JULY 20, 2008
MORNING WORSHIP 10:00 A.M.
The 10th Sunday after Pentecost

(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 fellowship in the Friendship Lounge.)

THE PRELUDE Woodland Flute Call Dillon

CHIMES AND TOWER BELLS

THE CALL TO WORSHIP Rev. Samuel R. Schaal
People: We come into the presence of the One who created us.
Minister: God has not finished with us. There is more that we can be.
People: We offer ourselves to the One who takes us from glory into glory.
Minister: God is doing something new and it is us!
People: We give up our old ways to walk in the new path of God.
Minister: Into the glorious future of God’s reign, our Lord Jesus leads us.
People: We follow the Christ into God’s new world.

*HYMN 28 God, You Spin the Whirling Planets

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

Almighty God, your Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence. Give us pure hearts and constant wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; open us to learn, to grow, to serve and to love as consistently as Jesus did, 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 (Hymn 558)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen, Amen.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.

THE NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Romans 8:12-25 Bible, page 1030 Children’s Bible, page 1606

THE INVITATION TO SUNDAY SCHOOL Rev. Robert J. Brink

*THE PSALMODY Psalm 139 (sung to Hyfrydol, Hymn 10)
A Prayer for Deliverance

Thou, O Lord, hast searched and known me, When I rest, and when I rise;
Not a single thought I cherish Is kept secret from Thine eyes.
Ev’ry word my lips would murmur Needs no speech to make it known;
All I do, ere it be started, Is as done to Thee alone.

Whither shall I flee Thy Spirit? From Thy presence, vanish where?
Heights of heaven, darkest shadows Hide me not, for Thou are there.
If I take the wings of morning, And in earth’s far corner stand;
Even there Thy love will find me, Hold me fast within Thy hand.

In the brilliance of Thy glory, Darkest night is bright as day;
Shadows flee the path before me, When thy wisdom lights my way.
Thou who knit my parts together, Knew my life before my birth,
Sees my faults, yet trusts my promise Far beyond my feeble worth.

LORD, how precious is Thy favor Shown in Thy goodwill to me;
To the godless in their rancor, Let me Thy confessor be.
Search, O LORD, my heart’s ambitions, Thoughts my mouth would dare not say;
Judge with mercy, and preserve me In the everlasting way.

THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Bible, page 890 Children’s Bible, page 1393

THE SERMON HYMN 285 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come [remain seated]

THE SERMON “Consistency in the Midst of Flux” Dr. Peay

WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC Spirit of God Neidlinger
Nicolas Sluss-Rodionov, Bass

THE CALL TO PRAYER and SILENT MEDITATION

THE PRAYER OF PEOPLE AND MINISTER

THE RESPONSE TO PRAYER

THE OFFERTORY

Minister: God has shown us the meaning of generosity in the beautiful diversity of creation, in the overflowing love of Jesus Christ, in the never-ending gift of the Holy Spirit.
People: God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that honors each other, to serve others with joy, to share our love and material possessions.
Minister: Let us rejoice in what we have been given and in what is ours to give

OFFERTORY MUSIC Trusting in Thee Fichthorn

*THE DOXOLOGY (Hymn 563)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION

*HYMN 370 Seek Ye First

*THE CHARGE and BENEDICTION

*THE POSTLUDE Improvisation on a Well-known Hymn Tune

*Indicates where the congregation is asked to stand.

Today’s Chancel flowers are given by Linda Stevens in memory of Ralph and Louise Eschliman.

CARE FOR CHILDREN

A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during the 10:00 a.m. service.
Summer Sunday School for children 3 years through entering 6th grade.

Nicolas Sluss-Rodionov is a recent graduate of Carthage College in Kenosha where he double majored in piano performance and pedagogy as well as French. He has been the bass soloist at First Congregational Church since October and is the bass section manager and a paid core member of the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. He is an accompanist for a voice studio and also has a full-time position at Cascio Interstate Music in New Berlin. This summer Nick is singing in the chorus for Music by the Lake’s production of “Die Fledermaus” in Williams Bay.

Worship Preview for Sunday, July 27 10:00 A.M.

Dr. Peay’s sermon is entitled “Filling the Void.”

The special music will be provided by
Indra Brusubardis, Soprano.
Thomas Gregory is the organist.