CCLI license #1913561
Lakeview Presbyterian Church
Service of the Word for July 24, 2022
Welcome Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Questions for Reflection: What is the role of prayer i your life? What do you expect from prayer?
Prelude “In the Secret”
In the secret, in the quiet place, in the stillness you are there
In the secret in the quiet hour I wait only for you
‘Cause I want to know you more.
I want to know you; I want to hear your voice.
Opening Words (from the Hebrew Prophets)
The Prophet Isaiah wrote, Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! (Isa. 1:10–17)
My soul hates your worship mixed with your hypocrisy! Instead, learn to do good and seek justice: rescue the oppressed, defend the orphans, and treat the widows fairly!
The Prophet Ezekiel wrote, Thus says the Lord, God of Israel: (Ezek. 16:49)
This was the guilt of Sodom: they were arrogant, they had prosperous ease and excess of food, and yet they did not aid the poor and the needy.
The Prophet Amos wrote: Thus says the Lord—hear this Word: (Amos 4:1, 11)
You who oppress the poor and crush the needy . . .I shall overthrow you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Gathering Prayer
God of Love and Justice, turn our hearts toward doing good and seeking justice.
Ignite us to rescue the oppressed, defend the orphans, and help the widows, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*Hymn: “Open My Eyes, That I May See” GG # 451
Open my eyes, that I may see Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key That shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain 1:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear, Everything false will disappear.
Refrain 2:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear, Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare Love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain 3:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Call to Confession (2 Chronicles 7: 14-15)
Let us turn to God and confess our sin, confident in God’s faithful and steadfast love for us.
Let us humbly confess to God in song.
Song of Confession: “In an Age of Twisted Values” GG # 345
(Lyrics by Martin Leutebusch,1995)
In an age of twisted values, we have lost the truth we need.
In sophisticated language, we have justified our greed.
By our struggle for possessions, we have robbed the poor and weak.
Hear our cry and heal our nation; your forgiveness, Lord, we seek.
We have built discrimination on our prejudice and fear.
Hatred swiftly turns to cruelty, if we hold resentments dear.
For communities divided by the walls of class and race,
hear our cry and heal our nation; show us, Lord, your love and grace.
When our families are broken, when our homes are full of strife,
when our children are bewildered, when they lose their way in life,
when we fail to give the aged all the care we know they need,
hear our cry and heal our nation; help us show more love, we plead.
We who hear your word so often choose so rarely to obey.
Turn us from our willful blindness; give us truth to light our way.
In the power of your Spirit come to cleanse us, make us new;
hear our cry and heal our nation till our nation honors you.
Assurance of Pardon (Rom. 8:38)
Neither death nor life, powers nor rulers, things present nor future, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
Prayer for Understanding
God of Love and Justice, by your Holy Spirit, speak to us through your Word, that we may know the love and grace of Jesus Christ, your living Word made flesh among us. Amen.
Reading from the Gospels of Luke 11: 1—10 NRSV
He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father,hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Hymn: (please remain seated) “Seek Ye First” GG # 175
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God And its righteousness,
And all these things Shall be added unto you,
Allelu, alleluia.
Ask, and it shall be given unto you. Seek and ye shall find.
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you
Allelu, alleluia.
You shall not live by bread alone, But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Allelu, alleluia.
Sermon “Pray Without Ceasing” Rev. Russell Lehman
Affirmation of Faith from “A Brief Statement of Faith” pcusa
We trust in God the Holy Spirit everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church.
In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (This is the Ecumenical Version; feel free to use the words of your choice)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
Minute for Mission School Supplies
Statement about Offering our Gifts
Let us participate in God’s purpose, then, by giving generously and reaching out to for all who are in need.
Donations can be placed in the offering plate near the baptismal font or mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website @lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music “Lord Most High” Keisha Prime
Harris and Sadler
From the ends of the earth, from the depths of the sea
From the heights of the heavens, Your name be praised.
From the hearts of the weak, From the shouts of the strong
From the lips of all people This song we raise Lord.
Throughout the endless ages You will be crowned with praises
Lord Most High
Exalted in every nation, Sovereign of all creation, Lord Most High be magnified.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Dedication
Holy One, we give you thanks for your steadfast love and faithfulness. Bless these offerings and transform them into gifts of hospitality for those who need them most. Amen.
*Hymn “Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak” GG # 722
Lord, speak to me, that I may speak In living echoes of Thy tone;
As Thou hast sought, so let me seek Thy erring children lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead The wandering and the wavering feet;
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed Thy hungering ones with manna sweet
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach The precious things Thou dost impart;
And wing my words, that they may reach The hidden depths of many a heart.
O fill me with your fulness, Lord, Until my very heart o’erflow
In kindling thought and glowing word, Thy love to tell, Thy praise to show. O use me, Lord, use even me, Just as Thou wilt, and when, and where,
Until Thy blessed face I see, Thy rest, Thy joy, Thy glory share!
AnnouncementsCharge
Ask, and it will be given to you;
search, and you will find;
knock, and the door will be opened to you
Blessing
May God preserve you, protect and keep you, this day and for all eternity. Amen.
Postlude “Sweet Hour of Prayer” AAHH #442
Sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father's throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter's snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet hour of prayer!
sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek His face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!
Sweet
hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”
Edit
.png){kind=avatar}