"The Fast"

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    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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  • 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
    Let your light shine!
    We are the salt of the earth.
    Let your light shine!
    We are the light of the world.
    Let your light shine!
    Praise the Lord for the gifts that God has given us!
    Let your light shine! 
    *HYMN 69 I, the Lord of Sea and Sky Here I Am
    (Here I Am, Lord) (Schutte)

    CALL TO CONFESSION
    Into this space we bring our weights and burdens—the things we have done or not done, said or not said. Trusting in God’s mercy, let us lay down those burdens before God.

    *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
    Patient God, it is so easy for us to miss the point. We know how to perform righteousness; we go to church, we donate, we volunteer, but we care more about how we are seen than our faithfulness to you. We show off our piousness, instead of actually sharing our food, our homes, our resources with those in the most need. Have mercy on us for the ways we serve ourselves, and teach us your way, the way that leads to justice and peace.
    (silent prayer)
    Amen.

    *DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
    Beloved, hear the good news: When we cry for help, God says, “Here I am!” When we ask for mercy, God grants it freely, longing for a closer walk with us. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
    Alleluia! Thanks be to God!

    *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 ||| Isaiah 58:1-12
    1Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. 3“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. 4Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. 5Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? 8 then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, 10if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. 11The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. 12Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

    SPECIAL MUSIC

    SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Matthew 5:13-20
    13“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. 14“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. 17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
    The Word of the Lord
    Thanks be to God! 

    SERMON ||| "The Fast" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

    WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

    *HYMN 2190 ||| Bring Forth the Kingdom ||| Bring Forth the Kingdom ||| (Sing the Faith)

     *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

    INVITATION TO OFFERING
    There is only one Lord and God, from whom all things come and for whom we live. Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
    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 give you thanks and praise, O God, that you have blessed us with your mercy and poured out your Spirit in this place. Continue to inspire and fill us each day, that we may live as your beloved people; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
    We give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, for the gifts of grace we have received from your hand. Now send us forth to reflect your light, proclaiming your saving death and resurrection until you come again in glory. Amen.

    WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

    *HYMN 741 ||| Guide My Feet ||| Guide My Feet

    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: Lee Hilario
    Ushers: Char Hansen, Bob James, Eleanor Steiner.

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

    WELCOME 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. Come again soon…and often!

     

    SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Deuteronomy 30:15-20 and Matthew 5:21-37.

     

    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..

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