Order of Worship

February 16, 2025 - 10 a.m. EST

Prelude
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
arr. Robert J. Powell

Ringing of the Church Bell
Linda Scott

Invitation to Worship (from Psalm 1)
Wallace Bubar

One: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;

All: but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on God’s law they meditate day and night.

One: They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

All: For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Hymn 804 - Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!

Rejoice, ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!
Your festal banner wave on high,
the cross of Christ your King.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

With voice as full and strong
as ocean’s surging praise,
send forth the sturdy hymns of old,
the psalms of ancient days.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

Yes, on through life’s long path,
still chanting as ye go,
from youth to age, by night and day,
in gladness and in woe:
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

At last the march shall end;
the wearied ones shall rest;
the pilgrims find their home at last,
Jerusalem the blest.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

Then on, ye pure in heart!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!
Your festal banner wave on high,
the cross of Christ your King.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

Prayer of Confession [unison]

Merciful God, we admit to you and to each other that we have not always loved you and our neighbors as fully as you call us to love. We pass by the ones you call us to notice: people who are poor and hungry, people who weep. We have not stood with those who are hated, bullied, and excluded. Comfortable with the way things are, we are too complacent, even complicit with injustice and prejudice. Forgive us, O God, and turn us back to your gospel. We pray this now, for our sake and for the sake of your world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Response 582 - Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me

Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
And to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
And to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be. Amen.

World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be. Amen.

Sharing the Peace

Welcome and Announcements

Scripture Reading - Jeremiah 17:5-10
Stacy Collins, liturgist

Anthem - The Meditations of My Heart
Elaine Hagenberg
The Chancel Choir
Meredith Needham, piano

Word with Children
Kristin Ream

Scripture Reading - Luke 6:27-38

Sermon - “Mixed Blessings”

Hymn 762 - When the Poor Ones

When the poor ones who have nothing share with strangers,
When the thirsty water give unto us all,
When the crippled in their weakness strengthen others,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.

When at last all those who suffer find their comfort,
When they hope though even hope seems hopelessness,
When we love, though hate at times seems all around us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.

When our joy fills up our cup to overflowing,
When our lips can speak no words other than true,
When we know that love for simple things is better,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.

When our homes are filled with goodness in abundance,
When we learn how to make peace instead of war,
When each stranger that we meet is called a neighbor,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.

Affirmation of Faith [unison]

We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer [unison]

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.

Offering

Offertory - Lyric Piece
Edvard Grieg

Give online at granpres.org/give

Doxology 606

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn 65 - Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty.
Hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.

Charge and Benediction

Postlude - Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
arr. Craig Phillips
Philip Everingham

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service has been obtained from ONE LICENSE with license A-722069.