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SAINT PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Fleetwood, Pennsylvania

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 20, 2019

GATHERING PRAYER Lord Jesus Christ, hasten the day when all of your people may know the joy, peace, and harmony of your kingdom. Grant unto me this day the power to live within your kingdom. In the name of Christ.

Amen.

INTROIT PROCESSIONAL HYMN “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (see pg. 8)

PASSING THE PEACE

Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us share signs of Christ’s peace with one another.

JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH

CENTERING

PRELUDE “Do Lord” Carter

(Congregation Standing)

Pastor: We gather in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. All: (singing) Amen!

Pastor: I lift my eyes up to the mountains, from where does my help come? People: My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Pastor: We look not to the mountains or valleys, even heaven or earth, People: For God is found among us.

Pastor: Wherever two or three are gathered in Christ’s name,

People: God is here among us.

Pastor: Come; let us worship the God of Creation, the God of People, the God of Community.

People: Let us follow Jesus, for Jesus is The Way. Let us worship together in faith. ~ written by Rev. Mindi All (singing) My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” Verse 1

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PENITENCE

Pastor: God promised a new covenant through the prophet Jeremiah, who said that one day the law would be written on our hearts and all would know God.

People: Often, when we are confused and closed and worn, we wonder if that day will ever come.

Pastor: God’s promise throughout the law and prophets is made alive in us. God will always be our God and we will always be God’s people. People: Let us be glad, for God remembers our sin no more.

Silent prayers of confession

Pastor: May the God of healing grace restore our weary souls.

People: May the Christ of glory teach us that it is through service that we gain honor. Pastor: May the Holy Spirit grant us a new sense of purpose and direction.

People: May we anticipate with eagerness God’s coming covenant and the changes it will bring. — written by Rev. Dr. Emily K. Bisset

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All (singing) My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” Verse 2

Pastor: Let us say again what it is that we believe.

All: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the 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 arose 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.

(The congregation may be seated.)

SPECIAL MUSIC (8:55) “Place in the Choir”

Refrain: All God's creatures got a place in the choir. Some sing low and some sing higher, Some sing out loud on a telephone wire, Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now. Listen to the top where the little bird sings On the melodies and the high notes ringing, And the hoot owl cries over everything And the blackbird disagrees. Singing in the night time, singing in the day, When little duck quacks, and he's on his way And the otter hasn't got much to say And the porcupine talks to himself Refrain

The dogs and the cats they take up the middle, While the honeybee hums and the cricket fiddles, The donkey brays and the pony neighs, And the old gray badger sighs Listen to the bass, it's the one on the bottom Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotamus Moans and groans with a big t'do, And the old cow just goes moo Refrain

It's a simple song a little song everywhere By the ox and the fox and the grizzly bear, The dopey alligator and the the hawk above, The sly old weasel and the turtle dove Refrain x2

CHANCEL CHOIR (10:25) “A Prayer.” Jay Althouse O Lord, you call on us each day, that we may live just as You say. O Lord, you ask that we be true, that we may serve You as we should do. Oh Lord, we feel Your presence now, that we may take this solemn vow. To live with love as You have shown, with Christ our Lord, we are not alone. May we show You in all we say and do, that we are worthy and filled with love for you. And forever, and forever, our love is true. O Lord, creator of us all, You hear our voice, You hear our call. O Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray, that You May grant us Your great eternal love. We pray, be with us, oh Lord, today. A-men.

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WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

OLD TESTAMENT Psalm 121 OT pg. 571

SERMON TEXT Second Timothy 3:14-4:5 NT pg. 213 Choral Response:

GOSPEL Luke 18:1-8 NT pg. 81

(Congregation Standing)

Choral Response: Three-fold Amen

(Congregation May Be Seated)

SERMON

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(Congregation Stands)

RESPONSIVE HYMN “Amazing Grace” No. 547

(Congregation May Be Seated)

PASTORAL PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER

Choral Response:

GIVING

OFFERING INVITATION

OFFERTORY “Rock of Ages” J. Carroll

(Congregation Stands)

DOXOLOGY (singing)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, you heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

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OFFERTORY PRAYER

SENDING

RECESSIONAL HYMN “The God of Abraham Praise” No. 24

BENEDICTION

CHORAL SENDING

CHIMES

THE POSTLUDE “Shall We Gather at the River” Lowry

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9 MISSION STATEMENT

As Followers of Jesus Christ we commit ourselves to:

• Enthusiastically proclaim and teach God’s love through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Share God’s love with neighbors near and far.

• Live as a Christian community of hope, acceptance, and encouragement in a rapidly changing world.

WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S

• If you are visiting and would like to know more about St. Paul’s please fill out the visitor’s card located in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate. One of our pastors will contact you.

• There are assisted listening devices for the hearing impaired available at the sound board in the rear of the church.

• Adult Sunday school is held at 9 a.m. - Generations Class in the Lounge off the Narthex. Also,

Adult Bible Study is held Wednesday mornings. See Announcement sheets in the bulletin for

details.

• Children are always welcome in our worship space (as are the joyful noises that they sometimes add). For those moments when it might be needed, we do have a nursery room in the rear of the church that anyone with younger children is welcome to use. The room is equipped with a speaker that will allow you to continue enjoying the service. Please ask an usher if you need any assistance.

• Activity bags for children can be found on a rack in the Narthex.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Altar Flowers are sponsored by Dennis and Donna Wanner in memory of Donna’s brother Charles Nester and Dennis’s mother Elsie Wanner-Moll The Bulletins are sponsored by Wilma Hawker in memory of all her loved ones. The Upper Room Publication for this month is sponsored by Cheryl Weiser in memory of “Pop” Kohler.

Coffee Time Sponsor: Ruemmlers Readers: 8:55 a.m. –Melissa Ruemmler 10:25 a.m. – Jason Crockett Acolytes: 8:55 a.m. – William Maurek, Emilee Scheffler 10:25 a.m. – Kay Laucks, Evan Blickley Ushers: 8:55 a.m. – Cindy Rothenberger, Dave DeAngelo, Christoph Snyder, Melissa Blickley 10:25 a.m. – Jim Goldman, Bill Thomas, Marie Richdale, Randy Hoffman Attendance: October 13, 2019 8:55 a.m. –63 10:25 a.m. – 71

September Income Expense Difference General Acct $ 37,222.56 $ 31,733.25 $ 5,489.31 Other Accts $ 4,202.00 $ 4,130.43 $ 71.57

Year to date General Acct $294,316.93 $319,174.22 -$24,857.29 Other Accts $ 38,779.29 $ 61,594.88 -$22,815.59