“Here Comes This Dreamer”
THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
eleventh sunday after pentecost
August 13, 2023
- In Person Sunday, August 13, 11 a.m. This Sunday, Pastor Matt Lang's sermon is "Here Comes This Dreamer"
- Worship Live Music Streaming at 11 a.m. Click here for August 13 streaming of live service. (If it is NOT blue "refresh" your page.)
- The Complete Bulletin is available below.
- Please join us for fellowship via Zoom immediately after worship from 12:00-12:45 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!
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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
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
August 13, 2023
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
Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I offer words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. ~Henri Nouwen
PRELUDE
CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
O give thanks to the Lord! Sing to God! Tell of God’s wonderful works! Remember all the things God has done! We glory in God’s holy name! Seek the Lord, our strength and refuge: we come to be in God’s presence.
HYMN 35 ||| Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty ||| Lobe Den Herren
CALL TO CONFESSION
We come seeking God’s voice, a voice that loves us, cares for us, but also challenges us to do better, to love more fully, and believe more wholeheartedly. Let us be honest with God about where we are on our journey.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, it is easy to confess with our lips that you are Lord, but it is much harder to believe with our hearts, to live in a way that puts you first. We are quick to trust in idols. We depend on what we can see, touch, and control, instead of waiting to hear your still, small voice. Forgive us, Lord, and help our unbelief, so that what we confess with our lips we may truly believe in our hearts. (silent prayer) Amen.
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. There are no prerequisites, no disqualifications, no exceptions. We are saved, we are forgiven, we are freed! Hallelujah!
THE GLORIA ||| 581
MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang
WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
1Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. 2This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. 4But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. 12Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” 14So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem, 15and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16“I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. 18They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. 19They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” 21But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him” — that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. 23So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; 24and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. 25Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed. 28When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
SPECIAL MUSIC
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Matthew 14:22-33
22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” The Word of the Lord Thanks be to God!
SERMON ||| "Here Comes This Dreamer" ||| Rev. Matt Lang
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN 834 ||| Precious Lord, Take My Hand Precious Lord
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
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
For the blessings of this and all our days, we thank you, gracious God. Accept, we pray, not just this money but also our lives freely offered in gratitude for all you have done for us. Use them both, in this place and wherever you might take us. Amen.
SEALING OF THE WORD ||| INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE ||| GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
SHARING OF THE MEAL
All who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, regardless of age or denomination, are invited to partake in the Sacrament of Communion. Please come forward down the side aisle. Take a piece of the bread and a cup and eat. Please dispose of the cups in the waste baskets by the table. We have gluten free bread available. Return to your seat by the center aisle.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, creator and ruler of the universe, for you have satisfied our souls with this feast of your grace. Keep us faithful in your service until your realm of glory comes; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
WE GO IN GOD’S NAME
*HYMN 821 ||| My Life Flows On ||| How Can I Keep From Singing (How Can I Keep From Singing?)
CHARGE & BLESSING
The blessing of the one God—Spirit, Son, and Father—be with you now and always. Alleluia! Lead a life worthy of your calling, giving glory to God in all things. 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: Rod Dunlap ||| Ushers: Bob James, Charlene Hansen, Eleanor Steiner
Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett, Scott Senffner
A WARM WELCOME to everyone to the house and table of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our host. In sharing Holy Communion, we remember how he gave his life for us and how he wants us to respond to his gift. We invite you to his table, and we hope to meet you after worship for a time of fellowship.
SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Genesis 45:1-15 and Matthew 15:10-28.