"Love in Action"
THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
ninth sundayafter pentecost
july 30, 2023
- In Person Sunday, July 30, 11 a.m. This Sunday, Rev. Jewel Willis Thomas's sermon is "Love In Action"
- Worship Live Streaming at 11 a.m. Click here for July 30 streaming of live service. (If it is NOT blue "refresh" your page.)
- The Complete Bulletin is available below.
- After the service, feel free to stay on Zoom for Heavenly Perks, where we can see each other and visit just like we did at our Heavenly Perks coffee time (except you provide your own cuppa tea/coffee).
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gIVE -- electronically
to contribute (ACTIVE link: a monetary offering) to first presbyterian church of homewood or you may also contribute by mail to:First Presbyterian Church of Homewood
P.O. BOX 1519
Homewood IL 60430 -
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THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT
Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17
PRAYER FOR PEACE Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
PRELUDE
*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
We seek the realm of God:
where the smallest seeds turn into great plants.
We seek the realm of God:
as precious as pearls or treasure.
We seek the realm of God:
where joy and abundance reign.
*HYMN (Sing the Faith #2001) ||| We Sing to You, O God ||| Darwall’s 148th
CALL TO CONFESSION
We love God, and yet . . .We are Christ’s disciples, and yet . . .We are guided by the Spirit, and yet . . .there are many ways we do not live this reality. Let us call upon the Spirit to intercede for us in our time of confession.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Spirit, intercede . . .when we fall short of your glory, when we do not deserve your promises, when we do not act like those who have been called your family.
Spirit, intercede . . .when our words wound, when our silence speaks volumes, when our actions are a far cry from what you would have us do.
Spirit, intercede . . .break forth into our lives, forming us into the image of your Son, that we might never feel separate from you again.
(silent prayer)
Amen.
*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Beloved, hear this good news: God is for us. Not even our sins can separate us from the love of God.
Glory be to God for this grace and mercy!
*THE GLORIA 581
MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Jewel Willis Thomas
WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Genesis 29:15-28
15Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?” 16Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. 18Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.” 19Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.” 20So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her. 21Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.” 22So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast. 23But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her. 24(Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.) 25When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” 26Laban said, “This is not done in our country — giving the younger before the firstborn. 27Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.” 28Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Matthew 5:38-48
38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!
SERMON ||| "Love in Action" ||| Rev. Jewel Willis Thomas
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN 771 ||| What Is the World Like ||| New World
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Brief Statement of Faith 1983
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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.
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
We sing our praises to the Lord, for God is good and worthy! We give our whole selves — our talents and material possessions — to the Church with the expectation that they be used to further God’s dream for our world. Please commit yourself and give as you’re able.
OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY 606 ||| Old Hundredth
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. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We promise to use these gifts for good. We promise to use these gifts in furthering God’s realm. We commit to using these gifts in love and mercy for others. Amen.
WE GO IN GOD’S NAME
*HYMN 310 ||| I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord ||| St. Thomas
BLESSING & CHARGE
The blessing of the holy, triune God, who was and is and is to come—first and last, beginning and end, Alpha and Omega—be with you now and always.
Alleluia!
Go in peace to love the Lord your God with heart and soul and mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Amen.
POSTLUDE
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist
Worship Liturgist: Sylvia Tufts
Usher: Bob James
Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett, Scott Senffner
Today, we welcome back to the pulpit Rev. Jewel Willis Thomas as our guest preacher. She is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America (RCA). She attended Western Theological Seminary and graduated in 2013. She is the former Associate Pastor of Faith Community Church in Stickney, Illinois and presently the Stated Clerk of the Classis of Chicago for the RCA. Rev. Thomas is married with two children, two grandchildren and lives in South Holland, IL.
WELCOME – “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:2). We greet you in the words and spirit of the apostle Paul. We look forward to meeting you after the service, during the coffee hour.
SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Genesis 32:22-31 and Matthew 14:13-21.
PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..