"Endurance"

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
Surely God is our salvation;
we will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the Lord God is our strength and our might;
God has become our salvation.
Sing praises to the Lord, for God has done
gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.

*HYMN 840 ||| When Peace Like a River ||| Ville Du Havre ||| (It Is Well With My Soul)

CALL TO CONFESSION
Before we call, God answers us. While we are still speaking, God hears us. Let us confess our sin to God, who even now is waiting to say, “I forgive you.”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Majestic Creator, we fail to believe we carry your image and we fail to behave as those who belong to you. Mighty Savior, we turn from your path of sacrificial love and we turn toward our personal preferences. Merciful Spirit, we forget your call to righteousness and we forget our need of you. In our sinfulness, triune God, we seek now your forgiveness, praying that you will relieve the burden of our regrets by the power of your patient love.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
God is creating new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered. They shall not even cross God’s mind. Be glad and rejoice forever in what God is creating: newness of life. In Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to God and to one another.
Alleluia! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

 
*THE GLORIA 581

MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS
(Instead of passing a pad, we ask that you sign the register in the Narthex as you leave, if you haven’t done so already.)

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Isaiah 65:17-25
17For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. 20No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. 21They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD-and their descendants as well. 24Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent-its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.

SPECIAL MUSIC

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Luke 21:5-19
5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6"As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." 7They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 8And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. 9"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." 10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 12"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all because of my name. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

SERMON ||| Endurance ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 353 ||| My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less ||| Solid Rock

*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

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.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN United Methodist 724 ||| On Jordon's Stormy Banks I Stand ||| Promised Land

BLESSING
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!
Alleluia!
 
CHARGE
To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as God’s reconciling community. Christ has called us to this mission and given us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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: Paul Gerrish
Usher: Phil Dillman

Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin,  Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett

THE CARILLON – Please be reminded that Sunday, Nov. 20^th is the deadline to submit your article/s for placement in the December Carillon.  E-mail your article/s to the editor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or place it in “The Carillon” mailbox in the church office.