New bulletins are posted the day prior.
Sunday, October 27
9:30 a.m. Worship Service
View mobile-device version of the back (announcements) half of the weekly bulletin
PRELUDE
Toccata and Fugue in F Major
Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
arr. Jason W. Krug
INTROIT
Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice
Hans Leo Hassler
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice, with exultation springing,
and with united heart and voice and holy rapture singing,
proclaim the wonders God hath done, how his right arm the victory won;
right dearly it hath cost him.
DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Let us come to worship God,
All: whose teaching is perfect, whose directions are sure.
One: Come into this holy place to seek God,
All: whose commandment is clear, whose judgments are true.
One: Come let us follow the path of God.
All: Let the words of our mouths and the whispering of our hearts draw us close to God and one another.
HYMN
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing. Our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe. His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he. Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth. The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill; God’s truth abideth still. His kingdom is forever.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, source of all life, Lord of mercy and grace, hear our prayer. We come before you confessing our need of healing: of our bodies and souls; our relationships; our pride, fear, and apathy. We know that with you nothing is impossible, not even our healing, not even the restoration of the whole world. We pray that you will heal us and our world, so that we will be freed to serve and love and dream and be, as Christ calls us. Amen.
DECLARATION OF PARDON
One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Leader: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.
We encourage those online to take a few seconds to share your presence with us, using the online form.
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANTHEM
“Alleluia”
Dieterich Buxtehude
Alleluia.
FIRST LESSON
Genesis 2:4–9, 15–25
One: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
GLORIA PATRI
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.
SECOND LESSON
Nehemiah 8:1–8
One: The grass withers, and the flower fades,
All: but the word of our God shall stand forever.
SERMON
“The Good Work of Friendship”
Tom Are Jr.
HYMN
“When Hands Reach Out and Fingers Trace”
When hands reach out and fingers trace the beauty of a loved one’s face, we thank you, God, that love relies on gifts of grace not seen with eyes.
When fingers spell and signs express our prayer and praise and thankfulness, we thank you, God, that hands can sing; you bless the silent songs we bring.
When broken bodies will not mend, we thank you, God, for Christ our friend. In him, our healing can begin: he welcomes all the wounded in.
And when the ways we learn and grow are not the ways that others know, we thank you, God, that we have learned your love’s a gift, and never earned.
Your Spirit gives us differing ways to serve you well and offer praise. When all are joined as one, we’ll be your able, strong community.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Apostles' Creed (Modern Version)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
OFFERING
Gifts supporting the ministry and mission of Fourth Church can be made online
OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g’mein”
Michael Praetorius
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice, with exultation springing,
and, with united heart and voice and holy rapture singing,
proclaim the wonders God hath done, how his right arm the victory won;
right dearly it hath cost him.
OFFERTORY RESPONSE
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one.
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Creator and Giver of all that is good, everything we have is yours. With gratitude we return these gifts to you. Guide us to be good stewards, so that we might use these gifts to sustain our church for today and to build for tomorrow. Teach us to invest generously in our neighbors, our community, and your world. Amen.
HYMN
“The Church of Christ in Every Age”
The church of Christ in every age, beset by change but Spirit-led, must claim and test its heritage and keep on rising from the dead.
Across the world, across the street, the victims of injustice cry for shelter and for bread to eat, and never live before they die.
Then let the servant church arise, a caring church that longs to be a partner in Christ’s sacrifice, and clothed in Christ’s humanity.
For Christ alone, whose blood was shed, can cure the fever in our blood, and teach us how to share our bread and feed the starving multitude.
We have no mission but to serve in full obedience to our Lord: to care for all, without reserve, and spread Christ’s liberating word.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
RECESSIONAL
Amazing Grace
Traditional
POSTLUDE
Carillon Sortie
Henri Mulet
View mobile-device version of the back (announcements) half of the weekly bulletin