Order of Worship for 7-26-20

PRELUDE:  Voluntary on “Hymn to Joy” by Michael Burkhardt

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP

INTROIT:  Be Present, Spirit of the Lord  by Mary Kay Beall

Be present, Spirit of the Lord. Let sounds of earth be dumb, the Father’s love be shed abroad, the dew of blessing on us poured, oh, silent Spirit, come. In power unseen upon us rest, your gracious gifts impart. A mind renewed, a Spirit blessed, a life where Christ is manifest.  An understanding heart.  Holy Spirit, fall on me. Melt me, mold me, flow through me. Make every heart your home. So work in us that we who pray, may walk with Christ in wisdom’s way. Oh Holy Spirit, come.  [Timothy Dudley-Smith]

PRAYER

HYMN:  You Are My Strength When I Am Weak [Jernigan]

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE LESSON:  Matthew 13:44-46

SERMON:  “High Risk, High Reward Investment”

ANTHEM:  Hymn of Promise by Natalie Sleeth

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!  In the cold and slow of winter, there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery. Alleluia, in our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity. In our doubt, there is believing; in our life eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. 

PRAYER

HYMN:  Jesus, Priceless Treasure [Jesu, Meine Freude]

BENEDICTION

RESPONSE:  Be Thou My Vision by John Rutter

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, be all else but naught to me, save that thou art; be thou my best thought in the day and the night, both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light. Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word, be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord; be thou my great Father, and I thy true son; be thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one. Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight; be thou my whole armor, be thou my true might; be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my strong tower; O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise: be thou mine inheritance now and always; be thou and thou only the first in my heart: O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art. High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun, O grant me its joys after victory is won; Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.  [Irish, c. 8^th century, Tr. Mary Byrne, Versified, Eleanor Hull]