November 11, 2018 Welcome to OPC

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

Prelude “Prelude in F Major” ~J.S. Bach Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Sisters and Brothers, welcome to this holy and sacred place, where we honor what is good and right.

P: Today we praise and honor our God, the one who shows us what is holy and just. L: As we worship, let us consider the many ways we are blessed.

P: With deep gratitude in our hearts, we worship the God who gives us all that is good. L: Let us honor the spirit and act of sacrifice this day.

P: May we conform our lives to Ruth, Boaz, and the widow, who all offered from what they had for the sake of others.

L: May God transform our hearts to be like God’s heart. P: May we be sent forth today with a loving, giving heart. L: Let us worship and praise God.

P: Let us worship and praise our God!

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.1 God of grace and God of glory, on Thy people pour Thy power; Crown Thine ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower.

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.1 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us scorn Thy Christ, assail Thy ways! From the fears that long have bound us, free our hearts to faith and praise.

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.2 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.3 Cure Thy children’s warring madness, bend our pride to Thy control; Shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul.

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.3 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal, lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.4 Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be Armored with all Christ-like graces, pledged to set all captives free.

*HYMN #420 “God of Grace & God of Glory” v.4 Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, that we fail not them nor Thee, that we fail not them nor Thee!

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Merciful God, we confess that we take so many things in our lives for granted, including all our privileges, our sweet freedom, and those who sacrificed much to secure it for us.

We are blessed to have so much, and yet sometimes we don’t even notice We are blessed to have so much, and yet sometimes we don’t even notice. Instead of offering sacrifices, we just want more. We have wonderful friends and family, and yet we forget to tell them we love them,

or how important they are to us or how important they are to us. We are mean to those who care so much about us. Forgive us, Loving God. Help us to see how beautiful the people and things around us are.

Help us to see the Holy all around us, and have mercy on us when we don’t. (silence is observed for reflection and prayer)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Friends, hear the Good News: In the beautiful life, sacrificial death, and awesome resurrection of Jesus Christ, we learn that God’s love has no bounds.

In Christ we are forgiven, and are empowered to begin anew In Christ we are forgiven, and are empowered to begin anew. Friends, believe the Good News of the Gospel. P: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to our God. Amen.

“America, Our Heritage” ~Steele “God Bless America” ~Berlin CHOIR ANTHEM “America, Our Heritage” ~Steele “God Bless America” ~Berlin

Time With Young Christians

A Litany for Veterans

L: God of love, peace and justice, it is your will for the world that we may live together in peace. You have promised through the prophet Isaiah that one day the swords will be beaten into ploughshares. Yet we live in a broken world,

and there are times that war becomes unavoidable and there are times that war becomes unavoidable. Today we recognize with humility and sadness the tragic loss of life – physical, emotional, spiritual – that comes in war. We pray for your healing to be never ending for all who have

served and suffered. (Please bow your heads in a moment of silence.) In this moment, as we gather here free from persecution and war, we give thanks for those that have served with courage and honor.

Those that are in our presence that are either in active duty or reserve duty, and the fathers, mothers, siblings, spouses, and grandparents of those that are currently serving, please rise.

ALL: God, we praise you for those that are willing to serve ALL: God, we praise you for those that are willing to serve. We give thanks for their great and daily sacrifices. Strengthen all Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen,

and Coast Guardsmen to serve with honor, pride, and compassion and Coast Guardsmen to serve with honor, pride, and compassion. Do not let their hearts be hardened by the actions they must take on our behalf. Strengthen their families.

Keep them surrounded in your love and peace.

L: Those that are in our presence that have served in the military in the past, please rise. P: God, we praise you for those that have previously served in the military.

We thank you for those that put the welfare of others ahead of their own safety. Let us all be inspired by their self-sacrifice in service to those who needed protection.

L: Those that are in our presence who have lost a loved one in war, please rise. P: God, we praise you for those that have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We ask that you comfort those that still feel the pain of their loss We ask that you comfort those that still feel the pain of their loss. Keep us mindful that you have promised to comfort those who mourn.

Bring healing to their souls.

L: Those who have gathered in your name in safety because of the sacrifices of others, please rise. P: God, we praise you for granting us these freedoms. Let us honor those who have served by working for

peace. Let us never forget those that are serving and those who have served, and let us never let go of your promise of peace.

SCRIPTURE READING: Ruth 2:8-13 PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Ruth 2:8-13

Then Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you.

If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.’ Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?’ But Boaz answered her,

‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full

reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!’ Then she said, ‘May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.’

SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 12:38-44

As he taught, he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers.

They will receive the greater condemnation They will receive the greater condemnation.’ He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.

Then he called his disciples and said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all that she had to live on.’

L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Daily Offering” Rev. Tedd Pullano

“So, should we just accept this is a thing that happens?”

“I don’t wanna constantly fear for my life at home”

“A real man is the kind of man that when your feet hit the floor each morning the Devil says ‘Oh crap, he’s up’.”

*HYMN #316 “Breathe On Me, Breath of God” v.1 Breathe on me, breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.

*HYMN #316 “Breathe On Me, Breath of God” v.2 Breathe on me, breath of God, until my heart is pure, Until with Thee I will one will, to do and to endure.

*HYMN #316 “Breathe On Me, Breath of God” v.3 Breathe on me, breath of God, till I am wholly Thine, Until this earthly part of me glows with Thy fire divine.

*HYMN #316 “Breathe On Me, Breath of God” v.4 Breathe on me, breath of God, So shall I never die, But live with Thee the perfect life of Thine eternity.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Variation on America” ~Whitsett Photo by John Kucko

*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) Receive and bless these gifts and sacrifices, O God, which we offer in response to your steadfast love. Jesus the Christ transformed people’s lives Photo by John Kucko

with the healing power of his love – so may many lives continue to be transformed through these gifts, our love, and our willing offerings. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. Photo by John Kucko

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 #561 “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” v.1 My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.

*Hymn #561 “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” v.2 My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love; I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills; my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

*Hymn #561 “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” v.3 Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song; Let mortal tongues awake, let all that breathe partake, let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

*Hymn #561 “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” v.4 Our father’s God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing; Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light; protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King.

BENEDICTION

Postlude “Rigaudon” ~Lully