Sulphur Grove Church
Traditional Service
GREETING
L: We are a church that's committed to...
C: GROWING DISCIPLES, LIVING AND SHARING GOD’S LOVE.
THE PEACE
L: May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always!
C: AND ALSO WITH YOU!
PRELUDE | Sonnie Clifton - organ
“Near to the Heart of God”
by Cleland B. McAfee, arr. by Lani Smith
CALL TO WORSHIP
L: Come! Now is the time to worship!
C: We come to worship God who loves us.
L: When the Israelites grumbled and quarreled when there was no water to drink, God miraculously produced water to show them God’s faithfulness and love.
C: When we question and accuse God, God responds by showing us love.
L: When the chief priests and elders questioned Jesus’ authority, Jesus answered them with a story about the righteousness of doing God’s will instead of paying lip service to God’s will.
C: When we test and interrogate God, God responds by pointing us back to love.
L: By answering our quarrelling and questioning with love, God teaches us how to love God, neighbor, self, and all creation.
C: When we love as God loves, we respond to testing and accusing by living the faith and sharing God’s love.
L: Come! Now is the time to worship!
C: We come to worship God who loves us for the long haul.
HYMN
“He Leadeth Me" #128
1. He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
2. Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
by waters still, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis his hand that leadeth me.
(Refrain)
3. Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis my God that leadeth me.
(Refrain)
4. And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the victory's won,
e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
(Refrain)
UNISON PRAYER
Holy God,
In the dry wildernesses of our lives, in the days of heat and thirst, You offer us living water. When we begin to doubt Your presence, and grumble that Your love is unreliable, You offer us living water. When life’s regrets and the bad choices we have made leave us feeling excluded and unworthy, You offer us living water. We thank You and praise You, O God, that however we may thirst, whatever we may need to satisfy our souls, You offer it freely and abundantly in Christ.
Send forth Your Holy Spirit to dwell among us this day as we offer You our praise, worship, and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
HYMN (8:30)
"All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name" #154
1. All hail the power of Jesus' name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
2. Ye chosen seed of Israel's race,
ye ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
3. Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.
4. Let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
5. Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse's Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.
6. O that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
We'll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
ANTHEM (10:45) | Chancel Choir
“One of These Days”
Phil Barfoot, arr. by Don Marsh
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Breakthrough Prayer:
God whose law is perfect and whose covenant with us is sure, teach
us today as Jesus taught the crowds long ago. We sometimes find ourselves in the midst of conflict… with our neighbors… our family… our friends and even with our Christian brothers and sisters here at Sulphur Grove. May we hear your voice of compassion and sense your healing touch as we long to heal the hurts brought on by disagreements with others. Multiply among us the food of Your Word, that as we are fed, we find the strength and eagerness to pass on Your gifts of grace and reconciliation with a transforming generosity of spirit as we offer and seek forgiveness with others in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Response
OFFERTORY | Jeanne Egan and Jennifer Mallas - duet
“Lord From Your Hand”
an English folk Melody by Ken Bible, arr. by Bruce Greer and Tom Fettke
"Doxology" #94
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise God, the Source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ whose power uplifts!
Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
CHILDREN'S MOMENT (10:45)
Exodus 17:1-7 NRSV
Matthew 21:23-32 NRSV
MESSAGE | Pastor Barry
For the Long Haul:
Quarreled and Tested
RESPONSE
"Trust and Obey" #467
1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
(Refrain)
3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
(Refrain)
4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
(Refrain)
POSTLUDE | Bryon Dobbs - piano
“Jesus Loves Me”
William Bradbury, arr. by Robert Vandall