Order of Worship
October 17th 2021 ~ 21st Sunday After Pentecost
Prelude
Welcome, Announcements, and Peace
Call to Worship
God, you search me and know me.
Before I sit, you know when I will rise.
God, you search me and know me.
Before I speak, you know what I will say.
God, you search me and know me,
in my joy and despair,
in my breathing in and breathing out.
God, you search me and know me.
Your knowledge is too deep to reach,
too vast to comprehend.
God, you search me and know me.
Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Amen.
~ from the Seekers Church
Hymn of Praise
Verse 1
The perfect wisdom of our God
Revealed in all the universe
All things created by His hand
And held together at His command
He knows the myst’ries of the seas
The secrets of the stars are His
He guides the planets on their way
And turns the earth through another day
Verse 2
The matchless wisdom of His ways
That mark the path of righteousness
His word a lamp unto my feet
His Spirit teaching and guiding me
And O the mystery of the cross
That God should suffer for the lost
So that the fool might shame the wise
And all the glory might go to Christ
Verse 3
O grant me wisdom from above
To pray for peace and cling to love
And teach me humbly to receive
The sun and rain of Your sovereignty
Each strand of sorrow has a place
Within this tapestry of grace
So through the trials I choose to say
Your perfect will in Your perfect way
CCLI Song # 5933569
Keith Getty | Stuart Townend
© 2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 3154366
Opening Prayer
knowing that God is already here among us;
knowing that there is nothing that separates us
from the presence of our Lord.
Wherever we are, wherever we go,
God is near.
So let us enter into this service of worship
with confidence and hope,
knowing that God is already with us,
and that God stands eager to meet us
and bless us with God’s love. Amen.
Special Music
I Am Waiting
Ellen Stapenhorst
Scripture Reading
—, Reader
Romans 11:33-35
The Message
33-36 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out.
Is there anyone around who can explain God?
Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?
Anyone who has done him such a huge favor
that God has to ask his advice?
Everything comes from him;
Everything happens through him;
Everything ends up in him.
Always glory! Always praise!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
John 3:1-9
New Living Translation
3 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Is There Anybody Out There? Part 2
Senior Pastor Robert de Wetter
Pastoral Prayer
Prayers of the People
—, Reader
Offertory
Singing Skies and Dancing Waters
John Denver
Doxology
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
CCLI Song # 6115489
Thomas Ken
Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 3154366
Communion
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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Communion Hymn
Verse 1
It may take time on this journey slow
What lies ahead I’m not sure I know
But the hand that holds this flailing soul
He will not let go
Verse 2
There may be days when I cannot breathe
There may be scars that will stay with me
But the deepest stains they will be washed clean
And He will not let go
Bridge
When all around me soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
When grief has paralyzed my heart
His grip holds even tighter than the dark
Verse 3
I’ve heard it said this too shall pass
The joy will come that the hurt won’t last
So I will trust that within His grasp
I am not alone for He will not let go
CCLI Song # 6040310
Laura Story
© 2011 Laura Stories (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
New Spring (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 3154366
Closing Prayer
God, we come before you and thank you for your presence with us. You promise to never leave us or abandon us. Even on days that are long and leave us feeling weary and empty, we know that you have not left us. On the days when our circumstances have consumed us, you hold us. You are with us and will not let us go. Help us to trust you this and every day, dear Lord. In your strong name Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
– adapted from hellohope
Blessing
Postlude
Heart of Love
Ellen Stapenhorst
Our love in action now begins…
Our Sunday School is next…
This Sunday’s Special Music is brought to you by
Ellen Stapenhorst and Michael Schoepe.
Thank you to all of this Sunday’s volunteers!
Altar Setting – Sue de Campo
Coffee – Sue and Mark
9:00 Scripture and Prayers of the People – Jim Light