You can watch today’s service here.
OPENING PRAYER LITANY: Psalm 116:1-9
Pastor: I love the Lord, for God has heard me.
Peoples: I will call on God as long as I live.
Pastor: In distress and anguish, I called on the name of the Lord.
Peoples: Gracious is the Lord, and righteous and merciful.
Pastor: When I was brought low, God saved me.
Peoples: Return, o my soul, to your rest, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
Pastor: For God has delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
Peoples: I walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
CALL TO CONFESSION (Nehemiah 9:17)
God is ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
I invite you to join with me in our unison prayer of confession, followed by a time either for silent personal confession.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (TERI MCDOWELL OTT, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Merciful God, you call us to service and work that cannot be done alone. Yet we overburden ourselves, and our egos keep us from asking for help. Forgive our false show of strength. Humble us in leadership. Help us to acknowledge that the gifts we have been given in the Body of Christ include hands of help and support. Amen.
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what do you need to confess this week?
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (TERI MCDOWELL OTT, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
God lifts the weary, lightens the load of those overly burdened, supports and strengthens those who have been knocked down. Claim the forgiveness God so graciously offers. Know the new life Christ has given us. Amen.
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (TERI MCDOWELL OTT, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
May the meditations of our minds and hearts be acceptable to you, O God, our Rock and our Redeemer, as we approach your Word today. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
James 3:13-4:3
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
MARK 8:27-38
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ Jesus asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me if you are against me! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’
Consider:
- Who would you say that Jesus is?
- To what extent is being Christian a part of your personal identity?
- How comfortable are you talking about your faith?
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Who Do You Say I Am?” here.
HYMN O Lord, Our Lord (How Majestic Is Your Name)
music and lyrics by Michael W. Smith, 1981
© 1981 Meadowgreen Music Company (admin. EMICMGPublishing.com)
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
O Lord, we praise your name.
O Lord, we magnify your name:
Prince of Peace, mighty God;
O Lord God Almighty.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (TERI MCDOWELL OTT, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Eternal God, we rejoice today in the gift of life, which we have received by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ. In this moment of prayer, we pause to give thanks for:
- The love of our families …
- The support of our friends …
- Strength and abilities to serve your purpose …
- This community in which we live …
- Opportunities to give as we have received …
God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others and commit ourselves to serve them even as we have been served in Jesus Christ. In this moment of prayer, we pause to remember:
- Those who are overwhelmed by the burden of leadership …
- Those who are exhausted from navigating uncertainty and change …
- Those who are ill and their caregivers …
- Those who are in need of courage to move forward …
Merciful God, you call us to journeys where we cannot see the destination, by paths untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us.
Finally, hear us now, as we pray the prayer Christ taught us to pray by saying together, Our Father …
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. 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.
MORNING OFFERING (Acts 20:35)
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them off in the mail slot. Alternatively, if you visit peoples presbyterian dot org, you’ll find a donate button at the top of the page that will link you directly to a secure page where you could make a donation online. We appreciate the generosity of the Peoples family as we live out our faith in MISSION and ministry.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (TERI MCDOWELL OTT, PRESBYTERIAN OUTLOOK)
Holy God, these offerings are only a portion of all that you have given us. We gratefully present these gifts and entrust them to your work in this world. May our gifts share the Good News of the gospel to those who are in need. May these gifts help unburden those with the heaviest of loads. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (FROM A BRIEF STATEMENT OF FAITH)
We believe there is no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus;
for we know that all things work together for good
for those who love God,
who are called according to God’s purpose.
We are convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor rulers,
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. Amen.
HYMN Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons)
lyrics by John L. Bell and Graham Maule, 1987
music: Scottish melody; arr. John L. Bell, 1987
© 1987 WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.)
Used with permission under ONE LICENSE # 738214-A
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my Name be known?
Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
Will you leave your self behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoner free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen?
And admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
Will you love the ‘You’ you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show,
thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me?
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace.
From wherever you are, serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.