St. Paul’s United Church of Christ301 West Penn Avenue, Robesonia, PA 19551

610-621-5770 -- office@sprucc.org -- www.sprucc.org Worship 9:30am

No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here.

Welcome toSt. Paul’s United Church of ChristOnline Streaming Worship Service

May God’s loving presence be very real to you,and may you receive strength and guidance todaythat will enable you to handle life’s challenges.

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Sunday, August 9, 2020Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

We are coming together as a community of faith to worship our God,and provide for one another our love, support, and care.

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

We Gather

A TIME OF GATHERING

RINGING OF THE BELL

PRELUDE

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

{To center your hearts and minds,you are invited to individually offer this prayer silently during or before the Prelude}

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP Ï

Holy God, we seek your presence. Break through all our pretenses that we might sense thevibrant energy embracing the whole universe yet know ourselves to be personally loved withinthe vast expanse of space and time. How amazing are all the miracles of life that surround us! We praise you. We thank you. We bow in awe before you. In this hour, we pray that our faithmay be enlivened, our trust deepened, our commitment expanded to meet the challenges ofour times. Amen.

{Those who are able, please rise}

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN “Immortal Love, Forever Full” vs 1 & 2

Reprinted on the following page.Used with Permission One License #A-728042

*INVOCATION

Leader: In the name of God the Father, and of God the Son, and of God the Holy Spirit.ALL: Amen.

*CALL TO WORSHIP Ï

Leader: Over the wind and waves, Christ comes to us.Do not fear to meet Christ here.

People: We have heard the invitation.Our hopes have brought us together.

Leader: Let us call on God’s name and give thanks.Let the hearts of all who seek God rejoice.

People: We will sing of God’s wonderful works.We will share with others God’s marvelous deeds.

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This is a time to confess our wrongdoings and neglects, ask forGod’s mercy, admit our need for God’s forgiving grace,

hear the assurance of our forgiveness,and then give God our thanks and praise.

We Repent

*CALL TO CONFESSION Ï (Leader)We profess our faith in God, yet we rely more heavily on our own ingenuity. We say webelieve, but our lives seldom show confident trust. We want to care as Jesus did, but we oftengive into the temptation to think of ourselves first. Who can save us from ourselves?

*CONFESSION OF SIN Ï (Unison)God, we confess that we are dreamers more intent on our own importance than onyour vision for us. We like our favored position on this earth, and we are jealous ofthose who have even more than we. We want to walk on water before we have evenlearned to stand upright on the land. We want to rise above others rather thanreaching out with helping hands, that all might be uplifted by you. We think first ofhow the church is or is not meeting our needs, rather than seeking to meet thespiritual and physical needs of others through the church. We pray for pardon, forgreater insight, for another chance to live and serve with faithfulness. Amen.

*SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

{A time to silently offer our personal prayers of confession}

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We seek to learn more about God’s love and grace, and how we are tolive our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ. The Bible is our primary text

on faith, which we consider to be scripture - sacred writings.We believe the Bible to be the “inspired word of God.”

Gospel (which means “Good News”) refers to Matthew, Mark, Luke,and John, which are Christians’ most central books of the Bible.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON Ï (Leader)O you of little faith, why do you doubt? Take heart. Do not be afraid. The harsh winds willabate. The seas will not overwhelm. The treachery of some will not wipe out the good Godintends. Everyone who repents, believes, and calls on God’s name will be saved. RememberGod’s wonderful works and share the good news. Let all humankind praise God. Amen.

*CALL TO PRAISE ×

Leader: O Lord, open our lipsPeople: And our mouths shall show forth your praise.

*SUNG PRAISE “For The Beauty of the Earth” + Blue #182

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies;Lord of all, to thee we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.

Music: Conrad Kocher, Text: Folliott PierpointReproduced with permission under One license A#728042

{Please be seated}

We Hear the Word of God

PROCLAMATION OF SCRIPTURE

First Lesson: 1 Kings 19:9-18Second Lesson: Romans 10:5-15Gospel Lesson: Matthew 14:22-33

HYMN “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” vs 1 & 2Reprinted on the following page.

Used with Permission One License #A-728042

CHILDREN’S SERMON SERMON

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We have heard God’s call and have come and worshiped,we have confessed our sins and been assured of our forgiveness, we have

learned more about God’s grace and God’s will. We now respond by re-affirming our faith in God,

praying with and for one another, trusting in God’s providence in our world,and giving of ourselves for the sake of the mission and ministry of Jesus

Christ.

We Respond with Thanks

{Those who are able, please rise}

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Unison) The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead, and buried;he descended to the dead;on the third day he rose again,ascended into heaven,and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

He will come again to judge the living 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.

*The word “catholic” means “relating to the church universal” and was the word used in the original version of the Creed. It does not mean the Roman Catholic Church, but the church, the body of Christ, as a universal fellowship.

{Please be seated}

CALL TO PRAYER

Leader: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Leader: Let us pray....

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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Leader: Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, theworld, and all who are in need.

{silent prayer}

Leader: For your whole church throughout the world. Give courage in the midst ofstorms, so that we see and hear Jesus calling: “Take heart, it is I: do not beafraid.” May we follow Christ wherever he leads. Lord, in your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.Leader: For the well being of your creation. Protect waterways, forests, lands, and

wildlife from exploitation and abuse. Help the human family endeavor to sustainand be sustained by the resources of your hand. Lord, in your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.Leader: For the nations and their leaders. In you, steadfast love and faithfulness meet,

and righteousness and peace kiss. May nations in conflict know the peace thatis the fruit of justice, and the justice that is the path to peace. Lord, in yourmercy,

People: hear our prayer.Leader: For those in need. Everyone who calls upon your name will be saved.

Accompany all who are lonely, hear the voices of those who cry out in anguish,and support those who are frustrated in their search for an affordable place tolive. We pray for those suffering this day. Lord, in your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.Leader: For our congregation. You have gathered us here today as your people and we

thank you for this gift. We pray for those who are new to this community, forstudents and teachers preparing for a new school year, and for those strugglingwith unexpected hardship. Supply us generously with your grace for our lifetogether. Lord, in your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.Leader: We give you thanks, O God, for the saints of the whole church from all times and

places, and for the saints in our lives and in our community whom you havegathered to yourself. Lord, in your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.Leader: In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these

prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us when we pray tosay...

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.

OFFERTORY INVITATION Ï

Leader: Like Joseph in the book of Genesis, we have been entrusted with our ruler’spossessions.

People: We are stewards of all that God places in our hands—our time, our talents,our accumulated treasures—life itself.

Leader: Our offering is not just about tithes and gifts for the church’s mission;People: it is about rededication of all of life in Christ’s service.

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In response to God’s love and grace,we go out into the world to share God’s Good News

RETURNING GOD’S TITHES AND PRESENTING OUR OFFERINGS Click here

{Those who are able, please rise}

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE “O Bless the Gifts” + Blue #817O bless the gifts our hands have brought;And bless the work our hearts have planned.Ours is the faith, the will, the thought;The rest, O God, is in Your hand.

Text: Samuel Longfellow; Music: Twila ParisUsed with Permission One License #A-728042

*OFFERTORY PRAYERÏ

God, we cannot deceive you with the appearance of generosity. You know how we managethe wealth entrusted to our care. Help us to know the joy of sharing from the abundanceyou provide. Help us to trust when we feel we do not have enough. We give thanks thatyou enable us to be givers, not just receivers. May what we offer here provide a helpfulministry to many. May what we offer to our families, friends, and co-laborers tomorrow alsobe blessed as ministry. Amen.

We Are Sent Out

*COMMISSION Ï

Leader: Go out to share the good news, without favoritism.God is with you wherever you go.

People: We are assured of God’s presence and protection.We believe God’s help is always available.

Leader: Let faith grow as doubts are explored.Christ invites us to follow new pathways.

People: We will listen for Christ’s invitation.We will follow where God leads us.

ALL: Amen.

*BENEDICTION

*SENDING HYMN “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me” all 3 versesReprinted on the following page.

Used with Permission One License #A-728042

{Acolyte carries the light back into the world, leading us,as we now go to carry God’s light and love back into the world}.

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Worship Service Resource CreditsBiblical quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible (1989) by the Division of Christian Education of the

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.Î Reprinted with permission from The New Century Hymnal of the United Church of Christ. (1995). Cleveland, Ohio: The Pilgrim Press. and/or the Book of Worship

of the United Church of Christ (1986). New York: United Church of Christ Office for Church Life and Leadership. Ï Taught By Love by Lavon Baylor. (1998). United Church Press; Cleveland, OH.Ð Reprinted with permission from Sundays and Seasons. (2019). Augsburg Fortress.å Reprinted with permission from the Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States. and/or The Hymnal of the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

(1985) New York: United Church Press.Ò Reprinted with permission from Sourcebook of Worship Services Ü scouting.org - resources for Boy Scouts of AmericaÓ Reprinted with permission from Worship Ways of the United Church of Christ. (2013).Ô Worship WaysÞ Edmonds, Robert Lee (Editor). (2008). In Our Own Way; Living a Scouting Life Through Faith; A Handbook of Prayer and Devotion. Dallas, TX: Red Honor

PressÕ Reprinted with Permission from Lecturn Resource. 2014. Logos Productions, Inc., Inver Grove Heights, MN.à Miller, Earl D. (1994). Consecrating Stewards. Ohio Conference, United Church of Christ.× The Rev. Dr. Benjamin MotzOne License is our Church Copyright License# A-728042,, which is a subscription service giving us copyright permission to print the words and music found in the

bulletin and to live stream music on the internet during the Worship Service.Resources are edited and adapted for use in this worship service.

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The Flow of the Worship ServiceOur worship service has an intentional order to it. The flow of worship is called the liturgical movement. The

movement reminds us weekly of our journey in faith of moving from being separated from God by sin, to beingrestored by God’s grace as disciples of Christ. It is based on the sixth chapter of the Biblical book of Isaiah.

(1) God welcomes us and invites us(2) We respond to God’s call by worshiping Him(3) We confess our need for God’s forgiveness and grace(4) We are assured of God’s forgiveness and grace(5) We learn more about God’s will through scripture, song, and sermon(6) We grow closer to God and one another through prayer(7) We give God thanks by offering our time, talent, and treasure(8) God sends us into the world to share His love and grace with others

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† Prayer List †

Please lift up those listed here in your prayers this week.“Pray for one another, so that you may be healed.

The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” ~ James 5:16b

B. & S. BlattR. DiGirolamo

Family & Friends of R. MillerFamily & Friends of H. Lamm

L. HainleyL. LaumeisterR. & J. Seifrit

Please let us know if we can be in prayer with you.All are welcome to add names to the prayer list.

Names are generally left on the list for about four weeks.Please let us know if you would like a name to remain longer or shorter.

If you would like someone’s name added to the prayer list, please contact the church office at 610-621-5770 or office@sprucc.org.

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Link to Website’sUpcoming Events

Visitation Care TeamOur Visitation Care Team (VCT) is composed of lay members who have been trained for visitation.

For more information, go to our “Visitation Care Ministries” page at www.sprucc.org. You may alsoemail them directly at CareTeam@sprucc.org.

Virtual Sunday School OptionsAlthough we are not meeting in person, you can still continue to learn about God’s Word through the

information available on our website. For our youth we have Sunday school music, videos, and anassortment of other materials that are available for downloading. Click on this link for Sunday school foryouth. We also have devotional music for all ages on our website, courtesy of Pastor Bob. Click on thislink for Devotional Music.

Telephone Live Streaming & Playback WorshipThis is a new service being offered to those who do not have internet access. You may call us at our

toll free number 1-888-649-5770 and listen to the worship service live using a landline or cell phone. (Nointernet, smartphone, tablet, or computer is necessary - this works with a standard corded phone, cellphone, or even with a rotary phone). It is a pilot program that we began in August. If you have anyquestions, difficulties, or issues, please let us know by calling the office at 610-621-5770. If this workswell and enough people like using this feature, we will continue it beyond August. There is no charge toyou for this service. If you know of someone who does not have internet access, please let them know ofthis feature, especially as they cannot log onto the website and find out about this themselves.

Thank you to all who have made this worship service possible!

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About Today

Church Season: Pentecost -which is the season of the church in mission. It is the time between theascension of Christ and his second coming, which is the time we are presently living in today, and assuch is the longest season of the church year. The day of Pentecost is the birthday of the Christianchurch.

Color of the Paraments (cloths on the altar and pulpit):Green - symbolizing the life God brings, especially through our mission work.

The suggested scripture lessons are from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL), which selectspassages throughout the Bible over a three year cycle. The RCL is the most common lectionary used byChristian churches. We are in Year A, which emphasizes the Gospel of Matthew.

The Bible is in two sections: Old Testament - OT (scripture prior to Christ’s birth), located in thefirst 2/3 of the Bible; and New Testament - NT (about Christ & early church).

This Sunday, August 9, 2020, Lectionary Reading for the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost1 Kings 19:9-18; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33.

The Book of First KingsDuring the Middle Ages, the Book of Kings was divided into two parts. The first book provides ahistory of the Israelite people and their theological struggles from the death of King David (970B.C.), through the reign of King Solomon, to the division of Israel into the two kingdoms of Israeland Judah, to the death of King Ahab, to the rule of his son Ahaziah (850 B.C.).

The Letter of Paul to the RomansThis epistle (letter) is addressed “to all God’s beloved in Rome.” It was dictated by the Apostle Paulto Tertius in 58 A.D. in Corinth and delivered to Rome by Phoebe (she was appointed by Paul as adeacon, teacher, and leader of the church). Paul was a Christian, Jew, Pharisee, Roman citizen, andchurch leader, who had a direct encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus after Jesus’ascension into heaven. Paul, a highly educated man, wrote more of the NT than any other person.

The Gospel According to MatthewMatthew’s Gospel was written around 80-90 A.D. in Antioch, Syria by a Greek-speaking JewishChristian. The first writing was probably by a Christian scribe who wrote in the name of Matthew. Matthew was a disciple who knew Jesus personally.

Next Sunday, August 16, 2020, Lectionary Reading for the Eleventh Sunday after PentecostGenesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 133; Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 and Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32;

Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28.

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