Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ Where you are welcome, long before you arrive. Sunday, August 30, 2020, The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude Felix Mendelssohn Songs Without Words, Opus 19 No 3
Call to Worship Our story brings us together, whether in this sanctuary or from a distance. We gather by more than presence but through the expression and movement of love on the wings of the Spirit and the deepest reaches of our hearts. Come friends, let us worship God as One.
Opening Hymn Please remain seated and join in your hearts, As Sean sings for us all… All That Dwell below the Skies New Century Hymnal #27
From all that dwell below the skies let the Creator’s praise arise; Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the Redeemer’s name be sung through every land and every tongue. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Eternal are your mercies, God; Your truth stands ever high and broad; Alleluia! Alleluia! Your praise shall sound from shore to shore till suns shall rise and set no more. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Ineffable God, Unison Prayer We lift your many names in every land and with every tongue. We ask for steady guidance through times of great change; times of great sickness; and times of great loss. We cry out to you: What has narrowed our vision? Hardened the hearts of too many? We pray for wholeness. We are willing to change. Willing to find the way home with others. Above all, we pray. We ask for your help. And we pray more.
Assurance of God’s Love & Passing of the Peace of Christ
Musical Praise “Better tha I” By John Bucchine
First Reading Book of Romans 12:9-21
Your love must be sincere. Hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Love one another with the affection of siblings. Try to outdo one another in showing respect. Don’t grow slack, but be fervent in spirit: the One you serve is Christ. Rejoice in hope; be patient under trial; persevere in prayer. Look on the needs of God’s holy people as your own; be generous in offering hospitality.
Bless your persecutors—bless and don’t curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Have the same attitude toward everyone. Don’t be condescending to those who aren’t as well off as you; don’t be conceited. Don’t repay evil with evil. Be concerned with the highest ideal in the eyes of all people. Do all you can to be at peace with everyone. Don’t take revenge; leave room, my friends, for God’s wrath. To quote scripture, “‘Vengeance is mine, I will pay them back,’ says our God.” But there is more:
“If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them drink. For in doing so, you will heap burning coals upon their heads.” Don’t be overcome by evil but overcome evil by doing good.
Musical Praise Prelude No 27 for Organ By C. H. Rinck
Gospel Reading Matthew 16:21-28
From that time on, Jesus began to explain to the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, to suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and religious scholars, and that he must be killed, and on the third day raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Rabbi!” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get yourself behind me, you Satan! You are trying to make me stumble and fall. You’re setting your mind not on the things of God, but of mortals.”
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If you wish to come after me, you must deny your very selves, take up the instrument of your own death and begin to follow in my footsteps. If you would save your life, you will lose it; but if you would lose your life for my sake, you will find it. What profit would you show if you gained the whole world but lost yourself? What can you offer in exchange for your very self? “The Promised One will come in the glory of Abba God accompanied by the angels, and will repay all according to their conduct. The truth is, some of you standing here will not taste death before you see the coming of the Promised One’s reign.”
Provocation Why we are here…
Closing Hymn Please remain seated and join in your hearts, As Sean sings for us all… Lift Up Your Hearts New Century Hymnal #38
“Lift up upper hearts!” We lift them up to you, for in your presence it is right to do; “Lift up your hearts!” In joy together laud, “We lift them up, we lift them up to God.” Above the level of the former years, the mire of sin, the weight of guilty fears, The mist of doubt, the blight of love’s decay, O God of life, lift all our hearts today!
Lift every gift that God to us has given; low lies the best till blessed by God in heaven. Low lie the bounding heart, the teeming brain, till, once more, they return to God again. Then as the trumpet call, in after years, “Lift up your hearts!’ Rings pealing in our ears, With spirits one, with hearts inspired and awed, “We lift them up, we lift them up to God.”
We, Pray-ers
Invitation for Giving
Benediction & Sending Forth
Ringing of the Bell
Postlude “You Raise Me Up” Songwriters Brendan Graham / Rolf Lovland
Please Remain Seated for a Moment Talkback will take place this morning at 11:30 AM At www.ourchurchzoom.org Please send us your comments or thoughts about this morning’s worship. Thanks for being with us, from wherever you are with us!
Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ Where you are welcome, long before you arrive. Sunday, August 30, 2020, The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
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