August 26, 2018 Welcome to OPC

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

Prelude “Royal Entrance” ~Handel Lighting of the candles Jane Morale, violin Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Come, let us look to the Lord; let us raise our hearts to the Lord our maker. P: God had mercy on our ancestors Israel and led them through the desert to a new land.

L: The God of our ancestors has led each of us to this place. P: We are witnesses of God’s action. L: Lord, guide our feet as we run this race of faith with you.

P: Lord, open our hearts as we reach out to others in compassion. L: We have sworn to teach God’s promises to all generations. P: We are storytellers.

L: Let us tell the world of God’s faithful love. P: We will worship and witness together!

*HYMN #288 “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” v.1 I sing the mighty power of God that made the mountains rise; That spread the flowing seas abroad and built the lofty skies.

*HYMN #288 “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” v.1 I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day; The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

*HYMN #288 “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” v.2 I sing the goodness of the Lord that filled the earth with food; God formed the creatures with a word and then pronounced them good.

*HYMN #288 “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” v.2 Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eyes; If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the skies!

*HYMN #288 “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” v.3 There’s not a plant or flower below but makes Thy glories known; And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;

*HYMN #288 “I Sing the Mighty Power of God” v.3 While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care, And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God, art present there.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Loving God, sometimes in our lives there are too many distractions, too many options for us to follow. And unfortunately we choose these options over you;

we put other gods ahead of you we put other gods ahead of you. Too regularly we choose our “things,” our emotions, our wants and needs, over what you offer us: grace, mercy, love.

Forgive us, true and Holy God, for turning away from you toward idols Forgive us, true and Holy God, for turning away from you toward idols. Forgive us for seeking our wholeness and satisfaction in those options that do not satisfy.

Continue to be our God, our only God, and strengthen us to pursue and follow you each day. (silence is observed for reflection and prayer)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: We are so blessed! Our God is a just and merciful God and has promised to love and forgive us when we turn back. Sisters and brothers, know this day you are forgiven and healed.

P: We give thanks for our Merciful and Holy God. Amen.

Special Music “You Are Mine” ~Haas

Time with Young Christians

SCRIPTURE READING: Joshua 24:1-18 PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Joshua 24:1-18

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel:

Long ago your ancestors – Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor – lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods. Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac;

and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in its midst; and afterwards I brought you out.

When I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your ancestors with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. When they cried out to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and made the sea to come upon them and cover them;

and your eyes saw what I did to Egypt and your eyes saw what I did to Egypt. Afterwards you lived in the wilderness for a long time. Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan; they fought with you, and I handed them over to you, and you took possession of their land,

and I destroyed them before you and I destroyed them before you. Then King Balak, son of Zippor of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent and invited Balaam son of Beor to curse you, but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you; so I rescued you out of his hand.

When you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, the citizens of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I handed them over to you. I sent the hornet ahead of you,

which drove out before you the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built, and you live in them; you eat the fruit of the vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.

Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve,

whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’ Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods;

for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed;

and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’ L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Stories” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #244 “Let Us With a Gladsome Mind” v.1 Let us with a gladsome mind Praise the Lord who is so kind: For God’s mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #244 “Let Us With a Gladsome Mind” v.2 God, with all- commanding might, Filled the new-made world with light: For God’s mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #244 “Let Us With a Gladsome Mind” v.3 All things living God does feed, With full measure meets their need: For God’s mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.

*HYMN #244 “Let Us With a Gladsome Mind” v.4 Let us with a gladsome mind Praise the Lord who is so kind: For God’s mercies shall endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory: “Ashokan Farewell” ~Unger (from the Ken Burns documentary “The Civil War”)

*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) We dedicate these gifts to you, Generous God, even as we dedicate our lives to you. Keep us true to our promise,

that we may witness to you and tell your story with all that we are and all that we do. 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 #262 “God of the Ages…” v.1 God of the ages, whose almighty hand Leads forth in beauty all the starry band

*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages…” v.1 Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies, Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages…” v.2 Thy love divine hath led us in the past; In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;

*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages…” v.2 Be Thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay; Thy word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages…” v.3 From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence, Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;

*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages…” v.3 Thy true religion in our hearts increase; Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages…” v.4 Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way, Lead us from night to never-ending day;

*HYMN #262 “God of the Ages…” v.4 Fill all our lives with love and grace divine, And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine.

BENEDICTION

Postlude “Allegro” ~Handel