PRELUDE: Adagio (from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C) by J.S. Bach
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
HYMN: For the Beauty of the Earth [Dix]
PRAYER OF PRAISE
INTROIT: For the Fruit of All Creation Trad. Welsh Melody/arr. by Mark Hayes
Give thanks to God! Let every voice give thanks to God! For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God. For his gifts to every nation, thanks be to God. For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, future needs in earth’s safe-keeping, thanks be to God. In the just reward of labor, God’s will is done; in the help we give our neighbor, God’s will is done. In our worldwide task of caring for the hungry and despairing, in the harvests we are sharing, God’s will is done. For the harvest of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God. For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us, most of all, that love has found us, thanks be to God. Let every voice give thanks, give thanks to God! [Fred Pratt Green]
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
SONG OF GRATEFUL PRAISE: I Will Exalt My God, My King [Te Exaltaré, Mi Dios]
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Mark 4:26-29
ANTHEM: The Parable of the Growing Seed by Kerry Lewis
The kingdom of God is like a seed the farmer pushes into the soil. Seed and soil produce themselves, but growth quickens through the farmer’s toil. After the planting, the farmer waits. He sleeps and rises night and day. He sleeps, he rises. He watches and waits, for the wakening day. First the stalk, and then the head, and then the full grain at the top. When the grain is full, the farmer goes in with his sickle to harvest the crop. Seed, and soil produce themselves. The patient farmer may water and weed for myriad days without a sign. It is just this way when you plant the Word. Planting the Word is never enough. You cannot plant and walk away. While the Word and Faith produce themselves, our work goes on to the wakening day. Be patient, be strong: do not lose heart. Wait for the rains, early and late. We are God’s servants working together. Let us rejoice on the harvest date. Let us rejoice. [Dave Baldwin based on Mark 4:26-29]
SERMON: “Loving People Enough to Leave Them Alone”
HYMN: God of the Fertile Fields [Italian Hymn] 714]
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION AND WORDS OF INSTITUTION
PRAYER
HYMN: The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing [The Feast is Ready]
PARTAKING OF THE FEAST
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE: Open Now the Doors by Frederick Swann
Open now the doors to living. Open now our hearts to love. Open now our lives to service as we worship God above.
POSTLUDE: Adagio (from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C) by J.S. Bach
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