FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WAUWATOSA

 

July 2, 2006

MORNING WORSHIP 10:00 A.M.

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost/Independence Day

 

THE CHURCH GATHERS

 

GATHERING MUSIC

                  HYMN 440               O Beautiful for Spacious Skies

                  HYMN 441              Once to Every Man and Nation

                  HYMN 443              Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory                                                              

 

WELCOME                                                                                 Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.

(Please pass the red pew pads now. If you are a guest this Sunday, we would love to

greet you following the service or at Coffee Hour in Friendship Lounge.)

 

PRELUDE                                       Battle Hymn Tribute                                              Behnke

                                                                                                                                                           

CHIMES AND TOWER BELLS  

 

THE CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                  James Benz                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Liturgist:    You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood;

People:     a holy nation, God’s own people,

Liturgist:    in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of the One who called you out of darkness into God’s marvelous light;

People:     We come as the Lord’s free and gathered people to give honor, glory and praise to God’s Holy Name!

 

*HYMN 433                     God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand

 

 

*PRAYER OF INVOCATION (unison)                                                                                

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we pray, that we and all the peoples of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever who taught us to pray:                                                                 

 

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.

 

*THE GLORIA PATRI

 

THE CHILDREN’S SERMON                                                                        Cindy Payette

 

*HYMN 437                                  My Country, ‘Tis of Thee

{Children ages 3 through entering 3rd grade are dismissed

to Sunday School, in room LL2, during the singing of the hymn.}

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

THE CHURCH LISTENS TO THE WORD

 

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON   Hebrews 11:8-16                             Bible, page 1050

 

THE PSALMODY (sung - insert)       God is Our Refuge                                             Psalm 46

 

THE GOSPEL LESSON                  Matthew 5:43-48                                   Bible, page 839

 


THE SERMON                   “Becoming the Lord’s Free People”                               Dr. Peay

 

WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC My Master Hath a Garden                                    Thompson

                                                             Eleanor Quint

 

                     THE CHURCH OFFERS THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

 

THE PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE AND MINISTER

 

THE OFFERTORY                                      

                  SPECIAL MUSIC       He Shall Be Like A Tree                                          Bowling

                  *DOXOLOGY (HYMN 513)

 

CALL TO CONFESSION AND THE CONFESSION

Liturgist:    With one voice let us confess our sins against God and neighbor.

ALL:         O God, forgive us for our national sins. Pardon us for lawlessness, materialism, racial hatreds, and all class selfishness. Make us brothers and sisters to humankind, and grant that no nation need fear us, whose feet are placed in the ways of righteousness. Save us from too much dependence upon temporal things, and set our hearts upon the riches of eternity. May the worth of our nationalism be more than the value of our possessions, and America be as great in soul as you have allowed her to become as a nation. Teach us that a nation is not saved by armed might, but by simple living, high thinking, and a dependence upon you, O God. Give us, we pray you, the grace of humility; pardon our transgressions; and create a right spirit within us. In Jesus’ Name we ask it. Amen.

[adapted from the Congregational Church Worship Book, C.W. Merriam, 1931]

                 

THE WORDS OF ASSURANCE AND INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Minister:    The Lord be with you.

People:     And also with you.

Minister:    Lift up your hearts.

People:     We lift them to the Lord.

Minister:    Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:     It is right to give our thanks and praise.

[after: “to sing your glory in a hymn of endless praise:” all say:}

ALL:         Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your Glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

                             [The Minister continues the Great Thanksgiving prayer.]

 

THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

 

THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

 

                                THE SENDING FORTH OF THE CHURCH

 

*HYMN 438                           O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand

 

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

 

POSTLUDE                                      God of Our Fathers                                                   Kerr

 

*The congregation is invited to stand, if able.

 

The Chancel flowers are given in memory of
 Jenny M. Polacek

from her husband, Michael, and daughters, Marian and Susan.

 

Please join us for coffee hour today and greet our new Associate Minister for Youth and Family, the Rev. Rob Brink, and his family, Jessica, Aiden, and Eli. Next week Rev. Brink will deliver the sermon as he begins his ministry among us. Welcome, Rob, Jess and boys!

 

Soloist Eleanor Quint has sung in the Chancel Choir for seven years. She has a private voice studio, gives lessons at Martin Luther High School, and directs the “Young at Heart” Singers. Later this month, Ellie can be seen as the Grand Duchess in “The Student Prince” with Music By the Lake on Lake Geneva in Williams Bay, WI.

 

 

Worship Preview for Sunday, July 9, 2006 ~ 10:00 a.m.

Next week: Next Sunday’s sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Rob Brink.

 The Pike Creek Bluegrass Band will provide the special music.

Ralph Ehlert is the organist.