Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday 7, 2025 | 10:00am
Guest Minister | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: “Our Help is in the name of the Lord who created heaven and earth.”
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude Claire de Lune Excerpts | arr. Bemiss
Call to Worship
Opening Sentences
O Lord, You have searched us and known us.
You know when we sit and when we rise.
Like clay in the hands of the potter, so are we in Your hands, O God.
Shape us, Lord, according to Your mercy and love.
Come, let us worship the One who formed us, redeemed us, and sustains us.
With hearts of gratitude, we worship the Lord our God!
Votum
In mercy, He shapes us like clay in the Potter’s hands. In grace, He redeems us through the cross of Christ. In hope, He raises us to new life.
Amen
*Hymn of Praise We Will Glorify the King of Kings
Call to Confession
Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Scriptures remind us that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Trusting in God’s mercy, let us come before Him in humility and faith, and confess our sins together.
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, You are the Potter and we are the clay. But we confess that we often resist Your shaping hands. We cling to our own ways, we turn from Your mercy, we take for granted Your grace, we grow weary in hope, and we falter in faith. Forgive us, Lord. Remake us by Your Spirit, that we may live as disciples of Jesus Christ, in whom we find mercy, grace, hope, and faith. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news: If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God!
The Law of 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.
*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
Anthem We are One, Lord | Pethel
Prayer for Illumination
Merciful God, in Your grace You shape us like clay in the Potter’s hands. In Your hope You promise us new life. By faith we trust that Your Spirit is here among us. So now, Lord, open our hearts to Your Word. Silence the voices that distract us, clear away the doubts that cloud us, and plant in us the seed of Your truth. Through the reading of Scripture and the preaching of Your Word, may we hear Your call to mercy, receive Your gift of grace, rest in Your promise of hope, and walk in the power of faith. In Jesus Christ, the Living Word, we pray. Amen.
First Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-11
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
*Hymn: Cry of the Heart
Second Reading: Luke 14:25–33
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: “Mercy, Grace, Hope, and Faith” | Guest Minister
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith (Apostles’ Creed)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church*, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *meaning the universal Christian church—all believers in Jesus Christ
Offering Here I Am Lord | arr Louise
Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
*Communion Hymn Called as Partners in Christ’s Service
Meaning of the Sacrament
Communion Prayer
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.
Thanksgiving after Communion
Brothers and sisters,
since the Lord has now fed us at his Table,
let us praise God’s holy name with heartfelt thanksgiving!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits—
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him,
who did not spare his own Son,
but gave him up for us all,
and will also give us all things with him.
Therefore shall my mouth and heart show forth the praise of the Lord, from this time forth forevermore. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with 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, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
*Hymn The Trees of the Field
Benediction
Congregational Response Christ is risen! Earth and heaven Nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation Where the world is still in pain
Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!”
God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna, everyone!
Postlude Let There Be Glory, Honor and Praise | arr. Hayes
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.
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!
Please consider making a weekly donation of eggs or milk to the P-G Food Pantry.
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