A Service of Worship for Sunday, July 26, 2020 —
Old First Church, Philadelphia, PA
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the Rev. Michael Caine, pastor; Holly Phares, music director; William Lowden, organist
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Welcome
…no matter who you are, or
where you are on life’s journey,
you are welcome here…
Prelude Pastorale
Léon Boelmann
Silence
My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for God will pluck my feet out of the net.
— Psalm 25:16
Words of Gathering
One: We come so that we can worship our God, whose words restore us to life.
Many: We come so that we can follow Jesus, whose hopes for justice are crystal clear.
All: We come so that we can learn from the Spirit, whose teachings help us to understand how to live as God’s people.
Confession
You offer us words which can restore lives, our own and others, but we twist them into insults and accusations. You would welcome us into the family of those who serve humbly, we like to hang out with the cheeky and spiteful. You bless us with all manner of gifts, but we continue to envy what others have.
Keep us on our toes, good God, lest we continue to trip over our foolishness.
In your mercy, may we not offer a fist, but a helping hand to another. May we walk with the lonely, rather than push them away. May we look for the forgotten, rather than right past them. May we continue to listen to your Word of life, Jesus Christ, so we might trust in your grace and hope.
Silence — In the silence, we may continue with our personal confessions
Assurance
Passing the Peace
— share a recent experience or insight that leads you to pass on God’s peace —
A Time with the Children
The Scripture James 5:13-18
Lord, I Want to Be a Christian
Singers: Suzanne Cole, Holly Phares, and Marjorie Wilhite
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving…
Lord, I want to be like Jesus…
The Sermon All the Lonely People
The Rev. Dr. Robert Polk
Sermon Talk-back
There is a tradition that “the Word is not preached until the responses of the congregation has been heard. Preaching is always a conversation; a sermon talk-back just makes the conversation more explicit. Now is a time for questions, corrections, comments, additions…
Affirmation of Faith — adapted from the Belhar Confession of the World Communion of Reformed Churches
We believe that the church must together come to know the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ. We believe that together we are built up to the stature of Christ, the new humanity. We believe that we must together know and bear one another’s burdens, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ. We believe that we are called to admonish and comfort one another; to suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness; to pray together; and together serve God in this world.
The Offering
Offertory If Thou but Suffer God to Guide Thee
J.G. Walther
Dedication
The Blessing and Sending of a Prayer Shawl — Delilah Marrow
Prayers of the People
The Prayer of our Savior (using sins, debts or trespasses)
Community Life
- Congregational Meeting after worship, Sunday, Aug. 2.
- Meeting with parents of young ones for Children’s Ministry Online 2.0.
- POWER’s Townhalls on Police Oversight.
Blessings and Benediction — Billi Charron
Postlude Prelude in G
Georg F. Handel
FELLOWSHIP
