Marshall Presbyterian Church
October 10, 2021; 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Carol Ann West, Pianist
Cathy Seiler, Liturgist
Rev. Melissa Upchurch, Pastor
ASSEMBLING IN GOD’S NAME
WELCOME
* CALL TO WORSHIP
One: We look in the mirror and what do we see?
All: We see people who try to be faithful, even as questions and struggles challenge our faith.
One: We look in the mirror and how do we see?
All: We see with hearts which are open to God's love, with lives that seek to trust.
One: We look in the mirror and who do we see?
All: We see Jesus, the One who walks with us as we wrestle with questions and who models faithfulness for all who would follow.
* OPENING PRAYER
* HYMN Red Hymnbook #11 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
CALL TO CONFESSION
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, sometimes it hurts too much to look honestly at the world and ourselves. We grow tired of the constant bad news, so we put on a brave face and gloss over the ache of violence, sickness, disaster, and human callousness that plagues our globe. With those we are closest to, we sometimes pretend that we feel okay, that we are not worried, and that we have a plan. We even lie to ourselves, not fully admitting the impact of our actions on one another or ourselves. Forgive us, O God, when we try to hide our hearts from you. Fuel our trust that we might approach you with our full selves—authentic in our gifts, and our fears, and our shortcomings. Give us the courage to walk together through the trials of life, rather than soldiering on alone. And help us to sense your faithful presence through the days when there feels like more shadow than sun…silent reflection and confession…Amen.
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: The Lord is compassionate and merciful, very patient, and full of faithful love. As high as heaven is above the earth, that’s how large God’s faithful love is for God’s children. As far as east is from west—that’s how far God has removed our sin from us. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
All: Thanks be to God. Amen!
* 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.
* PASSING THE PEACE
SPECIAL MUSIC: PURPLE HYMNAL #803
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
HEARING AND RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
THE SCRIPTURES
Old Testament: Job 23:1-9; 16-17
Epistle: Hebrews 4:12-16
Gospel: Mark 10:17-31
One: The Word of God for the people of God!
All: Thanks be to God!
MESSAGE Rev. Melissa Upchurch
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1))
One: What is your only comfort in life and in death?
All: That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. [Amen.]
* HYMN Purple Hymnal #451 Open My Eyes, That I May See
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & LORD’S PRAYER
SHARING THE GIFTS OF GOD
*DOXOLOGY (ca. 1500s)
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.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious God, all that we have is yours. Accept these gifts as signs of our gratitude as we return a portion of our gifts to you. Show us how to use them
so that they point to your abiding love, which is our eternal hope. Amen.
