ORDER of WORSHIP

August 23, 2020

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.”
Psalm 29:2

Greeting and Welcome

Prelude

Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 124)
Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
All: We belong to God.
Leader: When we feel overwhelmed,
All: God is on our side.
Leader: When we are afraid,
All: God will keep us safe.
Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
All: Blessed be the Lord!

Opening Prayer (Based on Romans 12)
Loving God, call us together as your people; transform us with your love.  Transform our hearts, that we may love generously.  Transform our eyes, that we may see your grace.  Transform our hands, that we may serve others.  Transform our spirits, that we may be the body of Christ, gathered to worship and sent out to serve.  Amen.

Hymn of Praise “The Church’s One Foundation” UMH #545. Text: Samuel J. Stone, 1866
Music: Samuel Sebastian Wesley, 1864.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved.

1. 1. The church’s one foundation
      is Jesus Christ her Lord;
      she is his new creation
      by water and the Word.
      From heaven he came and sought her
      to be his holy bride;
      with his own blood he bought her,
      and for her life he died.
   2. Elect from every nation,
      yet one o’er all the earth;
      her charter of salvation,
      one Lord, one faith, one birth;
      one holy name she blesses,
      partakes one holy food,
      and to one hope she presses,
      with every grace endued.
   3. Though with a scornful wonder
      we see her sore oppressed,
      by schisms rent asunder,
      by heresies distressed,
      yet saints their watch are keeping;
      their cry goes up, “How long?”
      And soon the night of weeping
      shall be the morn of song.
   4. Mid toil and tribulation,
      and tumult of her war,
      she waits the consummation
      of peace forevermore;
      till, with the vision glorious,
      her longing eyes are blest,
      and the great church victorious
      shall be the church at rest.
   5. Yet she on earth hath union
      with God the Three in One,
      and mystic sweet communion
      with those whose rest is won.
      O happy ones and holy!
      Lord, give us grace that we
      like them, the meek and lowly,
      on high may dwell with thee.

    
   The Apostle’s Creed UMH #881

   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 Spirit,
   born of the Virgin Mary,
   suffered under Pontius Pilate,
   was crucified, dead, and buried;
   the third day he rose from the dead;
   he ascended into heaven,
   and sitteth at 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 Spirit,
   the holy catholic church,
   the communion of saints,
   the forgiveness of sins,
   the resurrection of the body,
   and the life everlasting.  Amen.

   Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” UMH #71 Words: Lesser Doxology. Music: Charles Meineke

   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.

   
   Gospel Lesson Matthew 16:13-20 (NRSV)
   ¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

   Sermon “Who Do You Say?” Rev. Matt Sergent

   Prayers of the People / Lord’s Prayer
   
   Hymn “Walk with Me” TFWS #2242 Text: John S. Rice. Words: John S. Rice 1988.
   Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733303. All rights reserved

   Refrain: Walk with me, I will walk with you
   and build the land that God has planned
   where love shines through.

   1. 1. When Moses heard the call of God
         he said, “Lord, don’t send me.”
         But God told Moses,
         “You’re the one to set my people free.”
         Refrain
      2. Now Peter was a most unlikely
         man to lead the flock;
         but Jesus knew his holiness
         and he became the Rock.
         Refrain
      3. Young Mary Magdalene was sure
         her life could be much more,
         and by her faith she dared to let
         God’s love unlock the door.
         Refrain
      4. And when you share your faith with me
         and work for life made new,
         the witness of your faithfulness
         calls me to walk with you.
         Refrain

    
   Benediction
   Go into the world with peace and joy, delighting in the diversity and blessings that God has lavished upon each one.  Celebrate the good news of the love of God with all people and offer peace and blessing to each one.  Go in peace.  Amen.

   Postlude