CCLI license #1913561
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Words of Reflection
What old habits, lingering resentments, or fears nag at you and keep you from feeling at peace? What would it take to set you free? What can you do to find that freedom?
Prelude
Sing along with Keisha Prime
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you. You alone are my hearts desire and I long to worship you. You alone are my strength, my shield, To you alone may my spirit yield. You alone are my hearts desire and I long to worship you.
Call to Worship
Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss. I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing God’s love through Christ Jesus my Lord.
This is the Lord’s doing, a gift of God’s revealing, and it is amazing in our eyes.
Opening Prayer
Ever-present God, you never leave us. Help us to stay with you when we are tempted to stray, and keep us seeking after that which is true, that all may know that you are the Lord, our God, a tenacious presence in whatever our reality. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
We and our ancestors have sinned.
They forgot God who had done great things in Egypt.
While our means are different, our compulsions are the same. Let us confess our brokenness, for God is merciful and just and will forgive us our sin.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, you have called us to peace and freedom. But we have not yielded to your invitation. We have remained mired in sin, choked by injustice, and prisoners of self-interest.
Forgive us, we pray. Uproot our evil, prune away our sin, and shower upon us the gift of your grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness does not depend on anything we have done, but comes from the grace of God alone through faith in Jesus Christ which transforms and makes all thing new.
This is the good news: in Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
Music “Innocent” written and sung by Keisha Prime
Mysterious You are a God who would defend
A breaker of your law.
Unexplainable You are a God of no pretense.
You opened up Your heart.
For a world of sinners gone astray,
And I am one among
The many who stand guilty,
But I am innocent by means of the blood.
Chief of sinners though I be
You sent Your only Son to die my death for me.
Ungrateful though I be
You grace me with each breath so I can sing for thee.
For the Lamb who died on Calvary and rose in victory.
Your honor I plead guilty,
But He says: “Child you’re innocent by means of my blood!”
Holy is the blood of the Almighty
Precious is the blood of the holy One
Cleansing is the blood of my Savior.
Jesus died on Calvary so I could sing this song
To tell you though you’re guilty
You are innocent by means of the blood.
Prayer for Illumination
God of creation, open our ears to your word and our hearts to your Spirit. Amen.
A Reading from Scripture Matthew 22: 1—14 NRSV
Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
Sermon “Living in the Kingdom of God” Rev. Russell Lehman
MUSIC Great Is Thy Faithfulness
1
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
2
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
-those who are struggling with health concerns
-those who are involved in court cases
-those whose lives and livelihoods have been disrupted by fires, floods and winds
-our elected officials
- those who stand in harm's way to protect us
- the citizens of this country, that they will exercise their right to vote
Pastoral Prayer
Merciful God, look with compassion on your people, that we may be relieved of the burdens of fear, doubt, and disease and the plagues of greed, lust and arrogance. Heal the sick, comfort those who mourn, and guide those who are making decisions. Strengthen us all to do your will, to stand up to oppression of every kind and to assist those who struggle in poverty. Fill us with your love and grace that we may, in turn, share that love and that grace with all those within our lives and sphere of influence. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen
Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical Version)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
Offering our Gifts
Friends, God is faithful and gracious to us, upholds us, and raises us up. Let us show our thanksgiving by giving generously to support ministries that ease burdens and give rest to those in need.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website @lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Prayer of Dedication
With grateful hearts, Lord of the harvest, we offer our gifts and our lives to your service. Amen
Charge
Beloved, forget what lies behind; look for what lies ahead, and press on toward the goal: the Kingdom of God.
BLESSING
Now may the face of God shine upon you so that you may be saved; and may the grace of God live within you so that you may know God’s eternal kingdom, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Postlude-Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing John Fawcett, 1773
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