Call to Worship

         "Through Jesus ... let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name." (Hebrews 13:15)
           Let’s stand together and begin our "sacrifice of praise to God," singing #100 in your hymnal, "Praise him, praise him, Jesus, our blessed redeemer!"

Children’s Time
"Some things change, some things don’t"

Something is changing this week, isn't it? School is starting. What is changing? (new grade, new teacher, maybe new school, new friends etc. ... and this also includes Sunday School, a new year beginning today). Does anything remain the same? (your parents still love you, God still loves you....).
         In the Bible it says that,  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8)   What does that mean? (the children brainstorm)  We can't keep things from changing, no matter how hard we try. In fact God doesn't ask us to try to make time stand still, to keep things from changing. God just wants us to remember that when some things change, some things don't. We can count on Jesus! We were loved and cared for when we were born, and that is still true today, and will be just as true tomorrow. Jesus won't go away.

Opening Prayer

         Along the way of this journey of faith to which you have called us, O Lord, we lift up our song of faith. We pray the words and melody may be in harmony with your heavenly song of joy. Like the sweet smell of a sacrifice upon an altar, may it rise to you, reminding you and us, of the great sacrifice made by your Son, Jesus. We are thankful that, through what he did upon the cross, we can come directly to you in prayer. Praise God!
         Forgive us, Lord, for the fruit of these lips when they are not pleasing to your ear. Sometimes we fail to think before we speak. Sometimes we don’t really believe what we confess to be true. Sometimes our actions speak louder than our words, and praise is far from what is revealed. All too often, we forget who we are, whose we are, where we are headed, and why. Through your Holy Spirit, help us to remember, and to live - continually - a life of sacrifice, a sacrifice of praise to you.
         Yes, Lord, forgive and live in us. Starting anew right this moment. We open the door of this worship, the door of our very lives, to you. Move through and beyond our words and actions. Interrupt what we have planned, if need be.
         This we pray in the name of Jesus, our blessed redeemer. Amen!

Returning our Tithes and Offerings

Listen to the Psalmist:
         "It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor." (Psalm 112:5-9)

         Will the ushers come forward to receive our tithes and offerings.

Dedication Prayer

         Lord, we pray that our giving reflects our faith more than our fears. With news of recession, layoffs, budget deficits, and a society heavily in debt headlining our morning paper, we may feel anything but secure, anything but generous, anything but righteous. Help us, through the act of giving - whether our offerings just now, or during the other times when we open our door to the needs around us - to live in your security. You provide all that we really need. In you we discover true justice and righteousness. You keep our hearts steady, our hands free to reach out, our "horn" overflowing with goodness and mercy. Thank you. In Jesus, we pray. Amen!