON P: Amen, and amen.

Time with Young Christians

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Ezekiel 2:1-5

He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have

rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendents are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house),

they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10

I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person – whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows – was caught up into Paradise and

heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But if I refrain from it, so that

no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from

being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Grace” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #422 “God Whose Giving Knows…” v.1 God, whose giving knows no ending, From Your rich and endless store, Nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom, Costly cross, grave’s shattered door:

*HYMN #422 “God Whose Giving Knows…” v.1 Gifted by You, we turn to You, Offering up ourselves in praise; Thankful song shall rise forever, Gracious donor of our days.

*HYMN #422 “God Whose Giving Knows…” v.2 Skills and time are ours for pressing Toward the goals of Christ, your Son: All at peace in health and freedom, Races joined, the church made one.

*HYMN #422 “God Whose Giving Knows…” v.2 Now direct our daily labor, Lest we strive for self alone; Born with talents, make us servants Fit to answer at Your throne.

*HYMN #422 “God Whose Giving Knows…” v.3 Treasure too You have entrusted Gain through powers Your grace conferred; Ours to use for home and kindred, And to spread the gospel Word.

*HYMN #422 “God Whose Giving Knows…” v.3 Open wide our hands, in sharing, As we heed Christ’s ageless call, Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, Serving You by loving all.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Adagio” ~Galucci

*DOXOLOGY #542, v.4 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.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Spurred on by your love and grace, Holy God, we are moved in our depths to return to you a portion of the blessings you have given us.

Please accept, bless, and multiply them to bring your kingdom to all peoples. Thanks be to God, Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

The Lord’s Prayer (unison) 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, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.1 O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.1 America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.2 O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.2 America! America! God mend thine every flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.3 O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.3 America! America! May God thy gold refine Till all success be nobleness And every gain divine!

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.4 O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears!

*HYMN #564 “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” v.4 America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

BENEDICTION

Postlude “Marche Royale” ~Lully