Pine Street Presbyterian Church
in the City of Harrisbur g
Pine Street is a Welcoming Church, Glorifying God through Worship, Fellowship and Service in the World.
September 8, 2024
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God!” ~Romans 15:7~
G ATHERING IN THE P RESENCE OF THE R ISEN C HRIST
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
O Lord Christ, by the power of your Spirit direct our praise to your Father and our prayers toward others, that we might see in each other a desire for you shared and the concerns of our world fulfilled. In your holy and gracious name we pray, Amen.
VOLUNTARY Procession for a Joyful Day Dale Wood (Please use the opening voluntary as a time of silent meditation and preparation for worship.)
SALUTATION Linda McKillop
One: A voice in the wilderness cries out: Clear the way for the Lord! Many: Make the highway in the wilderness straight and level for our God.
† Those able are invited to stand
Bold text is read or sung by all
INTROIT Praise God for This Holy Ground John Bell
The congregation sings the refrain as directed.
CALL TO WORSHIP
One: As the mountains surround the city,
Many: so God surrounds his people in every age.
One: The scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land where the righteous reside,
Many: so they will not be able to stretch out their hands to do wrong.
One: Let us worship the Lord in gladness.
318 In Christ There Is No East or West
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, we confess that your entrance into our midst often escapes our notice. We live within insular boundaries of our own choosing, shying away from risky encounters and surrounding ourselves with people just like us. Our idea of faithfulness looks like solitary life on a holy mountain, and rarely do we venture to places where we are defined in a way we cannot control. And so, we fail to proclaim you plainly, and we forestall the healing that comes from sharing your boundary-crossing presence. Embolden us, we pray. And continue to give us excuses for new forms of joining so that we might break down geographies of isolation and inequality, surprising us all by you and by who you have called us to be.
† HYMN
ST PETER †
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from Christ’s glorious power so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of light.
Many: God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
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.
R EADING AND H EARING THE W ORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST LESSON Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
One: The Word of the Lord.
Many: Thanks be to God.
Amelia Ernst
Old Testament Page 604
† HYMN 848 Trust in God (Psalm 125) SONG 13
SECOND LESSON James 2: 1-10, 14-17
New Testament Page 229
† GLORIA
GLORIA PATRI
SERMON
† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
“Are You a Dog Person?” The Rev. Seelman
from the Confession of Belhar
We believe that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells. We believe that God’ s lifegiving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity, that God’s lifegiving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world.
† THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Many: And also with you.
WELCOME
(Please sign the Friendship Register. To sign online, scan the code on the back of the bulletin)
BLESSINGS OF THE BACKPACKS
THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD
(Scan the code on the back of the bulletin to give online via PayPal)
ANTHEM Sing Alleluia Forth Charles L. Talmadge Sing alleluia forth in duteous praise, ye citizens of heaven, O sweetly raise an endless alleluia, an endless alleluia. Ye powers who stand before the eternal light, let all your choirs re-echo to the height an endless alleluia, an endless alleluia. Then let the Holy City raise the strain, and with glad songs resounding wake again an endless alleluia, an endless alleluia. Almighty Christ, to Thee, our voices sing glory forevermore; to Thee, we bring an endless alleluia, an endless alleluia. Amen.
† PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; praise triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
† PRAYER OF DEDICATION
SEALING THE WORD SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER INVITATION TO THE TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
One: The Lord be with you.
Many: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
Many: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Many: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
… in the hymn of your eternal glory:
Continued…
The prayer continues.
… Great is the mystery of Faith:
INTERCESSION, SUPPLICATION, AND CONSECRATION
One: In your mercy, Many: Lord, hear our prayer.
… now and forever.
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.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND CUP
One: The gifts of God for the people of God.
Many: Let us keep the feast.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
B EARING AND F OLLOWING THE W ORD OF G OD INTO THE W ORLD
HYMN 757 Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples
BENEDICTION
† CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Lift High the Cross CRUCIFER
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name. Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod, the Lamb victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore His sacred name.
VOLUNTARY Festal Postlude Robert J. Powell
L EADING IN W ORSHIP T ODAY
The Rev. Stuart Seelman, Pastor
Joseph Garrison, Minister of Music and Worship
Amelia Ernst, Lector
Linda McKillop, Liturgist
Thomas Ernst, Acolyte
F LOWER D EDICATION
The flowers in the sanctuary are given to the glory of God and in thankful memory for the life of Jack Taylor by Barb Taylor and family.
DATES
Sunday, September 8– 16th Sunday after Pentecost and Rally Day
10:00 am- Worship The Rev. Stuart Seelman
11:00 am- Rally Day Potluck lunch
Sunday, September 15 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost
8:45 am- Sunday School
9:00 am- Café Conversations
10:00 am- Worship The Rev. Stuart Seelman
11:30 am- Adult Forum
C OPYRIGHT N OTICE
Music in the bulletin is used with permission under OneLicense.net #A-71074. All rights reserved.
Liturgy was reprinted and adapted with permission from Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word® Worship Companion—copyright 2013.
Liturgy reprinted and adapted by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved.
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310 N. Third Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 (717) 238-9304 | www.pinestreet.org