February 24, 2019 Welcome to OPC

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

“Joyful, Joyful” ~arr. Hopson Prelude “Joyful, Joyful” ~arr. Hopson Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND INVOCATION L: Sisters and Brothers, let us commit our ways to the Lord and trust in God. P: We long to trust in the Lord and desire to delight in God’s presence and spirit.

L: Let me reassure you that when we trust in God, he acts with love, strength, justice. P: Increase our trust this hour, Holy One, and let us put our fears and hopes in you alone.

L: Friends, let us be still before the Lord this day as we hear a challenging word of truth and life. P: Holy God, help us to wait patiently for you and your truth to enter our hearts and lives.

Let your holy word transform our hearts to be like yours.

*HYMN #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center” v.1 Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead, Find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:

*HYMN #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center” v.1 Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes, that we can see all the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

*HYMN #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center” v.2 Silence is a friend who claims us, cools the heat and slows the pace, God it is who speaks and names us, knows our being, touches base,

*HYMN #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center” v.2 Making space within our thinking, lifting shades to show the sun, raising courage when we’re shrinking, finding scope for faith begun.

*HYMN #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center” v.3 In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain, let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:

*HYMN #2128 “Come and Find the Quiet Center” v.3 There’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care, in the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Gracious and Loving God, you are the God of forgiveness, healing, and understanding, and you expect the same of us. Unfortunately, we are not like that.

People curse us, and instead of praying for them, we curse them back People curse us, and instead of praying for them, we curse them back. You ask us to share our may, and often unearned, blessings with others, and we refuse.

We do good for others only so that we can receive praise and reward We do good for others only so that we can receive praise and reward. You require we love our enemies, and we say: “thanks, but no thanks.” Forgive our shortcomings, Holy, Merciful One.

Cleanse our hearts of the brokenness that causes us to sin Cleanse our hearts of the brokenness that causes us to sin. Help us to be filled with your love and spirit so that we can embody your kingdom, and bring love, healing, and wholeness to a broken world.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Hey folks, God loves each of you, a lot. God wants you to be whole and healed. Know this day that you are forgiven, blessed, and empowered with Christ’s spirit.

P: Thank you, God, for sticking with us, and refusing to hold our past against us. We are grateful for your Mercy this day. Amen.

“Hine Ma Tov” ~arr. Beery CHOIR ANTHEM “Hine Ma Tov” ~arr. Beery

Time With Young Christians

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 37:1-11

Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret – it leads only to evil. For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more, though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.

But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight in abundant prosperity.

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 6:27-38

But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.

Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?

For even sinners do the same For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High;

for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together,

running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Reverse” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.1 Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us; Teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace. Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe

We are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live. *HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.1 We are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.

*HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.2 Teach us, O Lord, Your lessons, as in our daily life We struggle to be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,

To love them as we find them or as they may become. *HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.2 To love them as we find them or as they may become.

*HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.3 Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved In living situations to do the truth in love; To practice Your acceptance until we know by heart

The table of forgiveness and laughter’s healing art. *HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.3 The table of forgiveness and laughter’s healing art.

*HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.4 Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need, Who hunger for acceptance, for righteousness and bread, We need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on:

Renew us with Your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one! *HYMN #358 “Help Us Accept Each Other” v.4 Renew us with Your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one!

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Meditation” ~Massenet

*DOXOLOGY #542, v.4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*Prayer of Dedication (unison) Holy One, we commit our ways to you. We also commit our resources to you. Please accept this humble but hope- filled offering.

Receive it, bless it, and multiply it so your love can spread throughout our community and our world. Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE PASTORAL PRAYER

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 #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.1 O Christ the great foundation on which Your people stand To preach Your true salvation in every age and land: Pour out Your Holy Spirit to make us strong and pure,

To keep the faith unbroken as long as worlds endure. *HYMN #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.1 To keep the faith unbroken as long as worlds endure.

*HYMN #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.2 Baptized in one confession, one church in all the earth, We bear our Lord’s impression, the sign of second birth: One holy people gathered in love beyond our own,

By grace we were invited, by grace we make You known. *HYMN #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.2 By grace we were invited, by grace we make You known.

*HYMN #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.3 Where tyrants’ hold is tightened, where strong devour the weak, Where innocents are frightened, the righteous fear to speak,

*HYMN #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.3 There let Your church awaking attack the powers of sin And, all their ramparts breaking, with You the victory win.

*HYMN #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.4 This is the moment glorious when He who once was dead Shall lead His church victorious, their champion and their head.

*HYMN #443 “O Christ the Great Foundation” v.4 The Lord of all creation His heavenly kingdom brings, The final consummation, the glory of all things.

*BENEDICTION

Postlude “Toccata” ~Boellmann