SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2008
MORNING WORSHIP 8:45 A.M.
The First Sunday in Lent

(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 the Social Hall.)

THE PRELUDE Prelude in e minor Bach

CHIMES AND TOWER BELLS

WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.

Minister: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
People: What did God do to help us?
Minister: God chose the people of Israel to make a new beginning.
People: They received God’s covenant and prepared the way for Jesus to come as our Savior.
Minister: The Son of God came among us as one of us, bringing a new covenant.
ALL: Let us worship the God of the covenant, the God of heaven and earth.

*HYMN 48 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

*THE PRAYER OF THE DAY AND LORD’S PRAYER (unison)

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, and 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.

*ASCRIPTION OF GLORY (Hymn 560) Be Thou, O God, Exalted High

THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 4:1-11 Bible, page 879

THE INVITATION TO SUNDAY SCHOOL Rev. Robert J. Brink

*THE PSALMODY (unison) Psalm 32 (sung to Munich, Hymn 252)

How blest those whose transgressions
The Lord forgives through grace;
Who as the heirs of mercy,
Find peace before God’s face.
The heart with guilt so heavy
It bends to bear the strain
Can yield to God its affliction
And claim its strength again.

The Lord with absolution
Will greet the penitent,
And send the dawn of mercy
Before the night is spent.
God to the meek and lowly
A hiding place shall be;
In danger, their salvation;
From sin, their liberty.

Instill in me Your wisdom,
Instruct me in Your ways;
Grant but a word of pardon
And I respond with praise.
God’s steadfast love surrounds me,
And doubts shall soon depart;
Redeemed my soul rejoices,
And gladness fills my heart.

(metrical setting by Michael Morgan)

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Philippians 3:4b-14 Bible, page 1070 Rev. Anthony B. Robinson

THE SERMON “Beyond Civic Faith” Rev. Robinson

THE ANTHEM Kyrie Eleison Mozart

THE CALL TO PRAYER and SILENT MEDITATION

THE PRAYER OF PEOPLE AND MINISTER (responsive) adapted from the Iona Community

Minister: God of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray to you because your Son was tempted like us, in all things, yet did not submit; because he has promised to come to the help of those who, in every age, are put to the test; and because we are not exempt from the subtle attraction of what is wrong and what is evil, therefore we pray to you.
[After a brief silence the Minister says ‘Kyrie Eleison’ and we respond: Lord, have mercy.]
People: We call you to where, in our lives we exploit our abilities purely for personal gain, and let the human gifts, which were meant to illuminate the world, light up no more than our own vanity.
[After a brief silence the Minister says ‘Kyrie Eleison’ and we respond: Lord, have mercy.]
Minister: We call you to where, in our lives, we have made a show of our religion and made faith a means of attracting to us, at the cost of distracting from you.
[After a brief silence the Minister says ‘Kyrie Eleison’ and we respond: Lord, have mercy.]
People: We call you to where, in our lives, another god, more to our liking, is the object of our fawning, the recipient of our time, of our attention, of our worship.
[After a brief silence the Minister says ‘Kyrie Eleison’ and we respond: Lord, have mercy.]
ALL: For it is in these places in our lives that we threaten to desert you, the one who has chosen us and who, in the wilderness, at the Temple and on the mountaintop showed there was a better way. So we turn from our seeking after selfish comfort, we turn from our inclination to false piety, we turn from our preference for petty loyalties. From these we avert our gaze, turning our faces towards you, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

THE CHORAL RESPONSE TO PRAYER

THE OFFERTORY

THE ANTHEM Gloria in Excelsis Mozart

*THE RESPONSE (Hymn 438, verse 1) We Give Thee but Thine Own

*THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION

*HYMN 353 Be Thou My Vision

*THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*THE POSTLUDE Fugue in e minor Bach

*Indicates where the congregation is asked to stand.

CARE FOR CHILDREN

A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during the 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. services.
Sunday School at 8:45 and Godly Play at 11:00.

Join us for Coffee Hour in the Social Hall to meet and chat with
our special guest preacher, Rev. Anthony Robinson.

Worship Preview for Sunday, February 17, 8:45 A.M.

Dr. Peay’s sermon is entitled “Born Again, Really.”
Thomas Gregory is the organist.
Lee Jacobi directs the Pilgrim Choir.
Roxanne Trump-Miles directs the Junior Choir.