November 16, 2008
MORNING WORSHIP 10:00 A.M.
The 27th 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 and the Atrium.)

The Order of Worship is taken from A Book of Worship for Free Churches, prepared for the use of Congregational Churches in 1948. The fourth order for Sunday Morning Worship begins:

Let the people, on entering God’s house, sit in quietness or bow reverently, asking God’s blessing on themselves and all others who have come to his house to worship.

A PRAYER

O God, thou Source of all pure desires and holy affections; give me now a quiet mind and a reverent and devout heart,
that I may worthily worship thee at this time. Amen.

BELL PRELUDE Two American Folk Hymns Wood
Jubilation Ringers

CHIMES & TOWER BELLS

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN 1 Our God, Our Help in Ages Past (verses 1, 2, 3)

*CALL TO WORSHIP AND SANCTUS Rev. Samuel R. Schaal

Minister: Great is the Name of the Lord.
People: God is more majestic than the mountains!
Minister: Let us make our vows to the Lord and keep them;
People: Let us bring gifts to our great and awesome God!
ALL: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts; Heaven and earth are full of your glory; Glory be to you, O Lord, most high. Amen.

THE GENERAL CONFESSION (by minister and people) Rev. Steven A. Peay, Ph.D.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and have done those things which we ought not to have done. But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults to you. Restore those who are penitent; according to your promises declared unto us in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

THE ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

[The Minister invites us to pray as Jesus has taught us saying:]

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.

*CALL TO PRAISE Rev. Robert J. Brink

Minister: O Lord, open thou our lips.
People: And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.
Minister: Praise ye the Lord.
People: The Lord’s Name be praised.

*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 NEW TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Bible, page 1077 Children’s Bible, page 1686

*THE PSALMODY Psalm 123 sung to St. Flavian
[Children are invited to go to Sunday School during the singing of the Psalm]

I lift my eyes to You, O Lord, The proud shall fall, but yet the meek
Your throne, earth’s canopy; Find favor in Your sight.
As masters hold their servants dear,
So, Lord, remember me. Your boundless mercies, Lord, outweigh
The scorn we must endure;
More like a child than bonded slave, While foes shall fade in their contempt,
I claim Your grace outright; Your love will long endure.

THE GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 25:14-30 Bible, page 904 Children’s Bible, page 1413

THE ANTHEM Morning Song Baltzer Kinyon

THE CALL TO PRAYER

Minister: The Lord be with you.
People: And with thy spirit.
Minister: Let us pray. O Lord show thy mercy upon us.
People: And grant us thy salvation.
Minister: O God, make clean our hearts within us.
People: And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.

THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING (by minister and people)

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE COMING OF GOD’S KINGDOM AND CHORAL AMEN

PASTORAL PRAYER AND CHORAL AMEN

OFFERTORY

The Anthem Stranger, Share Our Fire Moe
Nicolas Sluss-Rodionov, Bass Baritone

*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.

*Prayer (unison)

O thou without whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, may our speaking and hearing at this time be to the increase of our faith and to the quickening of our hope and love, and to the glory of thy Name. Amen.

The Sermon “Of Time and Talent” Dr. Peay

Prayer of Consecration (offered by the Minister)

*Hymn of Consecration 349 Take My Life and Let It Be

*Silent Prayer

*Benediction

*POSTLUDE Jubilante Deo Silver

*Indicates where the congregation is asked to stand.

Today’s Chancel flowers are given by Jim & Sharon Petrie and Harry & Nancy Holz
in thanksgiving for the many blessings they have received at First Congregational Church.

CARE FOR CHILDREN

A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during the 10:00 a.m. service.
Sunday School for children 4 years through entering 8th grade.

Worship Preview for Sunday, November 23 10:00 A.M.

We continue to celebrate our Congregational Heritage by using historic worship services.
Dr. Peay’s sermon for next Sunday is entitled: “Love Quantified?”
Thomas Gregory is the organist.
Lee Jacobi directs the Choir of First Church.