Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 3, 2023 | 10:00am

Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Guest Pastor | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music

Thought for Worship: "Do not ask God to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet." | unknown

GATHERING

Welcome

Prelude God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens | Powell

Call to Worship

Votum

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Amen

Opening Sentences

The Lord be with you.

And also with you!

We gather to worship the God of all creation

who crafted the seas and mountains, and yet cares for each of us.

We gather to worship the God of all mystery

who rejoices in our being, and invites us to join the cosmic dance!

Salutation

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

Amen.

*Hymn of Praise: We Are Standing on Holy Ground

Call to Confession

We are created in God’s image,

and we are called good,

but too often our actions distort that image

and fail to reflect goodness in this world.

Let us return to who we were made to be as we confess.

Prayer of Confession

God of all goodness,

Majestic God,

You have called us to live in peace,

but we turn to conflict and hatred.

You yearn for us to work together,

but we keep finding reasons to dismiss each other.

Forgive us and show us a better way

to be your people, your body,

your church.

Silent Confession

Assurance of Pardon

God knows who we were made to be

and has been waiting to help restore us

to ourselves, to each other, to community.

Thanks be to God! We are forgiven.

The Law of God:

*Gloria Patri | #579

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.

*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking

One: May the peace of Christ be with you!

All: And also with you!

Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:

Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.

THE WORD OF GOD

Children’s Message

Prayer for Illumination

Holy, Holy, Holy One, guide us by the Spirit of truth to hear the Word of life you speak, and to give all glory, honor, and praise to your threefold name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

First Reading: Matthew 16:21-28

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God

Hymn: O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

Second Reading: Exodus 3:1-15

Sermon: “The LORD has sent us” | Rev. Campbell

Silent Reflection

THE RESPONSE TO GOD

*Affirmation of Faith

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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.

Offering Sing Ye a Joyful Song | Dvořák

Prayer of Dedication

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Communion Hymn Let Us Break Bread Together

Prayer of Great Thanksgiving

One: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

One: Holy and right it is and our joyful duty to give thanks to you at all times and in all places, O Lord our Creator, almighty and everlasting God... With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven we worship and adore your glorious name.

Sanctus Holy, Holy, Holy Lord #581

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

Remembering the Work of Christ

One: Most righteous God, we remember in this Supper the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the whole world. Together we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Memorial Acclamation

All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again

Invocation of the Spirit

One: So send your Holy Spirit upon us we pray… Even so, come Lord Jesus we pray.

All: Amen

Holy Communion

Words of Institution and Invitation

One: The body of Christ is broken for you.

One: The blood of Christ is shed for you.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with Lord’s Prayer)

In Jesus’ Name, we pray as you taught us…

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, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.

SENDING

Hymn: Be Thou My Vision

Benediction

Postlude Postilion | Young

DEAR FRIENDS

Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.

If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.

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FOOD PANTRY NEWS

Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!

Mark your calendars now to pick up these important items
and bring to church by the dates listed:

Sunday, September 3 - eggs

Sunday, September 10 - gallon(s) whole milk

Sunday, September 17 - eggs

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Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.

CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED