"It's A Matter of Perspective"

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    you may also contribute by mail to:

    First Presbyterian Church of Homewood
    P.O. BOX 1519
    Homewood IL 60430

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  • BULLETIN FOR STREAMING SERVICE

     

    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  |||  Higher Ground  |||  Lani Smith

    *CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP  |||  based on Psalm 127:1
    Unless it is the LORD who builds the house,
    the builders’ work is pointless.
    Unless it is the LORD who protects the city,
    the guard on duty is pointless.

    *HYMN 305 |||  Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! |||  Darwall’s 148 th

    *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
    Loving God, who knows and loves us, we admit that we get tired of trying to be “spiritual adults.” Keeping our hearts and minds open to you, trying to discern what you would have us to do and whom we should call as a pastor, and finding hope in tiresome times takes a lot of effort. Help us to open our minds and lives enough to find your rest, understanding and forgiveness.

    (silent prayer)

    Amen.

    *DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
    The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. May the God of mercy, who forgives us all our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Friends, believe the good news of the gospel. Amen.

    In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

    *THE GLORIA

    MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN |||  Rev. Dudley J. Elvery

    WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

    WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

    PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

    FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 CEB
    3 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shouldn’t I seek security for you, so that things might go well for you? 2 Now isn’t Boaz, whose young women you were with, our relative? Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. 3 You should bathe, put on some perfume, wear nice clothes, and then go down to the threshing floor. Don’t make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, notice the place where he is lying. Then go, uncover his feet, and lie down. And he will tell you what to do.” 5 Ruth replied to her, “I’ll do everything you are telling me.” 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. He was intimate with her, the Lord let her become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi, “May the Lord be blessed, who today hasn’t left you without a redeemer. May his name be proclaimed in Israel. 15 He will restore your life and sustain you in your old age. Your daughter-in-law who loves you has given birth to him. She’s better for you than seven sons.” 16 Naomi took the child and held him to her breast, and she became his guardian. 17 The neighborhood women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They called his name Obed. He became Jesse’s father and David’s grandfather.

    SPECIAL MUSIC |||  Blest Be the Tie That Binds Us Together |||  Mark Hayes

    SECOND SCRIPTURE READING |||  Mark 12:38-44 |||  The Message
    38-40 He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.” 41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”

    The Word of the Lord

    Thanks be to God!

    SERMON |||  "It’s a Matter of Perspective" |||  Rev. Dudley J. Elvery

    WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

    *HYMN 712 |||   As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought |||  Forest Green

    *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH |||  From the Confession of 1967 |||  9.40

    The church thus orders its life as an institution with a constitution, government, officers, finances, and administrative rules. These are instruments of mission, not ends in themselves. Different orders have served the gospel, and none can claim exclusive validity. A Presbyterian polity recognizes the responsibility of all members for ministry and maintains the organic relation of all congregations in the church. It seeks to protect the church from exploitation by ecclesiastical or secular power and ambition. Every church order must be open to such reformation as may be required to make it a more effective instrument of the mission of reconciliation.

    PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

    OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS

    OFFERTORY |||  Standing On the Promises Mark Hayes
    *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
    Loving God, see in our offering our “two cents” worth, not as an opinion, but as a statement that we, like that widow, give willing and completely to you. 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
    God of grace, you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May this food strengthen us in love and help us to serve you in each other. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

    WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

    *HYMN 316 |||  Where Charity and Love Prevail |||  Twenty-Fourth

    *PRAYER OF BLESSING from St. Patrick
    We arise today through the strength of heaven;
    Light of the sun, Splendor of fire,
    Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind,
    Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth,
    Firmness of the rock.
    We arise today through God's strength to pilot us;
    God's might to uphold us, God's wisdom to guide us,
    God's eye to look before us, God's ear to hear us,
    God's word to speak for us, God's hand to guard us,
    God's way to lie before us, God's shield to protect us,
    God's hosts to save us afar and anear,
    Alone or in a multitude.
    Christ shield me today against wounding
    Christ with me, Christ before me,
    Christ behind me, Christ in me,
    Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
    Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
    Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
    Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
    Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
    Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
    We arise today
    Through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation. Amen.

    POSTLUDE |||  Recessional |||  Henry Purcell

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