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September 11

CCLI license #1913561

Lakeview Presbyterian Church
Service of Word
September 11, 2022

Welcome: Grace and Peace to you in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ

Questions for Reflection: Who do you need in your life? Is there someone who helped/helps make you who you are?

Prelude        LORD MOST HIGH-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

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

Gathering (from Genesis 1) Liturgist: Kitty Rawson
“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.
So God created humankind in God’s image, male and female, and blessed them to fill the earth and subdue it, to have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’”
As those who bear the likeness and blessing of God, as mortals charged with holy purpose, let us worship the One who summons us to life.

*Hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth” GTG # 14

Litany for 9/111

God, we remember those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
We know that you remember them too, and are keeping them in your care.

We acknowledge the pervasiveness of violence in our world:
Sometimes it explodes with intent to kill
And has its success, as on 9/11.
And sometimes it creeps in subtly:
In attitudes and mindsets, in worldviews and passing words.
We find it even here in our own hearts.

Cleanse us from all unrighteousness, and restore us to justice.
We rely upon your mercy.

Grant that we may forgive those who have committed atrocities against us
And remember them also to your merciful love.
We hear your words to us: “Do not resist an evil person;”

We are baffled and astonished at this instruction.
We have no paradigm for understanding a peaceable kingdom,
Other than your example.

Console us in our grief, Oh Loving One.
Speak to us in our confusion.
Guide our feet on the path of peace.
Be to us a light in darkness,
A lamp of peace drawing us lovingly in.
Amen

Trusting in the power of God not only to fashion the world, but to mend and refashion our hearts, let us say how it is with us.

Prayer of Confession

Holy God, like children long indulged, we turn away from neighbors in need, sharing fragments that remain only after our cravings have been met.

Merciful Maker, you created us for better use; remake us now.

Where we are distorted re-center and reshape us.

Kindle a fire our hearts until we shine with your glory and find our place in your purpose for all the world.. [silent prayer] Amen.

Declaration of Forgiveness

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. Sisters and brothers, in the name of the Christ I declare that your story is known, your sin is forgiven, your life is made new.

Let us live as those reborn.

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you
Turn to those near to you—or across the room—and smile, nod your head, indicating that your share these blessings with one another

Prayer for Understanding

Holy and merciful God, we have come to hear your word. Break down in us all that resists your will and plant in us a willingness to turn and live as your disciples. Come to us, now, in ancient texts, in everyday visions, and in the need of our neighbor; we pray in the name of Jesus, our light. Amen.

Reading from the Epistles 1 Corinthians 12: 12—27

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Hymn “We Are One In the Spirit” GTG # 300

Reading from the Gospels Luke 15: 1—7

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Sermon  “People Who Need People” The Rev. Russell Lehman

Sermon by The Rev. Russell Lehman

*Affirmation of Faith from A Brief Statement of Faith, pcusa GtG hymnal page 37, section 3

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.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen  

Minute for Mission (Peace and Global Witness Offering)

   Offering our Gifts 
All that we are points back to our Creator; all that we have is gift and trust. God will finish what God has begun. With grateful hearts, let us bring our tithes and offerings to the God from whom they came.

 Donations can be placed in the offering plate near the baptismal font in the center of the sanctuary.
Or mailed to:
    Lakeview Presbyterian Church, 1310 22nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705
    lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org

Special Music "Closer"-Bethel Music

Your love has ravished my heart
And taken me over, taken me over
And all I want is to be
With You forever, with You forever

Pull me a little closer
Take me a little deeper
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart
`Cause Your love is so much sweeter
Than anything I've tasted
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart

Whoa, whoa, how great Your love is for me
Whoa, whoa, how great is Your love

Pull me a little closer
Take me a little deeper
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart
Your love is so much stronger
Than anything I've faced and
I want to know Your heart
I want to know Your heart

Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of all creation, We ask that you would receive us this day and use what we bring.
Keep sending your Spirit into our hearts, until we yield all that we love and all that we fear to your holy purpose.

*Hymn “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” GTG # 835

Announcements

Blessing
May the God who crafted you continue to shape your heart,
may the Christ who commissions you, charge you with purpose,
may the Spirit that stirs you, help you to carry forth with love
that you may honor your Creator and be a blessing to the world.

Postlude How Great Is Our God-Tomlin

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice Trembles at His voice

[Chorus]
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

[Verse 2]
Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end
Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb
The Lion and the Lamb



[Chorus]
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God
[Bridge]
Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God

Name above all names
Worthy of our praise
My heart will sing
How great is our God


[Chorus]
How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Then sings my soul my Savior God to thee.
How great thou art! How great thou art.

1 Fran Pratt, Godspace